VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

“Indonesian Wonder,” a daily segment featuring tourism, culinary arts, fine arts and culture from various regions across Indonesia. In today’s edition, we will introduce you to food which is easily found in Banten in the month of Ramadhan, namely Ketan Bintul.

Hunting for Iftar menu becomes an interesting activity in Ramadhan.  In Banten, there is a tradition which has been conducted since the 15th century and this is difficult to be forgotten,  namely by presenting special food when breaking the fast with Ketan Bintul.

For Banten people, the existence of Ketan Bintul in Ramadhan is a main part which cannot be separated. Even, in Banten, there is proverb which has ingrained “without Ketan Bintul in Ramadhan, like does not fast”. According to the history, Ketan Bintul was favorite food of Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin, namely a prince who became a role model of the people of Banten kingdom at that time. Whereas, the food was typical food of common people and was considered too simple for Sultan.   Because a Sultan had high moral character and always became a role model for his people to love  Ketan Bintul. So since that time, it has become culture, if  someone breaks the fast by eating Ketan Bintul to honor the Sultan. for Banten people, especially Serang who have many families and relatives, are accustomed to making their own food. They sometimes use sticky rice for their harvest. Definitely, this is to give typical treatment to the guests and families when breaking the fast.

Ketan Bintul is made from sticky rice which is steamed. To get savory flavor, when steaming the sticky rice, is mixed with grated coconut and a little bit salt. After well done, the sticky rice is put on a container. In the past, the container was from ex-rice sack which was made from plastic, then it was laid on the floor.  Thus, the hot sticky rice is pounded smoothly by using wood pestle whose tip is covered with plastic to avoid being sticky. To pound the sticky rice needs great power. It should be noted that the sticky rice should not lose its hot, so when being pounded, it can be refined and soften quickly. It needs speed, accuracy, and understanding where the part is not pounded yet. To pound the sticky rice is needed at least two persons, one for pounding it and another for turning again and again the sticky rice in order to get good result. After it is refined, it is formed square and wrapped by using banana leaf in order to be durable and still looking white.after the sticky rice is done, grated coconut is provided and it is fried without vegetable oil.  If grated coconut is getting brown, this is pulverized until smooth. And then it is added with sugar and salt. To arouse appetite, it is added red chili which is sliced small and elongated.  Fried red onion is also given.

Towards breaking the fast, the Ketan Bintul is served by spreading fried grated coconut slices of red chilly and fried red onion, while being accompanied by a glass of sweet tea or coffee. Surely, this typical food is able to relieve hunger and thirst after all day fasting. In Ramadhan, you can find Ketan Bintul vendor as long as outskirt of  Serang old markets.

Today in History over RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia. We start from an event on June 9, 1959 when Georgefish, the world's first nuclear ballistic missile submarine, was launched.

USS George Washington SSBN-598 is the first nuclear power sub-marine with ballistic missile weapon. In the era of cold war, the United States of America and Soviet Union had competed to develop various kinds of the main tools of nuclear weapons systems. The United States of America was successful to operate various modern nuclear weapons systems at that time; one of them was The Georgefish sub-marine. “The Georgefish” has begun to be designed since December 1957, and its frame has been finished a year later by manufacture of General Dynamics Electric Boat. But, USS George Washington SSBN-598 was just launched on June 9, 1959.

The next event was in 1967 when Israel conquered Golan high land.

Golan high land is a highland at border area of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Earlier, this territory belonged to Syria, but Israel seized Golan from Syria on June 9, 1967 in six-day war or Arab-Israel 1967 war. The war was between Israel and the affiliation of three Arab countries, namely Egypt, Jordan and Syria. The three countries also received active assistance from Iraq, Kuwait, Arab Saudi, Sudan, and Algeria. At early Yom Kippur 1973 war, Syria succeeded to seize again, but counter-attack Israel succeeded to repel Syria from most of Golan high land. On Golan high land, there are hills where Arab-Israel war was seized, such as Hermon and Booster hills. The two hills were observation center of Israel which was known with ‘eye of Israel'. 

And the last event was in 2004,  Husein Mutahar passed away.

H. Mutahar is Indonesian composer, especially for national and kid songs. His song which is popular, is hym Syukur which was provided to welcome the independence of Indonesia that was expected by him almost to be reached. The song was sung for the first time in January 1945 at Gedung Agung Yogyakarta Palace. His last work, Dirgahayu Indonesiaku, became official song of anniversary of the 50th Indonesia’s independence. Kid songs of his works were like Gembira, Tepuk Tangan Mari Tepuk, and Pramuka. H. Mutahar is founder of Indonesian Scout Movement, and a designer of National Flag Forces; the team cosisted of students across Indonesia.He has the sign of the Bintang Maha Putera for saving the heirloom flag from the hands of the Dutch occupation of Yogyakarta. 

