President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received several members of the General Election Commission (KPU) executive board at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

At the meeting that began at around 9:30 a.m. local time, KPU Chief Arief Budiman reported on the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections held on April 17, 2019, to the president.

"In line with Law No. 7 of 2017, the KPU is obliged to report on the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections (to the president). Today, we fulfilled the obligation as set forth in the law," Budiman remarked at the meeting.

During the meeting, Budiman also handed over a report on the implementation of general elections to the head of state.

In addition to the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections, the KPU and president also discussed simultaneous regional head elections to be organized next year.

Budiman unveiled a plan to discuss good governance of the KPU.

During the meeting, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Minister of Research and Technology Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that Indonesia needs to take example of technology and innovation made by other countries, such as the one made by South Korea.

"There is no harm in us imitating or adapting the South Korean model called From Imitation to Innovation ," he said when delivering a speech at the Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya, Sunday.

This strategy has already been carried out by South Korea until it was able to become one of the developed countries in Asia that can compete with other developed countries in the world.

In the 1950s South Korea was one of the poorest countries in Asia, along with Indonesia. However, it only took about 40 years for South Korea to become a developed country.

"It means that we are still left behind and we need a strategy to bump up Indonesia's status and competitiveness among other countries," he said.

Generally, a country can progress by intensifying the development of science, technology, and innovation. Therefore, Indonesia needs to implement the 'From Imitation to Innovation' strategy to fulfill its ambitions to progress.

However, he continued, after following the progress of science and technology in developed countries, Indonesia must continue to develop it further, as well as learn and improve along the way, so that it does not stop at a certain stage.

"We must not be imitators or imitate continuously but we must turn into innovators," he said.

In addition, the rapid development of technology also causes changes in various aspects, including the industry that is developing now and in the future, which is the  fourth industrial revolution. 

Technologies that will develop in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 include artificial intelligent, the Internet of things, augmented or wearable reality, advanced Robotic, and 3D printing.

The IR 4.0 enables the development of new digital-based economies, at the same time generating disruptive changes or innovations. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed his hope that situation in Rakhine State, Myanmar, could significantly improve and soon be normal again.

"I am sure that all of use here hope to see situation in Rakhine State to be back to normal again soon," Jokowi said while speaking in the plenary session of the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.

The ASEAN Leaders supported efforts for voluntarily, safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine State, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat's Press, Media and Information Bureau. Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi told the press following the plenary session attended by ASEAN Leaders that President Jokowi offered several views and suggestions for solutions of Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

Firstly, dialogs with representatives of Rohingya refugees currently being accommodated in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, should be continued, Jokowi said.

"Because with dialogs and communication, there would be trust. And trust is crucial for preparations for voluntarily, safe and dignified repatriation," Retno Marsudi remarked.

Secondly, Indonesia fully supported a proposal to establish an ad-hoc task force at the ASEAN Secretariat to focus on monitoring the implementation of the Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA) team's recommendations, she added.

Thirdly, Indonesia hopes for the implementation of priority projects and activities as part of the PNA recommendations agreed during the 2nd Technical Working Group between ASEAN and Myanmar last October. (ANTARA)

A Joint team from the Nunukan, N Kalimantan naval base (Lanal) and the Navy's special Frogmen squad (Kopaska) joint forces of Busur Ambalat 2019, foiled a human trafficking attempt to Sabah, Malaysia, on Monday.  

Some 25 undocumented workers from Indonesia were travelling from Nunukan Island and Sebatik Island waters to Sebatik Island using a speedboat.

Lanal Nunukan Commander Lt. Col. Anton Pratomo confirmed the arrest of illegal workers, in Nunukan, Wednesday.

"Lanal Nunukan will continue to increase the intensity of sea patrols to prevent the smuggling of non-procedural migrant workers looking to cross into Malaysia and prevent other illegal activities such as drug smuggling," he said.

They leave the Port of the Hj Putri Bridge, which has become a spot for illegal workers to cross from the state of Sabah by pretending to be residents of Sebatik Island.

In reality, once they arrive on Sebatik Island, which borders the land and sea directly with Tawau, Malaysia, they leave for the neighboring country using a speed boat at night.

As per the navy, that illegal workers disguise themselves as local Nunukan citizens.

After having their identities checked, most of the prospective illegal workers live outside of Nunukan District, while others do not even possess identification cards.

During their next patrol on Tuesday, October 28, the team captured Indonesian workers from Sabah state who were returning to their hometown.

Thereafter, an inspection was conducted on a suspicious speedboat and seven people were found aboard. Subsequently, an inspection was carried out in the Lanal Nunukan headquarters before they were handed over to the local Migrant Workers Placement, Protection and Monitoring Agency (BP3TKI).

The rupiah strengthened against the United States (US) dollar in the Jakarta interbank market on Wednesday evening, following the announcement of the cabinet lineup earlier in the day. The rupiah rose 9 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at Rp14.032 against the dollar compared to Rp14.041 earlier.

As predicted earlier, the rupiah did strengthen owing to the positive sentiment of the inauguration of the cabinet lineup, Valbury Asia Futures analyst Lukman Leong said in Jakarta Wednesday.

"True, the inauguration of the cabinet lineup had an effect as predicted earlier. But (the effect) will still be limited and (the rupiah) will hover above Rp14.000 (per US dollar)," he said.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced and inaugurated his ministers and ministerial-level officials in the Cabinet Indonesia Moving Forward for the 2019-2024 period.

In the economic sector, the President retained Sri Mulyani as Minister of Finance and appointed former industry minister Airlangga Hartarto as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs.

The rupiah opened stronger at Rp14.035 against the dollar Wednesday morning and throughout the day, it stayed between Rp14.016 and Rp14.060.

According to the Bank Indonesia mid-rate on Wednesday, the rupiah appreciated to Rp14.051 from Rp14.058.