VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The campaign period for the 2019 General Election began with the declaration of the Peace Campaign at the National Monument -Monas, Jakarta, Sunday (23/9). Chairman of the General Election Commission -KPU, Arief Budiman, led the reading of the 2019 Election Peace Campaign Declaration which was followed by the pairs of president and vice-presidential candidate, Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno, political party leaders participating in the 2019 Election, Chair of the Election Supervisory Board, and representatives of candidates for the Jakarta Capital City Regional Leadership Council.

“Declaration of the 2019 Election Peace Campaign:

We, participants in the 2019 elections promised, to realize direct, public, free, confidential, honest and fair elections. Second, carrying out election campaigns that are safe, orderly, peaceful, with integrity, without hoaxes, politicization of SARA (ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup), and money politics. Third, carry out campaigns based on the prevailing laws and regulations. Jakarta, September 23, 2018.”

After the reading of the declaration, the 2019 election participants flew pigeons as a symbol of peace. (Yorike/trans by PUTRI/ART)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo encouraged the development of art and culture in Indonesia by utilizing technological advances. Speaking at the inauguration of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue in Badung, Bali, on Saturday (9/22) night, the President said that the use of technology could support the preservation of cultural arts owned by the Indonesian people. On the occasion, President Jokowi said that the construction of Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue has succeeded in combining the beauty of Indonesian art and culture with technological advancements. According to him, cultural arts such as Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue will be able to survive for hundreds of years.

“In the era of technological advancement like today, the development of cultural arts must be integrated with technology. Earlier, I heard that the statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana designed by Mr. Nyoman Nuarta also combined our national cultural arts, especially the beauty of Balinese art and culture with technological advancements with research on the new science. With this combination, Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue will be able to survive for approximately 100 years. And I'm sure another 100 years of Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue will still be discussed as the work of civilization which is the pride of the nation and also a legacy for future generations of Indonesia,” President Joko Widodo said.

Besides having 100 years of durability, President Joko Widodo also revealed that the statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana has became one of the largest and highest copper sculptures in the world. Furthermore, Jokowi invited Indonesian young artists and cultural scholars to continue to create and produce the best works for the Indonesian people. According to him, the works of artists and cultural observers will be able to enrich Indonesia's cultural heritage in the future. (VOI/Andy/ trans by PUTRI/ART)

The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said it had made a budget savings of 9.2 trillion rupiah since 2015. Through a press conference held in Jakarta, recently, the Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, explained that the key to austerity is to make an effective and efficient budget or the so-called Susinization program. She explained, the program aims to make the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries expenditures more effective, efficient, accountable and outcome oriented. In addition, the program was also carried out by reducing supporting activities, cost efficiency of each unit, synergy between inter-Directorate General activities and synergizing with other ministries and institutions in the implementation of activities, including official travel.

“Reports on the program carried out by the management in the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries -KKP is from ministers, all echelon I, Secretary General Inspector General, up to Director General. From the start of the Susinization program we have become effective, efficient, sufficient, accountable, outcome oriented. We can see the results if you use statistics. We have saved. It can be seen from this data. The KKP returned the money to the country amounting to 8.09 trillion until last year, 8.28 trillion. This year is approximately 1 trillion which means KKP succeed in saving that 9 trillion,” Susi said.

Furthermore, Susi claimed, this year, the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries have saved around 1 trillion rupiah. Minister Susi appealed to other ministry and agency officials to do the same in order to save the State Budget for Revenue and Expenditure. (VOI/Rezha/ trans by PUTRI/ART)

Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly -MPR, Zulkifli Hasan reminded that during the campaign period of the 2019 General Election it was important to understand that the essence of the campaign was to win voters’ trust. He asked all parties to create elections that are safe and peaceful. Before the declaration of the 2019 General Election Peace Campaign at Monas Square, Central Jakarta on Sunday (23/90) Zulkifli Hasan asked that the campaign be carried out politely without tribal, religious, racial and intergroup issues.

“Well, friendship like this is important. Committees and volunteers greet each other because they are friends. So, make more friends, meet more. And remember, most importantly, we've been telling you, the democratic agenda happens every five years. We must realize that we elect because opinions are different. Respect each other’s opinion. Tribal issues, religion should not be asked again,” said Zulkifli Hasan.

The declaration of a peaceful campaign organized by the General Election Commission began with a carnival of election participants. After that, the event continued with the reading of the pledge and the signing of the declaration of a peaceful campaign. (Yorike/trans by PUTRI/ART)