VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Saudi Arabia authority has allowed Indonesia`s customs to check hajj pilgrims` identity by using biometrics in home country`s embarkation, according to Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. He believes that the arrangement will cut queues during security check in Saudi.

"All this time, our hajj pilgrims should wait for hours to queue, both in Jeddah or Madinah airport, now it can be checked in our hajj embarkation," he said here on Saturday night.

The Minister was thankful for Indonesian government`s effort in convincing Saudi`s customs to permit such policy to improve security system`s efficiency. By using biometrics in the hajj dormitory, the Indonesian customs will verify each pilgrim`s fingerprints and iris scans, as well as travel documents. Hence, they just need to queue for passport stamp upon arrival in Saudi.

Besides cutting queues, Saifuddin said such system will allow Indonesian hajj pilgrims to have more time to rest after a long hour flight. In near future, the biometrics system will be fully regulated in 18 hajj embarkations in Indonesia.

The art and cultural performance from the Nusantara Arts and Culture Committee has amazed hundreds of Egyptians and Indonesian citizens who attended the Cairo Opera House on Saturday night, May 26 Egypt time. The event was opened with shalawat badar, then dances performance from several regions in Indonesia, namely from West Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, and Bali. The head of the delegation of the Nusantara Arts and Culture Committee Hendardji Soepandi, said in Cairo, on Saturday the cultural performance has been conducted four times overseas, namely in Romania, the United States, Thailand and Egypt. According to him, this is part of cultural diplomacy to introduce more Indonesian culture to foreign countries, and as part of tourism promotion.

“The mission is to further introduce Indonesia in international forums. Especially about the culture of Indonesia, to show how diverse our culture is,” Hendardji Soepandi said.

In addition to dances, the art and cultural performance also displayed batik fashion show and keroncong musical performance. The Nusantara Art and Culture Committee brings about 15 artists. On May 28, they are scheduled to hold a similar event in Alexandria, Egypt. (KBRN/RA/edit Nrl/trans by Rezha/edt ahm)

Ahead of the 2019 General Election, Indonesian Citizens in Malaysia are required not to practice politics without the knowledge of the Indonesian Embassy. Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana appealed to the Indonesian citizens to actively succeed the 2019 election and to support the Kuala Lumpur Foreign Election Committee as well as the Election Supervisory Committee which is currently performing the election stages. He hopes Indonesian citizens and civil society organizations not to engage in political activities outside the Election Committee.

“I appeal to all Indonesian citizens in Malaysia. We're going to have a democracy party. But it should be noted that the citizens of Indonesia who live in Malaysia must know that based on the rules and regulations, Malaysia does not allow foreign nationals to have political practice here. If found to have one, it violates their rules. However, the Republic of Indonesia through its representatives, the Indonesian Embassy has provided a place. We have an Election Committee. Please those who will register to vote, either from political parties, or organizations. Do not do political practice outside. Because it's against their laws,” Rusdi Kirana said.

Ambassador Rusdi Kirana targets the number of voter participation in the 2019 election to increase compared to 2014. Until now, Kuala Lumpur Foreign Election Committee continues to intensively socialize the 2019 election to Indonesian citizens spread in some areas in Malaysia. (KBRN/Okky/TRANS AHM)

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received a medal of merit from the Peruvian government for promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Peruvian government honored Marsudi with the El Sol del Peru or The Sun of Peru in the rank of Grand Cross when the Indonesian minister visited Lima recently, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement released on Thursday.

The Sun of Peru is the highest civilian award given to local residents and foreigners who have excelled in the fields of arts, literature, culture, and politics.

Marsudi received the medal of merit for her efforts to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries since she was the director general of America and Europe at the Foreign Ministry.

When she held the post of the director general, she had taken various steps to enhance bilateral cooperation between Peru and Indonesia by creating a mechanism of bilateral dialogs between the two nations, among others.

The ministry stated that Retno was the first Indonesian citizen to receive the award.

The other figures who have received the awards include Japanese Emperor Akihito, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Marsudi remarked that she received the award on behalf of the Indonesian people and diplomats as well as her Peruvian colleagues who had worked hard to enhance the bilateral relations. (ANTARA)