VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Here is the Headlines of several national newspapers published today, September 15, 2018.

We begin with Kompas which wrote “Reservoir Water Keeps  Decreasing”.

The water of more reservoirs in a number of regions is decreasing. Effective water management is needed immediately so as not to interfere with national food stability. In Central Java, four reservoirs with a capacity of 6 million - 10 million cubic meters have dried up. As a result, 5,000 hectares of agricultural land do not get irrigation water supply. The four reservoirs are Botok Reservoir and Brambang Reservoir in Sragen Regency, and Kedunguling Reservoir and Plumbon Reservoir in Wonogiri Regency. Head of Irrigation and Raw Water Division of the Public Works Office, Water Resources, and Spatial Planning of Central Java, Ketut Arsa Indra Watara said on Friday that in addition to the four reservoirs that are drying up, the water discharge in 13 other reservoirs also decreases by 20-50 percent. However, overall the water supply is still maintained.

Moving on to Media Indonesia with its headline “Reveal Total the Century case”.

Corruption Eradication Commission -KPK was asked to resolve the handling of the Rp. 6.7 trillion bailout funds to Bank Century, including requesting information from the 6th Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.The Century bank case reoccurs after the media reported from Hong Kong, Asia Sentinel, with the title “Indonesian's SBY Government Vast Criminal Conspiracy”. The results of the investigation written by John Berthelsen said that the SBY government had committed a money laundering conspiracy of US $ 12 billion dollars or around Rp177 trillion in the Century bank bailout. One of the initiators of the Century Bank Special Committee in the House of Representatives -DPR, Mukhamad Misbakhun said that it is time for KPK to fully uncover the mega scandal.

We end the Headlines with Republika which wrote “Producers Are Asked for Halal Certification Immediately”.

Deputy Chairperson of the House of Representatives Commission 8, Ace Hasan Syadzily asked all producers to comply with the rules contained in the Halal Product Guarantee Act. He emphasized that there would be sanctions for producers who do not immediately conduct halal certification of their products in accordance with the provisions in the Halal Product Guarantee Act. Even though, currently the Halal Product Guarantee Agency is still awaiting the Draft Government Regulation to be able to act in a bid to fulfill the rights of Muslim consumers. Ace also pointed out that the sanctions that can be imposed to producers are varied. For example, their products cannot be circulated if they do not meet the Halal Product Guarantee Act. However, the House of Representatives also urged the government to immediately ratify the Draft Government Regulation on Halal Product Guarantees because the Draft Government Regulation will be legally binding for related stakeholders.

That’s Headlines.

On Wednesday, 12 September 2018, in Tangerang, Banten, based on the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra or Ari Askhara officially served as President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia, replacing Pahala N Mansury.

Throughout 2017, PT Garuda Indonesia suffered a loss worth US$213.4 million dollars, equivalent to Rp2.88 trillion. In 2016, Garuda managed to record a net profit worth US$9.4 million or around Rp126.9 billion. The losses during 2017 were due to increased spending by 13%, from US$3.7 billion to 4.25 billion dollars, mainly due to an increase in fuel costs by 25% from US$924 million to 1.15 billion dollars.

Ari Askhara has a target to reduce PT Garuda Indonesia's losses to less than US$ 100 million at the end of 2018 by closing the operating costs leakage gap, optimizing favorite routes, opening good economic value routes and improving employee performance. From 2013 to 2018, Askhara was a director of a number of companies, such as Director of Finance and Garuda Risk, and lastly in 2018, he served as President Director of PT Pelindo III.

Askhara will involve all employees and regulators in achieving the target. Part of his experience at Pelindo III will be applied on Garuda. One of them is the transformation of human capital. Because Garuda Indonesia is engaged in the service sector, employees’ happiness is very important so that service to passengers increases. Furthermore, he will attempt to increase revenue by creating new routes at several points of foreign tourist sources, and optimizing the old domestic routes compared to international ones.

To reduce operating costs and prevent inefficiency, there will be renegotiation of incoming aircraft leases, especially for narrow body and wide body existing flights in a bid to extend the lease period. So, the monthly rental fee will decrease by 10-20%.

Amid Rupiah’s worsening conditions and rising oil prices, the next step to be taken is redefining cost structure, changing and improving operational costs.

Along with other directors, such as Commercial Director -Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah, Director of Cargo and Business Development -M Iqbal, Operations Director Bambang -Adi Surya, Director of Finance and Risk Management -Fuad Rizal, HR Director -Heri Akhyat, Technical Director -I Wayan Susena and Service Director - Nicodemus P Lampe, Ari Askhara with the support of shareholders will try to realize the achievement of the target to reduce PT Garuda Indonesia's losses to below US$ 100 million by the end of 2018.

With the experience of leading various divisions in various companies along with the management of the new Garuda Indonesia, Ari Askhara's strong commitment is expected to become a reality, instead of writing on paper, with the support of various parties.

That’s Commentary!

This is RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia with Diplomatic Corner, a program which presents information about activities and progress of Indonesian diplomacy in the international world. 

The first information is from Cairo, Egypt.

Spice products from Indonesia, especially nutmeg and clove are in demand by Egyptian market. To fulfill the demand of the market, an Indonesian company has booked contract of shipment of 28 tons of nutmeg to Egypt.  The nominal of the purchase contract reaches more than US$163 thousand dollars. The signing of the contract between Indonesian and  Egyptian company was conducted at Indonesian embassy of Cairo, Egypt on Sunday (9/9). In addition to exporting nutmeg, the contract also booked purchase of 15 tons of nutmeg from Indonesia, worth US$99 thousand dollars. The signing of the contract was witnessed by Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Helmy Fauzi and Attaché of Trade of the Indonesian embassy of Cairo, Burman Rahman. After the signing, Ambassador Helmy Fauzi revealed that the demand on spice commodities from Indonesia at Egyptian market is quite high and continues to increase. Moreover, Egypt can play a major role as hub for Indonesian products to enter African market. 

