VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The radio of the Republic of Indonesia (RRI) will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sep. 11, 2020. The celebration had to be held during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the country is declared to be infected with the virus, RRI responded immediately with strategic responses to keep the country safe.

M. Rohanudin, RRI Managing Director, said that after the virus hit Indonesia, RRI focuses all its programs on Covid-19 issues, mainly dedicated to prevent and inform the public about Covid-19.

All the instructions to combat the lethal virus are broadcasted in all regional programs (Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 4 RRI), and national program (Pro 3 RRI). Pro 3 RRI is on air for 24 hours every day, thanks to 224 relay stations and other supporting regional stations.

Rohanudin said other than Covid-19 programs, RRI also includes a special program for students, “Learning in Pro 2 RRI) which is in collaboration with schools throughout Indonesia. Teachers interact with students who are studying from home. He said teachers, students, and parents lauded the program.

“The program is a media for teachers who miss their students. Some students even cried because they have not seen their teachers for a long time,” Rohanudin said.

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and several regional heads gave their support and appreciation to the program.

Another achievement by RRI during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Rohanudin, is producing songs “Bye Corona” and “National Songs Medley” and play it in all RRI stations (67 stations), RRI.Net, and RRI YouTube channel, and national TV channels (TVRI, RTV, and Indosiar). The National Song Medley conveyed appreciation to the media, doctors, nurses, National Army, National Police, and all humanitarian staffs involved in handling the Covid-19.

Entering the holy month of Ramadan, RRI produced Tala’al Badru shalawah recited by charismatic Muslim preachers.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, RRI listeners increase by 40 percent in early March 2020 and up to 50 percent by August.

Pro 3 RRI is also the front line in informing Covid-19 preventions by sharing all government mandates to the public and also presenting ministers, experts, and President’s spokesperson to inform the public directly.

In celebrating RRI’s 75th anniversary, Soleman Yusuf, head of the event committees who is also Program and Production Director, said that all events will follow strict health protocols. They limit participants to fill only 50 percent of the room.

The events are including Jazz Nite which presented popular Jazz musicians such as Madame & Toean, Payung Teduh, and Finggo & Friends on Sep. 7, Wayang puppet show “Ketoprak Kangen Cak Kirun and Friends” on Sep. 9, trip to Kalibata National Hero Cemetery, sharing 1,000 face masks in Bundaran HI Jakarta, and national ceremony on Sep. 11 at RRI Office Jakarta.

The ceremony will be followed by a music concert, presenting Judika, Rossa, Ikke Nurjanah, Andi Rizkha, Didik Nini Thowok, and Aminoto Kosim. The whole event will be aired on RRI stations.

The Finance Ministry empowers export-oriented micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) to step up their contribution to boost the country's economic growth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"MSMEs play an important role. Hence, the government is seriously endeavoring to help improve MSMEs," Luky Alfriman, director-general of Funding and Risk Management of the ministry stated during an online discussion on Tuesday.

Alfriman highlighted the multiplier effect of empowering export-oriented MSMEs in the form of job creation and increasing the gross domestic product (GDP).

"Do not forget that we are also talking about equalization here, and this is among the benefits to empowering MSMEs," he remarked.

MSMEs are among the sectors with the most acute brunt of the pandemic in line with the weakening global trade.

"The decline (in exports) is significant. Our exports in the first semester only reached US$76.41 billion," he pointed out.

The government has launched various programs to support MSME operators to survive amid the COVID-19-induced crisis.

The national economic recovery (PEN) program has included the policy to support MSMEs, with a budget totaling Rp123.46 trillion.

The PEN program for MSMEs encompasses fund deposits in state-run banks, investment funding from the Agency for Revolving Fund Management (LPDB), MSME's income tax borne by the government, and interest rate subsidy.

The government has also tasked the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI) to boost exports of MSME products based on Finance Minister Regulation No. 372/KMK.08/2020.

The ministerial regulation ensures that MSMEs get working capital and investment loan to boost their competitiveness in the national and international markets.

"This is financial funding for MSME that holds export potential, though constrained by banking access," he added. (Antaranews)

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said that 14.3 million hectares of river basin areas in Indonesia are in critical condition and need rehabilitation  

"Indonesia has 17,076 river basin areas spanning over 189 million hectares, of which 14.3 million hectares are in critical condition and must be handled and replanted," she said during a discussion on the rehabilitation of river basin areas to restore the environment and improve the public economy on Monday.

Human activities will play a role in changing the natural landscape, turning it into a more critical land if recovery, reclamation, and rehabilitation efforts are not made, she added.

Indonesia now has about 592,000 hectares of open land in 349 districts/cities. This led the areas to deplete and become critical, leading to natural disasters such as erosion, flood, landslide, and drought, the minister said.

The rehabilitation of river basin areas is a part of efforts to restore the environment and has become the development agenda of President Joko Widodo to achieve a good quality environment, which is the right of the Indonesian people, under Article 28H of the 1945 Constitution, Siti said.

Other than the central and regional governments, owners of forest area utilization permits (IPPKH) are also obliged to rehabilitate river basin areas, she added.

Rehabilitation efforts during the pandemic will not only benefit the environment but also encourage the local economy by engaging the people in rehabilitation activities, the minister said.

Siti Nurbaya said that 1,039 owners are still active over 500,131 hectares of land for various purposes, including 669 ownerships for mining totaling to 445,953 hectares area, and 370 ownerships for non-mining, covering 10,993 hectares.

The minister lauded the rehabilitation efforts by private companies and encouraged other parties to follow the same step. (Antaranews)

Religion Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said that the passing of his predecessor Prof. A. Malik Fadjar, on Monday is a big loss for the Ministry of Religion.

"Innalillahi wa innailaihi raji'un. I express my deep condolences for the passing of Prof. A. Malik Fadjar on Monday night," Fachrul said in Jakarta, on Tuesday.

"This is a big loss for us, the Ministry of Religion's family. Not only has served as Minister of Religion, but he is also a figure in the development of Islamic education," he said.

Fachrul said that Malik Fadjar had a big role in Islamic education since his youth. Born into a Muhammadiyah family on Feb. 22, 1939, Malik, as he is casually called, was educated by the Religious Affairs Ministry.

Young Malik completed his Doctoral Degree from the Tarbiyah Faculty, Sunan Ampel Surabaya in 1972 (currently UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang).

"What is interesting is that he has built a career starting as a teacher at the State People's School (SRN) until he became Director-General of Islamic Development at the Religious Affairs Ministry in the 1995s," Fachrul said.

"When he became the Minister, he made many improvements and innovations, including the development of Islamic elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school management. He contributed to the development of Islamic education," he said.

For his extraordinary service for Indonesia, the professor received the Mahaputera Adipradana Star of Honor from former President B.J. Habibie on Aug. 13, 1999. (RRI)