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Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocol at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Rika Aprianti, at the Gunung Sindur Correctional Facility, Bogor, on Friday, January 8, 2021. (ANTARA PHOTOS/M Fikri Setiawan/my) - 

The Law and Human Rights Ministry assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing carts created by correctional inmates.

"What we provide are carts for MSME actors, and those were entirely made by correctional inmates from several areas," Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocol at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Rika Aprianti, stated upon being contacted here on Friday.

Aprianti remarked that the allocation of carts was conducted during a series of events to commemorate the 58th Correctional Service Day. The Law and Human Rights Ministry has been collaborating with several corporations, one of which was involved in the banking sector, to aid MSME actors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some corporations funded the production of carts made by the inmates. Once the products were ready, they were distributed to the community or MSME actors.

She stated that the initiative was still ongoing. On April 26, they would record the number of carts that were created and distributed to MSMEs.

The Directorate General of Corrections was currently promoting the 'one day one prison's product' program. She explained that the one day one prison's product program was implemented by all technical units on a national scope. The program aimed to promote inmates' products to the public in order to garner their interest into purchasing them.

The products also vary, ranging from batik, household furniture, food, drinks, and footwear to other handicrafts.

Through the program, the ministry is keen to inform the public that the inmates had shown productivity as was apparent from the products they made.

Hence, she compelled the public to participate in buying various products made by the inmates.

The ministry expects that the inmates can gain special skills from the program as well, so once they were released to once again become part of the community, they would have the expertise that they could use to open up business opportunities//ANT

Bowosie Forest in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara. (ANTARA/HO-BPOLBF) - 

The government has continued to develop Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara, as a priority tourism area to attract tourists.

One area here that is currently being developed as an ecotourism destination is the Bowosie Forest.

Bowosie Forest is located at an altitude so besides enjoying nature, tourists visiting the forest can also soak in views of Labuan Bajo from high land.

The Implementing Agency for the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Agency (BPOLBF), together with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, is currently developing a sustainable and integrated tourism area in Labuan Bajo's Bowosie Forest with the aim of creating jobs and improving the economy for the surrounding community.

The integrated tourism area occupies 400 hectares, or about 1.98 percent of the total area of Bowosie forest, which is spread over 20,193 hectares.

The concept of developing ecotourism or nature tourism in the form of natural forests is expected to boost tourist interest.

However, a survey by the BPOLBF team has found the condition of the Bowosie Forest very alarming.

Most parts of the forest have been damaged by irresponsible parties. The trees at many points in the forest have been cut down, and most have been burned. Given the conditions, it is necessary to undertake rejuvenation efforts so that the forest’s beauty can be restored.

"Why would tourists want to come if the trees are cut down and burned?" BPOPLBF president director Shana Fatina remarked.

Some locations in the forest have even been converted into agricultural land with annual plants.

In order to restore the condition of Bowosie Forest, more planting activities than logging must be promoted in the area.

Of course, the destruction of the forest perpetrated by people must be a serious concern for all parties.

For that reason, the BPOLBF, as a representative of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, which will manage the forest as a new tourist destination, has determined that it must immediately coordinate with several parties to map the destruction of the forest.

Law violators

Approximately 135 hectares, or 34 percent of BPOLBF land has been destroyed by irresponsible parties. Most of it lies in the inner forest area, which is not visible from the forest's edge.

The forest encroachment has become a serious concern for the Forest Management Unit (KPH) of the West Manggarai KLHK Office under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

Illegal logging and burning of the forest have been taking place since 2015. Although many perpetrators have been arrested, there are still those who are continuing to break the law.

According to the Forestry Law No. 41/1999, Article 50, the perpetrators of forest destruction can face five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp5 billion

Currently, there are a number of people living in Nggorang Bowosie Forest, which the BPOLBF will manage. They have even erected private buildings in the area without a permit.

The Forest Management Unit said that the buildings built by the people are illegal.

Police officers have also been roped in for handling the forest encroachment in the soon-to-be natural tourist attraction.

Still, all parties, in West Manggarai and other areas, need to get involved in order to preserve the forest jointly.

Job opportunities

The development of the Bowosie Forest, which will be turned into a natural tourist attraction, is expected to improve the surrounding community's economy and reduce the unemployment rate in Labuan Bajo, Flores, and East Nusa Tenggara, in general.

The BPOLBF has assured that tourism development in Bowosie Forest would absorb 10 thousand workers.

Currently, the BPOLBF, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, is preparing to develop four tourism development zones over an area of 400 hectares in Bowosie Forest with the aim of developing a sustainable, quality, and integrated tourism area in Labuan Bajo.

The four zones are the cultural district, adventure district, wildlife district, and leisure district.

This development is based on the mandate of President Joko Widodo through Presidential Regulation Number 32 of 2018, which stipulates that the management be carried out by the Implementing Agency, which was formed in 2019.

The Presidential Regulation regulates the change in status and utilization of the 400 hectares of Bowosie Forest in West Manggarai district: at least 136 hectares of the forest will be managed by the Authority, and the rest will be managed under the Permit for Forest Utilization-Environmental Services Utilization (PBPH-JL) scheme for nature tourism.

According to director of destinations of the BPOLBF, Konstant Mardinandus, the BPOLBF is also conducting an integrated hydrogeological study and environmental impact analysis to ensure that the sustainability of springs in the area is maintained and does not interfere with the supply of water to local residents//ANT

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who has been picked as the leader of PAP's 4G team, at a press conference at the Istana on Apr 16, 2022. (Photo: MCI) - 

At his first press appearance after being chosen as the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation leader – paving the way for him to become the next Prime Minister –Finance Minister Lawrence Wong  said that political leadership is “never about one person”. 

