VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Evacuees taking shelter in a tent following an earthquake in Sumedang, West Java. (ANTARA/HO-Kemensos) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Social Affairs has been delivering logistics assistance to people affected by the 4.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Sumedang District, West Java, on New Year's Eve on Sunday.

In a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, the ministry's Director General of Social Protection and Security, Robben Rico, noted that the people are in urgent need of tents for shelter, as the region is still experiencing aftershocks.

Despite the quake, in general, not inflicting heavy damage, the ministry will continue to provide logistics and a place for the people to take shelter in the event of aftershocks, he remarked.

"Based on my first-hand inspection, the overall damage is not severe. However, it is our responsibility to prepare. It is not enough to take merely responsive measures, as we cannot predict when an aftershock will occur," he emphasized.

Rico explained that the ministry had prepared multipurpose tents, family tents, and roll-up tents for the quake victims while noting that large-sized multipurpose tents had been set up at several evacuation points.

"We are receiving quite a high demand for tents. Most of the victims said they were afraid of being struck by an aftershock while staying at their homes, especially at night," he remarked.

In shelters, the ministry has prepared tents equipped with beds, portable toilets, fans, and food. It has also deployed its emergency response unit to build public kitchens to meet the people's need for food.

The ministry's aid included 22 multipurpose tents, 49 family tents, 20 roll-up tents, 105 beds, 140 blankets, 50 packages of children's equipment, 20 packages of kitchen tools, 240 packages of children's food, 70 pallets, 60 sheets of plywood, spotlights, and two thousand kilograms of rice//VOI-ANT

President Joko Widodo delivers a speech during the groundbreaking of Campus II of the Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto in Banyumas, Central Java, on Wednesday (January 3, 2024). (ANTARA/Sumarwoto) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo encouraged the academic community of the Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto (UMP) to properly prepare quality human resources as an effort to welcome Indonesia's demographic bonus expected in 2030.

In a live video broadcast by his secretariat, as followed in Jakarta, the president made the encouraging statement during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Campus II of the university in Banyumas District, Central Java Province, on Wednesday."I believe that Muhammadiyah, with its long-standing history in education, will manage to push UMP as an international-class superior university that the people of Purwokerto can be proud of. UMP will contribute to the nation's human resource development," he remarked.

Jokowi, as president is widely known, reiterated that in 2030, Indonesia is projected to face a demographic bonus, which constitutes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a nation, noting that Indonesia should make the most of it in order to transform into a developed country.

"Countries in South America have been developing countries since 50-60 years ago. However, they have yet to emerge as developed countries," he noted while citing their failure to prepare superior human resources for welcoming a demographic bonus as the reason.

Jokowi went on to emphasize that the development of human resources is the key to optimizing a demographic bonus. According to Jokowi, Indonesia needs to focus on honing the skills of its young talents.

He then underlined the vital role of the national leadership in 2024, 2029, and 2034, saying that those governing the country during the mentioned periods could be decisive in Indonesia's journey towards becoming a developed country.

"National leaders should fully comprehend and know what to do to bring this country to progress," he affirmed.

Jokowi also noted that UMP, currently home to about 17 thousand students, should take part in developing Indonesia's human resources for the sake of enabling the country to make the most of the expected demographic bonus.

"The opportunity is in sight. Now, it is a matter of how to genuinely make the most of it. If we can do so, we will be able to make Indonesia a developed country," he concluded.

Campus II of the UMP will have 14 floors, and its construction will be supported by a budget of USD 13 million provided by the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry.

Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto, among others, attended the groundbreaking ceremony//VOI-ANT

Pedestrian gate of Gambir Station - 

Voinews, Jakarta - Before New Year eve 2024, Long Distance Train (KAJJ) passengers at Gambir Station and Pasar Senen Station were observed to be normal, in total there were around 23,991 tickets sold for departures today, Sunday (31/12).

Ixfan Hendriwintoko Public Relations Manager for Daop 1 Jakarta explained that based on ticket sales data, the volume of passengers departing on Friday (29/12) was recorded as the highest volume figure during the holiday period leading up to New Year 2024 for the Daop 1 Jakarta area, namely a total of around 42,446 passengers.

Departures for today, Sunday (31/12), returned to normal, namely a total of around 24,221 passengers, 5,941 passengers departed from Gambir Station with an operational service of 39 train trips and 12,080 passengers departed from Pasar Senen Station with an operational service of 34 train trips, while the remaining passengers departed from Bekasi, Karawang, Cikarang and other stations in the Daop1 Jakarta area.

These figures could still increase, considering that ticket sales for departures to the last train today are still open.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Sunday (31/12/23), overall, the total number of tickets for Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 (Nataru), tickets provided from KAI Operational Area 1 Jakarta (Daop 1Jakarta) for the 18 days of the Christmas period, December 21 2023 to January 7 2024, is 772,712 tickets, of that number as of Sunday ( 12/31) has sold more than 526 thousand tickets for departures from 21 Dec 2023 to 7 Jan 2024.

Meanwhile, if you look at the most popular dates based on train departure dates, they occur from 21 to 31 December 2023, in that 11 day period, of the 472,335 available tickets, around 423,690 were sold.

The remaining seats today, Sunday (31/12) to Sunday (7/1), are still 217 thousand seats, which is 63 percent of the seating capacity provided, namely 343,530 seats.

KAI hopes that people can plan their trips well and order tickets well in advance of departure because train tickets for the 2023 Christmas and New Year 2024 holidays can be booked starting 45 days before the selected departure schedule.

Train customers who will travel using KAI services are also advised to arrive early at the departure station at least 1 hour before their train departure.

"People who want to know about ticket availability can go online, namely the Access by KAI application which can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS devices. Apart from checking ticket availability, the Access by KAI application can also be used to order tickets, change schedules and cancel tickets.

"Aside from the ticket ordering application, it can also be done through official online and retail sales agents who have collaborated with KAI," said Ixfan.

All online stations are also equipped with CIC (Check In Counter) machines to print boarding pass tickets independently//VOI

Jay Idzes receive his Indonesian citizenship certificate from the Head of Kanwil East Jakarta Kemkumham -  

Voinews, Jakarta - Jay Idzes, an Italian Serie B soccer player of Indonesian descent from the Netherlands who plays in Venice, has officially become an Indonesian citizen and is ready to defend the Indonesian National Team. Met after taking the oath as an Indonesian citizen, Thursday (28/12/23) at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Jakarta, Jay hopes that he can join the Indonesian national team and make Indonesia proud in international football.

"For me just personally I just want to play as soon as possible and join the team and we have to see what will do but I’m just really happy that I’m here. From right now I’m just avalaible for the coach and  it’s his decision what he want to do and I’m just avalaible and open to everything", Jay said. 

On the same occasion, Member of the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco), Endri Erawan, said that even though he was an Indonesian citizen, Jay was still unable to defend Indonesia in the Asian Cup.

"This is the umpteenth time we have naturalized it and this is thanks to the hard work in this matter, the general chairman and Exco colleagues at the request of Shin Tae Yong. Finally, Jay Idzes can be sworn in. After this, we will arrange for passports, but it's a shame that Jay still can't take part in the Asian Cup", Endri said. 

Endri added that PSSI will then process the Indonesian identity card and passport and apply for the transfer of the federation from KNVB to PSSI as the final process. If FIFA accepts the federation's transfer, Jay will be able to defend the Indonesian National Team against Vietnam in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in March 2024//VOI-NK