The next information is from New Delhi.

The fifth meeting of Indonesia-India Joint Working Group on terrorism contra (JWG) was conducted in New Delhi on Monday (10/9). The meeting was jointly led by Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary of terrorism contra, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India and Inspector General Hamidin, Deputy of International Cooperation, National Counter Terrorism Agency, Indonesia. The two sides have changed views on development of terrorism and steps that are taken by each government, program of the increasing of capacity and cooperation in the bilateral, regional and multilateral level. The two sides are committed to strengthening cooperation in fighting terrorism. Indonesia and India have established comprehensive strategic partnership which was agreed when Indian Prime Minister visited Indonesia on May 29 – 30, 2018. The cooperation of anti-terrorism has become an important element of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.  

We end Diplomatic Corner with the information from Islamabad.

Various efforts keep being conducted by Indonesian embassy of  Islamabad to defend and to increase Indonesian palm oil market in Pakistan. One of the efforts is to hold international seminar with the title "Palm Oil: Health, Nutrition & Development". The seminar was conducted under cooperation with University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), and Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) at UAF auditorium on Monday (10/9). UAF was selected because it is the oldest university of agriculture in Pakistan and becomes reference of food supervisory agency, Punjab Food Authority -PFA. Last year, the agency planned to ban the circulation of Vanaspati Ghee product, namely 70% mixture of palm oil  in July 2020 because it is dangerous for health in Punjab province which is inhabited by more than 110 million people. Remembering that Pakistan is the third biggest palm oil market after China and India, Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan, Iwan Suyudhie Amri viewed that it is strategic to enhance understanding of Pakistani stakeholders regarding the safety of palm products. The way is by synergizing between academicians and chambers of Commerce and Industry through the seminar. The seminar attended by more than 160 people, including Indonesian consulate general of Karachi, officials related to Pakistan, business community, researchers, lecturers and students took place smoothly and succeeded to give more understanding that  palm oil does not endanger health, it is rich of nutrition, and very potential to increase economy and Gross Domestic Income. Previously, the Indonesian embassy of Islamabad along with the Indonesian consulate general of Karachi also conducted Conference and Exhibition on Indonesian Palm Oil on September 6.

That was Diplomatic Corner.

Today's Mosaic of the Archipelago presents information: first, Melaspas ritual of Simpang Ngurah Rai Underpass. The second information is that Satu Suro carnival of Surakarta palace is participated in by 7 albino buffalos. We end Mosaic of the Archipelago with the information on Chief of National Police enlivens Asian Para Games 2018 torch parade in Makassar. 

National Road Implementation Center 8 held Melaspas or Macaru ritual or sanctification of Simpang Tugu Ngurah Rai Underpass on Wednesday (12/9), before it is planned to officiated in mid- September.

Head of Preservation Sector of the Center, Nusakti Weda said that Melaspas ritual was gratitude to have completing underpass project development. Underpass project development can be completed faster from the previous target on October 20, 2018, completing on July 31, 2018. The Underpass will be operated to support the implementation of IMF and World meeting in October.

Director of traffic of regional police of Bali, Commissioner Pol AA Made Sudana said at the location that with the existence of the underpass, traffic jam in Denpasar can be easily overcome, especially when Bali faces international events such as IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2018 in October.

Made Sudana also said that his side does not want to take a risk if later the state’s delegations and guests are stuck in a traffic jam in Bali. With the existence of the underpass, the police set travel time from  I Gusti Ngurah Rai International airport to the location of the event around 30 minutes. To welcome Javanese New Year, Surakarta Hadiningrat sultanate on Tuesday (11/9) conducted heirloom carnival of Malam Satu Suro, night of change of New Year in Javanese community. The ceremony was participated in by hundreds of relatives and servants of the sultanate. The welcoming event of Javanese New Year was witnessed by thousands of the community along the route which was passed.  Based on RRI’s observation, 7 albino buffalos, descent of Kyai Slamet Kagungan Dalem Sinuhun of the 13th Paku Buwono became ‘Cucuk Lampah’ or road guide. In addition, dozens of the core heirlooms of Islamic Mataram kingdom’s heritage were paraded around the sultanate. Hundreds of the participants of the parade were jointly walking and conducting so-called ‘Topo Bisu’ ritual  or walking without saying any word. Hundreds of tings, small lanterns and bamboo torches became light during the parade. The aroma of incense was smelled along the trip. Relative of Surakarta sultanate, Dipokusumo explained that Malam Satu Suro parade has begun since Paku Buwono X leadership as form of commemoration and welcoming change of Javanese New Year of Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo. The calculation combines the date of Hijriyah Islamic calendar and Hindu Saka. Thus, the event is conducted routinely every year as ritual and preservation of the culture. 

Chief of National Police, General Tito Karnavian enlivened Asian Para Games 2018 torch parade in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Wednesday (12/9). He participated in the torch parade from Resort Police of Big City of Makassar to Karebosi field. Asian Para Games torch was directly brought by javelin throw’s athlete, the gold medalist of Vietnam Asian Para Games 2005, Bahar Rahman and he handed over to the Chief of National Police. General Tito was accompanied by Governor of South Sulawesi, Nurdin Abdullah and Mayor of Makassar, Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto. Thus, the torch was handed over to disabled badminton player, Zaldi who was the winner of silver medal in badminton in 2012. Asian Para Games torch was stored at Karebosi Makassar field as part of Asian Para Games 2018 series. Asian Para Games 2018 will start being held on October 6 - 13, 2018.

That was Mosaic of the Archipelago.