VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Indonesia’s weather agency warned on Friday that a second tropical cyclone in the space of a week could trigger floods and landslides in more central areas after cyclone Seroja killed 163 people in eastern parts of the country.

Rescuers have been searching for missing people and rushing in aid to islands in East Nusa Tenggara province after Seroja lashed the area with rain, floods and landslides on Sunday.

The head of Indonesia’s weather agency (BMKG) said a new cyclone, named Odette, was gaining traction and could hit Lampung province on the island of Sumatra, as well as the provinces of East Java and Central Java and the island of Bali.

“People are advised to remain cautious of heavy winds and rains that could happen in some areas and be mindful of threats of floods, landslides and flash floods,” Dwikorita Karnawati told a news conference.

While Odette was not expected to be as destructive as Seroja, she warned it could generate tidal surges as high as 6 metres (19.7 ft) in the southern Indian Ocean near Java and Bali, urging fishermen to take precautions.

Seroja damaged thousands of homes and displaced over 22,800 people, according to data from Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency, while 45 people remain missing.

President Joko Widodo, who flew to East Nusa Tenggara on Friday to survey recovery efforts, said that while the needs of displaced people were being met in the area he visited, access was being blocked by large boulders.

“If we look at the field, it’s so rocky with big rocks that could complicate our heavy equipment,” he said.

The weather agency has warned that once-rare tropical cyclones are happening more often in Indonesia. (Reuters)

Jakarta. Travelers, holding travel permits, during the ban on Eid al-Fitr tradition of mudik (exodus) must undergo a five-day self-quarantine after arriving at the destination regions, the government's spokesman for COVID-19 handling, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito, stated.

"It must be noted that people, who hold the travel permit during the period (of mudik ban), must undergo self-quarantine for five days round the clock upon their arrival at destination regions before they can start activities," Adisasmito noted in a statement here on Friday.

The mandatory quarantine for travelers across cities, regencies, provinces, and countries can be conducted at government facilities or hotels on independent expense, with strict adherence to health protocols, he remarked.

Adisasmito stated that all societal elements should optimize the function of the COVID-19 task force at villages pertaining to worships and traditions during Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr that could result in violation of health protocols.

"I reiterated here, our experience during the previous long holidays should be taken into account in making the policy. When this happens, often we cannot avoid the occurrence of crowds during travelling or in destination areas," Adisasmito stated.

The mudik ban is one way to prevent a spike in COVID-19 transmission, although it is not the only reliable way.

Adisasmito urged the public to restrict their mobility and called on law enforcement personnel to work professionally to uphold the law in addition to insisting that health protocols be followed by operators during social and economic activities.

The government's spokesman is optimistic that people would support the ban on mudik and adhere to the regulations to stem COVID-19 transmission.

"Our adherence to the policy would be a real contribution in helping the government's efforts to handle and stop the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia," he remarked.

The government has banned mudik, the annual mass exodus ahead of Eid al-Fitr, from May 6 to 17, 2021, as a precautionary measure against a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy stated recently that the mass leave for Eid al-Fitr on May 12, 2021, will remain unchanged while urging the public to not travel or engage in activities that are likely to increase COVID-19 transmission and infection rate. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. A survey conducted by Bank Indonesia (BI) found that consumer confidence in the national economy had continued to improve in the past three months.

"The consumer confidence index (IKK) rose to 93.4 in March, from 85.8 in February and 84.9 in January," Executive Director of the BI Communication Department Erwin Haryono noted in a written statement released on Friday.

Haryono attributed the improving consumer confidence index to the smooth national vaccination program, thereby increasing confidence in the current economic condition and expectations of economic recovery in future.

"The improving consumer confidence is recorded in all categories of the respondents' spending and in all educational groups. Consumer confidence improved in 12 cities surveyed, with Surabaya topping the index, followed by Manado and Pontianak," he remarked.

The improving consumer confidence in March was also fueled by high expectations of economic conditions in future, as mirrored in the consumer expectation index (IEK) recorded at 114.1 in March as compared to 106.5 a month earlier.

"It was fueled by high expectations of job opportunities, business expansion, and income in the next six months," he remarked.

Haryono pointed out that the consumers’ perception of the current economic conditions also improved, driven by the improving perception of job opportunities, income, and purchase of durable goods.

The strengthening perception of the current economy was apparent from the current economic condition index (IKE) that rose to 72.6 in March, from 65.1 a month earlier.

BI conducts a monthly survey to observe consumer confidence in the current economic condition. IKK derived from the survey is one of the indicators of household consumption developments in the gross domestic product. The index of above 100 means it is in the area of optimism and a figure below 100 indicates that it is in the area of pessimism. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Indonesian soldiers of the mechanized infantry battalion 512/QY handed out school bags to kindergarten students near the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea borders in Keerom District, Papua Province.

"The activity conducted by the Arso XIII border post is also aimed at boosting the spirit of students of the Tunas Harapan kindergarten to study more diligently and fostering emotional ties between Indonesian soldiers and children and people in the border area," Commander of the Mechanized Infantry Battalion 512/QY Task Force Lt Col Taufik Hidayat noted in a written statement released on Friday.

The activity is the manifestation of the Indonesian military’s (TNI's) care for the education of the Indonesian younger generation in the border area, he noted.

"The TNI task force (is called upon) to help the local government promote the educational sector in the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border," he remarked.

Meanwhile, headmaster of the Tunas Harapan Kindergarten Titin was delighted to see the members of the Arso XIII border post, led by its commander 1st Lt Suwandi, pay a visit to the kindergarten to distribute school bags to the students.

"I would like to thank the TNI and hope they would frequently visit the kindergarten while they are stationed at the Arso XII border post," she stated. (Antaranews)