VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) installed nine governors and their deputies for the 2018-2023 period at the Merdeka Palace, in Jakarta, Wednesday.

The governors are from South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, West Java, West Kalimantan, Central Java, Bali, Southeast Sulawesi, Papua, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Jokowi was accompanied by Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla and Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo during the inauguration ceremony.

The newly installed governors and deputies are Nurdin Abdullah-Andi Sudirman Sulaiman of South Sulawesi, Edy Rahmayadi-Musa Rajekshah of North Sumatra, M. Ridwan Kamil-Uu Ruzhanul Ulum of West Java, Sutarmidji-Ria Norsan of West Kalimantan, Ganjar Pranowo-Taj Yasin of Central Java, I Wayan Koster-Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati of Bali, Ali Mazi-Lukman Abunawas of Southeast Sulawesi, Lukas Enembe-Klemen Tinal of Papua, and Victor B Laiskodat-Josef Nae Soi of NTT.

The governors and deputies were elected or re-elected during the third simultaneous regional head elections held in 171 regions, comprising 17 provinces, 39 municipalities, and 115 districts across the country, on June 27, 2018.

The number of eligible voters for the pilkada 2018 reached 158 million, or some 80 percent of the total number of eligible voters for the presidential and legislative elections in 2019, which is some 197 million.

 President Joko Widodo has stated that it is time to rehabilitate and reconstruct West Nusa Tenggara after the earthquakes that hit the area more than a month ago. At a gathering on West Nusa Tenggara Rebuilding held in Gunung Sari Sub-district, West Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, on Monday, the president noted that the emergency response stage had passed and it is time for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

"Yesterday, I noticed several buildings being reconstructed under the direction of the Ministry of Public Works," the president remarked, as conveyed by the Presidential Secretariat Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media, Bey Machmudin.

About 2,250 volunteers from various institutions participated in the gathering. On the occasion, Widodo noted that the first step that should be carried out is rebuilding public facilities, such as markets, health centers, schools, and mosques. Previously, the president had directly handed over aid for the reconstruction of 5,293 houses, which includes those heavily damaged, moderately damaged, and slightly damaged.

The Head of State asked the volunteers to help the people in rebuilding their homes. The president pointed out that the houses to be rebuilt should have earthquake-resistant structures.

"We know that West Nusa Tenggara is included in the Ring of Fire. In 1979, a major earthquake occurred here," he explained.

The reconstruction of people`s houses will be directed by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and assisted by young engineers and engineering students.  To accelerate the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction, the president revealed that the government has issued the Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2018. In the instruction, the rehabilitation and reconstruction processes will be directly led by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.

"I will continue to monitor and check, so that West Nusa Tenggara will immediately return to normal, and people can continue with their economic and daily activities," he elaborated.

The Head of State appreciated the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police members, independent volunteers, volunteers from state-owned enterprises, universities, NGOs, and local administrations for their efforts to help people in West Nusa Tenggara.

"Thank you all for working hard with high solidarity to help our brothers in West Nusa Tenggara," he remarked.

In his report, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono noted that based on the Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2018, the minister has verified 291 buildings of the 972 public facilities which will be reconstructed. The rehabilitation and reconstruction have been carried out for 56 buildings, consisting of 40 mosques, three markets, and eight hospitals and health centers.

To accelerate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 125 thousand housing units, the minister has verified 32,800 houses, consisting of 11,400 houses with minor damages, 3,600 with moderate damages, and 17,800 with heavy damages. A sample house with earthquake-resistant technology RISHA has been built in 20 points.

In addition to Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, the rally was attended by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Social Minister Agus Gumiwang, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency Willem Rampangilei, and West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi. (ant)

Indonesian Air Force (TNI) troops, along the Royal Australian Air Force personnel or "Royal Australian Air Force" (RAAF), is organizing the 2018 Rajawali Australia-Indonesia military exercise in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

Director of the 2018 Rajawali Ausindo training, Colonel Pnb Reza R Sastranegara, told reporters in Kupang that the exercises, which started on Monday, would take place until Sept 27, 2018.

"This is not a combat training usually carried out, but this is a focus on the training of transport aircraft," he noted.

He explained that the aircraft used in the exercise were Hercules aircraft, both from Indonesia and from the RAAF. There are several things that will be done for about one month, starting from sharing of experiences followed by practice. The aircraft used will be operated for simulations, such as logistic drop, on land, and at sea. (ant)

 International rating agency Fitch Ratings maintains Indonesia`s debt rating of BBB with stable outlook rating or Investment Grade . Fitch Ratings said in a written statement, made available to ANTARA here on Monday, that the government`s debt repayment budget is low with good prospects of economic growth amid the external challenge of global uncertainties. Fitch Rating predicted that the government`s debt ratio would reach 30.4 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of 2018.

Indonesia`s debt ratio is still better than an average debt ratio of 37.7 percent recorded by other countries having equal economic capacity. The steps, taken by Bank Indonesia in raising its benchmark interest rate and aggressive intervention of the Central Bank in foreign exchange market to reduce the external pressure on rupiah, also showed strong commitment of the country to maintain stability. The aggressive intervention has reduced the country`s foreign exchange reserve by US$13.7 billion since January, 2018 to US$118.3 billion by the end of July.

"The exchange rate policy of Bank Indonesia has helped maintain stability in foreign capital inflows to the domestic market. However, rupiah is still vulnerable to market volatility especially with the widening current account deficit and high dependence on foreign capital," Fitch Ratings said.

Around 37.7 percent of the government bonds in rupiah denomination are held by foreign investors in July. Earlier, Fitch predicted that Indonesia`s foreign exchange reserve would shrink to US$109 billion by the end of this year. With the greater focus of the Central Bank on maintaining rupiah stability amid external pressure, the shrinkage of the foreign exchange reserve could be faster.

"The focus of Bank Indonesia on stability of exchange rate carries the risk of further slashing of the country`s foreign exchange reserves," Fitch said.

The international rating agency predicted that Bank Indonesia has yet to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points before the end of this year, by 50 basis points in 2019, and 25 basis points in 2020. The country`s economy is predicted to grow 5.1 percent in 2018, 5.2 percent in 2019, and 5.3 percent in 2020, mainly driven by spending on public infrastructure which the government is expected to continue. Fitch also expected that the government and Bank Indonesia would maintain stability policy ahead of the presidential election in April 2019. There is no indication of significant change in economic policy related to the presidential election.

Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo said affirmation of Indonesian rating of Investment Grade or BBB with stable outlook reflects the confidence of Fitch in Indonesia`s economy.

"Strong commitment in maintaining stability and strengthening economic resilience amid global uncertainties reflects credible policy of the authority," Perry said.

Fitch Ratings gave Indonesia the BBB with stable outlook rating or Investment Grade rating in December, 2017. (ant )