Highlighting that Singapore has many challenges ahead, Mr Wong said at the press conference on Saturday morning (Apr 16) at the Istana: “We can overcome all of these challenges only as a strong and united team with a single-minded focus to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

“And that is why I value the contributions from everyone on the team, including our broader team of hardworking and dedicated party activists.”

The conference came two days after it was made known that Mr Wong will be the leader of the fourth-generation or 4G politicians, a development which means that Mr Wong, 49, will take over when Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong steps down.

During the press conference, Mr Wong said that as the political leaders worked together to fight COVID-19 in the past two years, they have “gelled and grown closer together as a team”.

“I believe we have strengthened our bonds with Singaporeans too, through this crisis of a generation, and the bonds among Singaporeans have also been strengthened by the crisis,” he said.

“In some societies the crisis depleted social capital and weakened political trust. In Singapore, I think we have dealt with the crisis in such a way as to add to our social capital and strengthen political trust, and I am very grateful for that.”

When asked for his thoughts and views on the current 4G team, Mr Wong said that he values the diversity in the team, with some MPs coming from the public service and some from the private sector.

“We have come to know one another’s strengths better, grow our confidence and trust in each other and understand better how we can complement each other. As leader of the team, I will do my best to ensure that the contribution from the entire team will be greater than the sum of the individual parts,” he said.

And he looks forward to bringing in more people to contribute in different ways and help strengthen the team, he added.

Mr Wong also said that the team intends to “engage the public” later on and comprehensively review the Government’s policies “to see what needs to be adjusted and improved”. This will be a “major agenda” for the 4G team, he said.

“I would like every Singaporean to know and feel that they will always have a stake in our society, even as we chart our new way forward together. As leader of the team, that will be the approach, the attitude and the spirit I adopt,” said Mr Wong.

Mr Wong, along with Mr Lee and former minister Khaw Boon Wan, was answering questions from the media to shed more light on the process that selected Mr Wong as the country’s next PM.

Mr Khaw had been roped in to sound out the Cabinet ministers, as well as Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, to facilitate a consensus on a 4G leader. The views of the Prime Minister and the two Senior Ministers were not sought.

Giving more details on Saturday, Mr Khaw said that an "overwhelming majority" of those asked – 15 of the 19  "stakeholders" – chose Mr Wong to be the next leader.

The decision was endorsed by all Government MPs in a party caucus on Thursday evening.

Despite the approval of his peers, Mr Wong said that he is “under no illusions about the demands of the job”.

“It will get more challenging with greater political contestation and a growing desire for diversity in Parliament,” he said.

Calling the job “possibly the biggest responsibility” of his life, Mr Wong said that he will continue with the same principles that have guided him all these years, which is to "give my best, to engage and listen and to learn and improve continually”.

He said: “Throughout my life, I've never hankered for post, position or power. I've always been realistic about my own abilities and strengths. 

“My philosophy in life, instilled by my parents from young - is that whatever task I'm assigned, I will give of my best. If my best falls short - as it surely will from time to time - I try to learn and I strive to improve and do better.”

He said that he had never “gone out looking” for additional work, but his duties and responsibilities have kept on growing over the past 25 years he has been in public service.

The most recent and prominent of these have been leading Singapore’s efforts against the pandemic as co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force.

Mr Wong was first elected as a Member of Parliament in May 2011 as part of a West Coast GRC team. He contested in the new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the 2015 General Election and was elected again in 2020.   

He has held positions in the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Communications and Information, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Education.

The candidate to succeed Mr Lee, 70, had been up in the air since Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stepped aside as the leader of the PAP 4G team last April.

Mr Heng, 60, cited his age as the reason and said he would have "too short a runway" should he become Prime Minister after the pandemic//CNA

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison gestures as he makes a statement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Nov 1, 2021. (File photo: Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters) - 

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday (Apr 16) he would seek to establish an anti-corruption watchdog if re-elected next month, hitting out at the opposition Labor's plan.

Ahead of the May 21 general election, Morrison has come under pressure from Labour to set up a federal integrity commission, which he first promised in 2018.

Labour leader Anthony Albanese said Morrison has failed to establish a commission because of integrity problems in his conservative coalition.

"The reason why Scott Morrison doesn't have a national anti-corruption commission is sitting on his front bench," Albanese said, campaigning in far north Queensland.

In the campaign's first week, Morrison has been accused of abandoning his promise to establish an anti-corruption agency, and failing to commit to set one up if he wins another term in parliament.

Labour claims an anti-corruption watchdog, similar to the Independent Commission Against Corruption in New South Wales, is needed nationally to restore faith in Australia's political system by probing misuse of federal funds in grants programmes.

In a campaign that has focused on wages and inflation, polls this week showed Albanese's centre-left Labour ahead of Morrison's conservative Liberal-National Party coalition, even as they showed the prime minister extending his lead as the country's preferred leader.

Speaking in Melbourne, Morrison said that if re-elected he would "seek to implement" a watchdog but he would not be drawn on timing or whether it would be a priority.

He said the government's had a "very serious policy" of over 300 pages, while labelling Labour's proposal a "two-page fluff sheet".

Albanese said a Labour government would have an anti-corruption body "with teeth" in place by the end of the year. It would be independent of government and be able to hold public hearings, he said.

"It is one that will be real as opposed to their model that has been rejected by everyone," he told reporters in Cairns//CNA