VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The US Ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph Donovan visited General Chairman of Muhammadiyah Islamic Organization Central Board, Haedar Nashir and his staffs in Jakarta, on Tuesday (Oct 15). In his visit, Ambassador Joseph Donovan discussed various issues, among others cooperation between US and Muhamadiyah, successful partnership among the two parties, various international issues which currently occurs and also the next agenda between the US and Muhammadiyah.

“We discussed a number of different issues including the cooperation between the US Embassy and Muhammadiyah in the field of health and education. We also spoke about our successful partnership such as Media Literacy Workshop, anti-corruption as well as public health program. We also discussed a number of international issues and I encourage Muhammadiyah to continue to speak out against repression of the Uighur minority in China. We agree to meet again and to work together on all these issues,” said Ambassador Joseph Donovan.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of Muhammadiyah, Abdul Mu'ti said that the meeting ran smoothly and transparently. Abdul Mu'ti also said that Ambassador Donovan expressed his appreciation on the ivolvement of Muhammadiyah in the Indonesian Humanitarian Alliance for Myanmar (AKIM) and Indonesia in ASEAN in handling international issues such as Rohingya, Yaman and Xinjiang. (VOI/YOLEN/AHM)

The National Health Insurance and Healthy Indonesia Card (JKN-KIS) program has become a barometer for the world's social security program, Indonesian Social Security Agency for Health (BPJS Kesehatan) President Director Fahmi Idris stated.

Idris noted in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday that BPJS Kesehatan was appointed to convey its strategic proposal on health insurance and highlight the implementation of its JKN-KIS program during the 33rd General Assembly of the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) in Brussels, Belgium.

Indonesia Health Card (KIS) is the name for the Social Security Health Insurance Program (JKN) for the Indonesian population, especially the poor, and the fee was paid by the government.

The 33rd WSSF, the highest forum for the world's social security agencies, involved a thousand participants from 150 members of the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

Idris affirmed that the world was facing a challenge, with an increase in life expectancy that furthermore increased the elderly population.

He highlighted the importance of a strong political commitment and clear national strategy in all countries regarding health insurance.

Idris reiterated the criticality of establishing the concept of Health in All Social Security Policy (HiASSP) as a key measure.

Secretary General of ISSA Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano lauded BPJS' anticipative move and its proposals regarding health insurance.

During the forum held on October 14-18, Idris, also serving as chairperson of ISSA's Technical Commission on Medical Care and Sickness Insurance, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation in ISSA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security, for his dedication and contribution in encouraging global social security.

"Being an agency that manages the largest health insurance program in the world does not mean that we do not face any challenge. This award has become a motivation for us to continue to innovate and improve our services to JKN-KIS participants in Indonesia," Idris noted.

In 2018, BPJS Kesehatan had bagged nine awards in ISSA Good Practice Award 2018 for Asia Pacific.

"In ISSA's report this year, one pilot project of BPJS Kesehatan, said to be an interesting innovation, is home care service for elderly patients of JKN-KIS, who suffered from stroke," he stated.

The pilot project was announced as the best practice sharing in ISSA's report in 2019 as it has shown more effective and efficient results as compared to hospitalization, he pointed out. (ANTARA)

Some 10 leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) held a meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Merdeka Palace, in Jakarta, Wednesday, for discussion on preparations for the presidential inauguration on October 20, 2019.

"On behalf of myself and the institution, I express my gratitude to President Joko Widodo for inviting us here for consultation. Today, it is our initial task to prepare for (the presidential) inauguration," MPR Chairman Bambang Soesatyo stated.

Attendees are the meeting also comprised Deputy Chairmen of MPR, specifically Ahmad Basarah from the PDIP, Ahmad Muzani from Gerindra, Lestari Moerdijat from NasDdem, Jazilul Fawaid from PKB, Syarif Hasan from the Democratic Party, Hidayat Nur Wahid from the PKS, Zulkifli Hasan from PAN, Arsul Sani from PPP, and Fadel Muhammad from DPD.

On the occasion, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Zulkifli Hasan, the former MPR chairman, emphasized that this year’s presidential inauguration should be more successful than that five years ago.

Fadel Mohammad of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) remarked that during the meeting with the president, an agreement was reached on the inauguration's exact time, agenda, and speech.

Jokowi was re-elected as Indonesia's president for the 2019-2024 period based on the April-17 presidential election results.

Jokowi and his running mate, Ma'ruf Amin, chairman of the Ulema Council (MUI), will be inaugurated as Indonesia's president and vice president for the 2019-2024 term in Jakarta on October 20, 2019.

Jokowi garnered 55.5 percent of the votes as against 44.5 percent secured by his rival, Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 election, a replay of the contentious 2014 presidential election that exposed a deeper national divide, as Jokowi and Subianto went head-to-head.

A total of 10 political parties grouped in the Indonesia Working Coalition (KIK) -- the ruling PDIP, PKB, PPP, Golkar, Nasdem, PSI, Perindo, PKPI, Hanura, and the latest one, PBB -- supported Jokowi during the presidential election. Gerindra, PKS, the Democratic Party, and PAN had supported Prabowo during the presidential election. (ANTARA)

Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta has built 37 public parks termed "Move forward together" over the past two years under the leadership of Governor Anies Baswedan.

The integrated and child-friendly parks are built to cater to the specific requirements of the adjoining community, Suzi Marsitswati, head of the Jakarta Forestry Office, noted in a statement on Wednesday.

Development of the parks, bearing the concept of being a third space for public equality, chiefly aims to serve as a green open space to facilitate comfortable interaction among Jakarta’s residents.

The Jakarta administration has planned to develop a total of 261 parks under the leadership of Governor Baswedan, the former education minister.

This year, 53 parks, spanning a total of 335,807 square meters, are projected to be constructed, and the special autonomous government has allocated a budget worth Rp130 billion.

The 2018-2022 Development Plan of Jakarta outlines that it must have parks that are accessible by its residents living within a distance of some 300 meters, so they can walk to the parks and meet people without any discrimination in social class.

Baswedan, among other things, had inauguraed Duku Atas Park in Central Jakarta and Kembang Kerep Park in West Jakarta.

Park development work currently underway are in Kampung Jati in East Jakarta, Kampung Baru in West Jakarta, Centex Road in East Jakarta, Mangga XIV in West Jakarta, Panglima Polim II in South Jakarta, Setapak Road in East Jakarta, and Kebagusan Raya in South Jakarta.(ANTARA)