VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

(ANTARA News Papua/HO-Pendam XVII Cenderawasih)

Five personnel of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force recently donated clothing to the residents of Komdo Village in Naukenjerai Sub-district, Merauke District, Papua Province, as a gesture of sincere care for locals.

Led by Sergeant-2 Agus Rinto Sitinjak, the soldiers visited the homes of locals to hand out clothes, Commander of the 125/ Si'mbisa Infantry Battalion's RI-PNG Border Security Task Force Commander Lt Col Anjuanda Pardosi remarked.

"By visiting their homes, an emotional connection between the task force personnel and villagers would remain strong until the end of the soldiers' duty at the Kondo security post," Pardosi noted in a statement that ANTARA received here, Saturday.

Pardosi stated that the border security task force's members were glad to demonstrate their care for the residents of Kondo Village.

Local community leader, Marin Bernandus Bomak Mahuse, welcomed the caring gesture by the army personnel. Mahuse thanked them and prayed for their success in accomplishing their duties.ANTARA noted that Indonesian soldiers, stationed in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, were not merely tasked with securing peace and stability there but were also expected to become involved in community services.

Last year, soldiers from this 125/Simbisa Infantry Battalion had also conducted a community service by inculcating the habit of reading and piquing the curiosity through a mobile library service.

Operated by three army personnel, led by Second Sergeant J. H. Manullang, the mobile library serves the students of Sota Village, Merauke District, Papua Province, according to the task force's commander, Lt Col Anjuanda Pardosi.

The mobile library serves students living in the Indonesia-PNG border area amid the ongoing global pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has disrupted learning activities at schools.The mobile library service is envisaged to stir local students to develop the habit of reading since it will broaden their mindset and expand their knowledge of several aspects of life.

"Books serve as a window to the world," he emphasized.

Through books offered by the mobile library service, the habit of reading can be cultivated among the local students, Pardosi affirmed, adding that apart from rousing their curiosity, the free library service is also part of the task force's territorial operational program.

The residents of Sota Village expressed gratitude and lauded the mobile library service being offered by the border security task force.The residents of Sota Village expressed gratitude and lauded the mobile library service being offered by the border security task force.

"We thank the task force personnel for their care for our kids," stated Alfons Katop, a resident of Sota Village in Sota Sub-district, Merauke District, whose administrative area is part of the Indonesia-PNG border area.

The literacy-related community services, offered by the Indonesian soldiers since several years, have contributed notably to the endeavors of the regional and central governments to boost the quality of human capital in Papua and West Papua//ANT

Cimanggis-Cibitung toll road. (ANTARA/HO Waskita Toll Road)

The Hungarian government, through its embassy in Jakarta, has welcomed the selection of Hungarian company Roatex Zrt by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing for implementing an electronic tolling project in Indonesia.

“I am very proud and excited that following long years of preparatory work, Hungary can contribute to Indonesia’s infrastructure development in the toll road sector!” Hungarian Ambassador to Indonesia, Judit Pach, posted on Twitter.

In a statement received here on Friday, the Hungarian Embassy in Jakarta said the multi-lane free-flow electronic payment system project is an important milestone and an example of the strengthening bilateral ties between Hungary and Indonesia.“The Embassy is confident that as a result of this joint cooperation, the number of traffic jams on Indonesian roads will be soon be reduced and an efficient MLFF e-toll system will be established,” it stated.

The cooperation between both countries in the sector began four years ago in 2017, when the Hungarian government offered to conduct a preliminary feasibility study on the MLFF project, “rooted in Hungarian expertise and best practices yet still tailor-made to the specific needs of Indonesia”.

The preliminary feasibility study was submitted to Indonesia in 2019, following which Roatex began working with experts from the Indonesian Toll Road Authority (BPJT) and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.In March, 2019, Minister Basuki Hadimuljono invited the company to prepare a detailed feasibility study for the project's implementation as per the ‘Priority Right Framework’ requirements.