Terrorism and violence often occur anywhere, including in Indonesia in the reasons of poverty, social matter, ethnicity, and religion. Indonesia is now building a civilization through a religious side based on Islamic education to counter radicalism and violence. Referring to building a tolerant and moderate Islam that is counter-violent, the government of Indonesia is establishing the International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII). The construction of the UIII was inaugurated through the launching of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 57/2016 on Establishment of International Islamic University of Indonesia.

In laying the first stone of UIII Campus construction at RRI Cimanggis Complex, Depok, West Java on Tuesday, June 5, President Joko Widodo said that the UIII campus construction has a goal to really become the center of study and research of Islamic civilization, considering Indonesia is the world’s largest number of Muslims. This Islamic campus has been planned since 2 years ago with the construction cost reaching Rp 3.5 trillion and this construction is one of the government’s national strategic projects.

Meanwhile, Minister of Religious Affairs, Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin hopes that the establishment of the campus will reduce the intolerance that occurs everywhere, including amid Indonesian people. He said that students studying at this campus will explore Islamic values, ​​specifically by studying and developing Islamic studies. Through their study, he hopes that Islam can be better understood in accordance with the essence and substance that can improve humans’ civilization. He also hopes that the establishment of the International Islamic University of Indonesia can contribute positively to Indonesia in a bid to participate in monitoring the civilization of the world.

Professor of State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Asep Usman Ismail said that Indonesia is the productive object of spreading the seeds of radicalism exhaled from abroad. So, strengthening educational institutions to counter radicalism includes three points. They are in the family, school and community. He perceived that the educational institutions are not only formal education, but also non-formal one.

Indeed, with the ability of human common sense, we can distinguish the good and the true by relying on cultural values, ethics and custom that come from the family milieu. Then if someone undergoes a low education, he or she will have difficulty in understanding or interpreting a teaching. Therefore, the establishment of the International Islamic University of Indonesia by the government is aimed at creating moderate graduates who can think in the way of Islam and this should be appreciated. In addition, the government of Indonesia plans to send the priests and scholars of UIII graduates to Western countries to provide a moderate and tolerant Islam that refers to the universal Islam. The academics and priests graduated from UIII are expected to promote tolerant, friendly and moderate Islam to the international world. Thus, this will make Indonesia as a major center of Islamic civilization.

Mosaic of Archipelago for today, Thursday, June 07, 2018 presents first information: Regency Government of Kalten is on alert with Mt. Merapi on Lebaran Day; second one, Ngurah Rai Airport Prepares Lebaran Transportation Post 2018. Lastly, Mosaic of Archipelago will end with Gathering and Iftar with Regency Government of Belu and Moslems keep the tolerance. Regency Government of Klatenasked all staff to remain alert with the current condition of Mt. Merapi. If eruption during Idul Fitri continues, the local government is ready to rescue the residents who enter in disaster prone areas. This was stated by Regent of Klaten, Sri Mulyani after leading a gathering of standby disaster at the Police Headquarters of Klaten on Wednesday (6/6). She said that the gathering is intended to check the readiness of personnel and fleets in the evacuation process in case of eruption. She added that everything is ready if any time, there is an eruption because the government is always present amid the people in any condition. To support the smoothness and the surge of passengers, the management of I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport has establishedLebaran Transportation Post 2018. The post is for public area of domestic arrival from June 7 to 24, 2018. General Manager of PT. Angkasa Pura I of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Yanus Suprayogi told the reporters, Wednesday (6/6) that the post operates 24 hours and is divided into 3 shifts. He hopes that all personnel are ready to serve the increasing passengers who will enjoy Lebaran 2018. He added that he had released extra flight as many as 724, consisting of 8 airlines and there are 12 routes. 111 thousand seats have been prepared by airlines. Yanus also pointed out that the extra flight rises 96 percent compared to extra flights in 2017. In addition, he said that this year’s long vacation also brings about impact on increasing domestic tourist visits to Bali.

We end Mosaic of Archipelago with Gathering and Iftar with Regency Government of Belu and Moslems keep the tolerance.

Deputy Regent of Belu, JT. Ose Luan when Gathering and Iftar with Moslems of Balu Regency on Wednesday (6/6) expressed the feeling of pride to be Indonesian. He said that the diversity of tribes, races, religions, and classes, with the tolerant life of the community has actually shown a nation's wealth. People can live together with mutual respect. This is a very valuable beauty. So, it is worth being maintained.

Meanwhile, Head of Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) of Belu Regency, Kaliman Lamarobak thanked for the government of Belu Regency who has given space to the Muslims in iftar in a bid to strengthen the bonds. He said that harmony occurs if all parties mutually respect, understand and always get together. The iftar was attended by leaders of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum and whole Muslim community and the Catholic Pesparani choir group, located at the Bete Lalenok Atambua Women's Building.