VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President of Indonesia Joko Widodo has ordered his ministries to trim firearm imports and instead strengthen the local weaponry defense system industry.  

"First, I would like to mention that the country's roadmap on the weaponry industry must prioritize the state-owned companies and domestic private sector. As a result, we can be less dependent on weapon imports," President Widodo remarked at a meeting with ministers at the president's office in Jakarta, Friday.

The ministries must ensure that each firearm import deal will include the tech-transfer as well as cooperation between Indonesia and the foreign countries involved, he stated. With the orders he has issued, the President hoped the quality of capital resources of the domestic weapons industries could be enhanced.

Apart from highlighting the importance of the domestic industry, the president also ordered ministries to keep up with the latest weaponry systems. "I don't expect us to still use the old, conventional firearms as it will not be suitable against future threats," he added.

Last month the Minister of Defense, Military Lt. Gen. (retired) Prabowo Subianto vowed to strengthen the country's weapons defense system during a visit to the National Military Force's (TNI) HQ in Jakarta.

"The TNI must be strong in all branch of services, including the Army, Navy and Air Force. For this reason, together with the Vice Minister, we want to strengthen the operational ranks of the TNI's real combat force, and we will strengthen the TNI," Prabowo remarked.

Firearms imports of Indonesia in 2018 amounts to US$354 million, far higher than the country's weapon exports that reach $15 million, according to a research launched by World Bank. (ANTARA)

President of Indonesia Joko Widodo has ordered his ministries to trim firearm imports and instead strengthen the local weaponry defense system industry.  

"First, I would like to mention that the country's roadmap on the weaponry industry must prioritize the state-owned companies and domestic private sector. As a result, we can be less dependent on weapon imports," President Widodo remarked at a meeting with ministers at the president's office in Jakarta, Friday.

The ministries must ensure that each firearm import deal will include the tech-transfer as well as cooperation between Indonesia and the foreign countries involved, he stated. With the orders he has issued, the President hoped the quality of capital resources of the domestic weapons industries could be enhanced.

Apart from highlighting the importance of the domestic industry, the president also ordered ministries to keep up with the latest weaponry systems. "I don't expect us to still use the old, conventional firearms as it will not be suitable against future threats," he added.

Last month the Minister of Defense, Military Lt. Gen. (retired) Prabowo Subianto vowed to strengthen the country's weapons defense system during a visit to the National Military Force's (TNI) HQ in Jakarta.

"The TNI must be strong in all branch of services, including the Army, Navy and Air Force. For this reason, together with the Vice Minister, we want to strengthen the operational ranks of the TNI's real combat force, and we will strengthen the TNI," Prabowo remarked.

Firearms imports of Indonesia in 2018 amounts to US$354 million, far higher than the country's weapon exports that reach $15 million, according to a research launched by World Bank. (ANTARA)

The Russian mission to ASEAN is holding a "Hidden Russia" photo exhibition at the ASEAN Secretariat, in Jakarta. In his remarks, at the opening of the exhibition on Thursday, Russian Ambassador to ASEAN Alexander Ivanov said the photo exhibition was an effort to promote Russian small towns to Southeast Asian tourists. Alexander Ivanov added that the photo exhibition was in line with Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership, especially in the socio-cultural field.

“So, ASEC (ASEAN Secretariat) and CPR (Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN) help me a lot to organize this photo exhibition, which is in line with the ASEAN Russia comprehensive plan of action, especially in its field direction which is devoted to socio-culturalism,” said Alexander Ivanov.

The "Hidden Russia" photo exhibition featured photos taken by Ambassador Alexander Ivanov and his wife during a trip down the Volker River in Russia. The photos show panoramas and attractions of several small towns along the Volker River. The theme of Hidden Russia was taken because foreign tourists visiting Russia mostly only visited the cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Even though there are many other interesting cities which are located not far from Moscow. With this exhibition, Alexander Ivanov hopes that foreign tourists, especially Indonesians, will get to know more about other cities in Russia. Hidden Russia photo exhibition held until December 13, 2019. (VOI/AHM)

The government had spent Rp115 trillion on Indonesian healthcare insurance BPJS Health until 2018, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"'I need to inform that until 2018, the government had spent funds reaching some Rp115 trillion in addition to the government subsidy for insurance fees of some 37 million people and for about 17 million military and police officers. It means the government has, so far, subsidized some 150 million people," Jokowi remarked during a limited cabinet meeting on the National Health Program at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Thursday.

"This is a fantastic amount. I want the management of BPJS to be improved and corrected," he stated.

The members of BPJS Health rose to 222 million people, from 133 million in 2014.

"Of the total, 96 million are poor that received free insurance coverage provided by the government," he remarked.

He noted that the working orientation of the health sector must be shifted from prioritizing curing the ill to disease prevention and health promotion.

"Hence, I urge the health minister to adopt new and innovative measures and educate the public to lead a healthy lifestyle. This should become a movement that involves every stakeholder at schools and the public, in general," he emphasized during the meeting attended by several ministers.

He also pressed for deregulation in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries.

"They (the regulations) should be cut extensively and simplified to enable the pharmaceutical sector players to grow and help the public to purchase medicines at affordable prices. According to reports that I received, 95 percent of drug raw materials are imported. It must not be continued for long," he stated.

He also called for better incentives for researches on medical innovation.

On Nov 15, President Jokowi reiterated the significance of the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) streamlining its management as an effective strategy to restrain the deficit in the institution.

"Once again, the BPJS should improve its management," the president reiterated after paying an impromptu visit to the Abdul Moeloek Hospital in Bandar Lampung to observe the BPJS services at the hospital.

Jokowi attributed BPJS Kesehatan’s deficit to mismanagement since several independent participants were incapable of footing the premium.

The discipline for the payment of premium should be intensified to help curtail the agency's deficit.

Earlier, Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo revealed that BPJS Kesehatan's deficit was caused by the inability of particularly participants of the non-wage recipients scheme (PBPU) to pay the premium. (ANTARA)