VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin deliver a joint statement at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Friday (5/2/2021). ANTARA/Presidential Press Bureau/Lukas.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, during his official visit to Indonesia, has made assurance of offering protection to Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.

"The Kingdom of Malaysia will continue to cooperate with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to ensure that the recruitment and protection of Indonesian migrant workers are based on the law," the prime minister noted at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday, during a press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

"Malaysia believes that the ongoing discussions related to the protection of Indonesian domestic workers can be in line with the laws of the two countries. Hence, they can agree on an MoU (memorandum of understanding)," he remarked.

PM Yassin also lauded President Jokowi for facilitating the return of Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia, who had arrived and worked through illegal channels. The Indonesian migrant laborers were returned in keeping with the framework of the recalibration program for unauthorized foreigners (PATI), who will return to Indonesia or work again in Malaysia.

The recalibration program was implemented from November 16, 2020, to June 30, 2021, by the Malaysian Immigrants Offices (JIM)/Malaysian Peninsular Manpower Office (JTKSM).

The return recalibration program opens up opportunities for migrant workers, who exceed the residence permit limit to return to their country of origin in accordance with the stipulated conditions.

The Malaysian PM explained that the labor recalibration program opens up opportunities for migrant workers, who exceed the residence permit limit, to be reinstated with a valid residence permit."I have also urged the president for cooperation to ensure that Indonesian citizens keen on working in Malaysia can enter that country through legal channels," he stated.

In connection with the Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) also expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian government.

"I express my gratitude for the cooperation in protecting Indonesian citizens in Malaysia, especially during the pandemic. I am again entrusting Indonesian citizens in Malaysia to the Malaysian government," President Jokowi remarked.

Furthermore, regarding the protection of Indonesian migrant workers, President Jokowi stressed the importance of completing the MoU on the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia//ANT

The Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta. (ANTARA FOTO/Dhemas Reviyanto/foc) (ANTARA FOTO/Dhemas Reviyanto/Dhemas Reviyanto)

The Finance Ministry has forecast that the positive trend in economic recovery seen in the fourth quarter of 2020 will continue this year as several indicators have begun to show an improvement.

The national economy contracted 2.19 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with a contraction of 3.49 percent recorded in the previous quarter.

This year, the ministry noted, several indicators have shown signs of improvement, with the purchasing managers' index (PMI) rising to 52.2 in January, 2021 from 51.3 in December, 2020.

“This is the highest level in the past six years. Public confidence has also continued its positive trend,” chief of the ministry's fiscal policy board, Febrio Kacaribu, said in Jakarta on Friday.

The ministry has also predicted that national economic growth will return to its pre-pandemic level of around 5 percent this year.However, the projections suggest uncertainty about the development of COVID-19 and the implementation of the vaccination program.

According to Kacaribu, the Indonesian economic performance has shown signs of recovery and is on the right track. The performance will be pushed at a faster pace, particularly with the start of the vaccination program which is being conducted in a measurable and well-planned manner, he added.

The ministry will ensure the strong fiscal policy seen in 2020 remains in place and functions as a countercyclical instrument this year as reflected by the budget deficit of 5.7 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP)//ANT

Hotel Indonesia Group appointed as operator of 14 state-owned hotels

Hotel Indonesia Group (HIG) has officially been appointed as operator of 14 state-owned hotels owned by PT Hotel Indonesia Natour (Persero).

"We need to make a lot of improvements, especially in terms of products and human resources," Qodie Ibrahim, CEO of the Hotel Indonesia Group, said in a statement, on Saturday.

The 14 hotels are Inaya Putri Bali, Grand Inna Kuta, Grand Inna Padang, Grand Inna Malioboro, Grand Inna Tunjungan, Grand Inna Samudra Beach, Grand Inna Medan, Grand Inna Bali Beach, Inna Bali Beach Resort, Inna Bali Beach Garden, Inna Tretes, Inna Parapat, Inna Sindhu Beach, and Inna Bali Heritage

As the holding operatorship appointed by the Ministry of BUMN, PT Hotel Indonesia Group will later manage and develop all state-owned hotels as Hotel Indonesian chain or Hotel Indonesia flagship.

Apart from state-owned hotels, the Hotel Indonesia Group will also target management of private or individual hotels.As a hotel chain, the Hotel Indonesia Group will prioritize services with typical Indonesian hospitality and is expected to be competitive in the competition in the hospitality industry at home and abroad.

During its 100-day program, Hotel Indonesia Group will focus on making food and beverage a mainstay in the hospitality industry in the future.

"We should no longer focus on room sales, especially during this pandemic, opportunities in F&B should be increased," Qodie Ibrahim said.

Deddy P. Effendi as the Vice President of Corporate Communication and Business Development at HIG, said that the 14 hotels are all situated in very strategic locations and already have their respective markets//ANT

Solar panel on farmland is one of the models to use new and renewable energy. ANTARA/Anis Efizudin

Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII Eddy Soeparmo hoped new and renewable energy bill could be completed this year as targeted.

"I want the new and renewable energy bill to be completed soon. We have targeted to complete the first phase of talks in June 2021," he said in a press statement released on Saturday.

The bill is needed to increase energy mix as well as to increase environmental conservation in the country, he said.

Moreover, the government has targeted to increase new and renewable energy mix which stood at 11 percent in 2020 to 23 percent in 2025, he said.

"Looking ahead, we can no longer rely on fossil energy. As I know fossil energy can cause environmental damage and fossil energy deposit will eventually be depleted," he said.

On the other hand, Indonesia has abundant new and renewable energy resources which have not been managed optimally, he said//ANT