VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Fadillah Arbi Aditama at the 2021 Asia Talent Cup. (ANTARA/HO-Astra Honda/uyu) - 

Indonesian racer Fadillah Arbi Aditama, 16, has been officially selected for Dorna’s Junior Talent Team for the 2022 FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship.

Dorna Sports is the organizer of several global motorcycle racing events. FIM Junior Grand Prix usually serves as a stepping stone for young riders for entering the higher level of MotoGP.

Aditama has been selected for the team along with Danial Sharil (Malaysia), Tatchakorn Buasri (Thailand), and Eddie O'Shea (English).

"I am very grateful for the opportunity. I will do my best to be able to get the highest achievements in the championship," he said, according to information posted on the official website of Astra Honda Motor on Saturday.

Aditama is an alumnus of Astra Honda Racing School 2019.

He stole the show in his debut at the 2021 Asia Talent Cup.

He performed well and consistently right from the test session at Losail Circuit, Qatar, which took place on March 19–21, 2021.

In the first round of the championship, Aditama recorded a time of 2 minutes 12.327 seconds in the qualifying session, just 0.471 seconds behind Japanese rider Taiyo Furusato, who recorded the fastest time.

The record made Aditama the third fastest rider in the session.

"I need to adapt as quickly as possible to compete with other racers from various countries, especially with the ones who are used to racing in European circuits,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he sought the support of all Indonesian people so that he can make the nation proud at the international racing event.

In addition to the 2022 FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, the young rider will compete for Dorna Sports at the 2022 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup//ANT

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (ANTARA/HO Kemenko Kemaritiman dan Investasi) - 

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan reminded people to steer clear from going overboard while celebrating Christmas and New Year's 2022 and also to follow health protocols with discipline.

"The celebrations of Christmas and New Year's 2022 are still being conducted in a simple way without being excessive, because we must continue to maintain and improve our discipline in following the COVID-19 health protocols," Pandjaitan noted in one of his posts uploaded on his personal Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan on Saturday.

The minister pointed out that in the past two years, Indonesia had been battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister expressed gratitude over the significant decline in the number of positive confirmed cases and death rates. He also thanked God, as the pandemic could be faced together and eventually surmounted.

"This is all thanks to our prayers and efforts together, and with us working hard and being united, we are able to do this in an integrated manner," he affirmed.

Pandjaitan also advised to increase concern over health and adherence to health protocols.

"I believe and hope that in future, we would be able to fight together to face this difficult time. Do not become arrogant, stay humble, and everyone must keep working together. Those are the keys to our success in dealing with this for the past two years,” he recalled.

He also reminded the public to not become euphoric after the COVID-19 cases were brought under control, as the pandemic was still ongoing. On the positive side, Indonesia’s economic recovery was progressing at a much faster rate as compared to other countries.

“We can be proud, but we should not be arrogant. I expect that we do not become complacent because there is still a long way to go (to emerge) from COVID-19. There is still much we do not know about COVID-19, and we are lucky to be one of the few countries whose economic recovery is rapid, even though we have been attacked by the delta variant," he remarked.

Pandjaitan expects everyone to unite together against the pandemic that continues to haunt Indonesia.

"May the God, Most Merciful, be with us in 2022, (guiding us to) make Indonesia even better," he concluded//ANT

Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Human Rights Mahfud MD at the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Diponegoro Road, Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday (Dec 25, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim Jatim - 

Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Human Rights Mahfud MD reiterated the Indonesian government's resolve to ensure equal rights and grant equal protection for religious denominations and organizations.

"Indonesia protects all religions in the country, as it does not recognize only a single religion that completely dictates activities in the country," the coordinating minister said during his visit to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tegalsari Sub-district, here, on Saturday.

Indonesia is not a secular state that completely separates religion from the state, he noted.

"Indonesia is neither a religious nor a secular state, but we are a Pancasilaist state that protects residents belonging to religious denominations," he remarked.

Mahfud remarked that Indonesian founders firmly believe that all religions preach kindness for humankind.

"We may observe differences in religious rituals and organizations, but in the end, all religions teach kindness. Indonesia is not a country that sanctions only a single religion. Hence, we must provide equal protection to all religions and their adherents," the coordinating minister stated.

As a Pancasilaist country, with belief in God as one of its core tenets, the government is obliged to protect religious activities and adherents in Indonesia, Mahfud noted.

"Indonesia does not recognize only a single religious denomination, and the Pancasila principle of 'Belief in the Almighty God' is actualized by the government's determination to protect all religious faiths," he stated.

Earlier, Mahfud had visited the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) at Diponegoro Road, Surabaya, to observe Christmas activities in the city.

East Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta, Brawijaya/V Regional Military Command Chief Major General Nurcahyanto, and East Java Province acting Regional Secretary Heru Tjahjono also joined the coordinating minister's visit to Surabaya churches//ANT

Inmates at the Atambua Prison, East Nusa Tenggara, being informed about the remission they received on Friday (Dec 24, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Lapas Atambua - 

Some 12,641 Christian and Catholic inmates in Indonesian prisons received special Christmas Day remission from the Law and Human Rights Ministry's Directorate General of Prisons.

Out of the total inmates granted remission, majority of the inmates totaling 12,562 received sentence reduction, while the remaining 79 inmates were awarded special remission, thereby allowing for an earlier release, the directorate general's Public Relations and Protocol Department Head Rika Aprianti said in a statement here on Saturday.

"The government granted remission as a mark of appreciation for inmates, who have improved themselves during their incarceration period," Aprianti stated.

Out of the total 273,992 prisoners incarcerated in correctional facilities nationwide as of December 23, 2021, some 19,609 belong to Christian and Catholic denominations, the department head noted.\

The 12,562 inmates received varied sentence cuts, with 2,296 inmates receiving a 15-day remission, 7,884 inmates granted 30-day remission, 1,854 inmates awarded a remission of one month and 15 days, and the remaining 528 inmates granted a two-month remission, she stated.

Out of the 79 inmates released earlier after receiving remission, some 28 inmates received a 15-day remission, 34 inmates were awarded a 30-day remission, 15 inmates were granted remission of one month and 15 days, and two people received a two-month remission, Aprianti noted.

The department head remarked that the two provinces, with large number of inmates granted Christmas remission were North Sumatra, with 2,456 inmates, and East Nusa Tenggara, with 1,158 inmates.

"Inmates, who have fulfilled administrative and legal requirements, can receive the Christmas remission. Apart from reducing their sentence, we hope this would also motivate inmates to improve themselves," Aprianti stated.

She encouraged inmates, who had yet to receive remissions, to be patient and continue to improve themselves during their incarceration period.

"We hope through this remission, inmates would embrace the spirit of Christmas and be grateful to the Almighty God. Remission is granted because inmates have improved themselves and served God well," Aprianti remarked//ANT