After submitting the detailed feasibility study, which was entirely designed to fit the specific requirements and conditions of Indonesia, in September, 2019, the MLFF tender was announced in May, 2020. Roatex participated as the initiator of the project.

Following a technical and financial evaluation, the Ministry announced on January 27, 2021 that Roatex had won the MLFF tender.

The implementation of the MLFF system in Hungary resulted in well-maintained toll roads, a significant increase in government income, reduction in traffic jams, and the establishment of a comfortable, user-friendly system providing a structured and transparent tolling environment, which greatly reduced the potential for abuse.

“Planning to implement the MLFF system with the involvement of Indonesian companies, Roatex has been working together with Indonesian experts for a long time from both the private and governmental spheres, and has an in-depth knowledge regarding the Indonesian toll road environment,” the Embassy stated//ANT

Salons, barbershops adapt to new normal as pandemic continues unabated - ANT

When the transition large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) measures were implemented for the first time in June, 2020, Jakartans geared up to once again carry out activities in places they were not able to visit during the complete lockdown.

Beauty salons and personal grooming parlors, which were among those impacted by the lockdown and restriction policies, prepared to welcome customers back and revive their businesses.

Under the new normal, everyone has been warned time and time again, that this is not a green light for things to return to normal. People are still being asked to adhere to strict health protocols, including maintaining distancing, washing hands with running water and soap regularly, using hand sanitizers when water is unavailable, and wearing masks.

However, owner of ARTE Barber, Karina Renata, felt the need for extra safety measures to ensure maximum protection.“We have prepared a set of health and safety guidelines to ensure that we are protecting not only ourselves, but, of course, our customers as well,” she told ANTARA.

In accordance with the government regulation to limit occupancy to 50 percent, ARTE Barber is prioritizing customers who make prior reservations and only allowing two people into the premises at a time, that is, one customer and one barber. Customers are being asked to wear masks, as well as barbers, who are wearing face shields and gloves for extra protection.

“We have taken our hygiene very seriously, even way before the pandemic. We always provide fresh towels and barber capes, and routinely disinfect our chairs, tools, and counters,” Renata wrote on ARTE Barber’s Instagram page//ANT

Aerial photo of evacuee tents in the vicinity of Manakarra Stadium in Mamuju, West Sulawesi on Jan 18, 2021 (ANTARA FOTO/Sigid Kurniawan/rwa.

The West Sulawesi Provincial Disaster Mitigation Task Force has reported a total of 89,624 people of Mamuju and Majene districts which bore the brunt of a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on January 15, are still taking refuge.

"The evacuees comprise 60,505 in Mamuju district and 29,199 in Majene," spokesman for the task force M. Natsir said here on Saturday.

He said the evacuees are being sheltered in 249 camps comprising 105 camps with more than 100 evacuees and 124 camps with less than 100 evacuees in Mamuju and 20 camps with more than 100 evacuees in Majene.

In Mamuju, the evacuees are found in the sub-districts of Mamuju, Simboro, Tapalang, Tapalang Barat, Kaluku, Papalang and Balakkang, while in Majene, the evacuees are found in the sub-districts of Malunda and Ulumanda.Some 15 thousand residents fled their homes following the powerful quake.

Secretary of the West Sulawesi Province Muhammad Idris said 91 people lost their lives, 320 people were very seriously injured, 426 people were seriously injured, 240 people were moderately injured and 2,703 people were lightly injured

"Three people are still missing in Majene district and two others died at evacuee camp," he said.

A powerful earthquake rocked the districts of Majene and Mamuju early on Friday (Jan 15). The epicenter of the quake was located on land, six kilometers northeast of Majene, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The shallow quake, which the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) believes was caused by a local fault, destroyed several buildings, including the governor's office, a military office, and the Maleo Hotel.The earthquake, which damaged several homes and a public health center, also triggered three landslides along the Majene-Mamuju road section, disrupting the transportation of people and goods, chief of the BNPB Center for Disaster Data, Information and Communication, Dr. Raditya Jati, said at an online press conference in Jakarta recently//ANT