VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said it had made a budget savings of 9.2 trillion rupiah since 2015. Through a press conference held in Jakarta, recently, the Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, explained that the key to austerity is to make an effective and efficient budget or the so-called Susinization program. She explained, the program aims to make the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries expenditures more effective, efficient, accountable and outcome oriented. In addition, the program was also carried out by reducing supporting activities, cost efficiency of each unit, synergy between inter-Directorate General activities and synergizing with other ministries and institutions in the implementation of activities, including official travel.

“Reports on the program carried out by the management in the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries -KKP is from ministers, all echelon I, Secretary General Inspector General, up to Director General. From the start of the Susinization program we have become effective, efficient, sufficient, accountable, outcome oriented. We can see the results if you use statistics. We have saved. It can be seen from this data. The KKP returned the money to the country amounting to 8.09 trillion until last year, 8.28 trillion. This year is approximately 1 trillion which means KKP succeed in saving that 9 trillion,” Susi said.

Furthermore, Susi claimed, this year, the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries have saved around 1 trillion rupiah. Minister Susi appealed to other ministry and agency officials to do the same in order to save the State Budget for Revenue and Expenditure. (VOI/Rezha/ trans by PUTRI/ART)

Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly -MPR, Zulkifli Hasan reminded that during the campaign period of the 2019 General Election it was important to understand that the essence of the campaign was to win voters’ trust. He asked all parties to create elections that are safe and peaceful. Before the declaration of the 2019 General Election Peace Campaign at Monas Square, Central Jakarta on Sunday (23/90) Zulkifli Hasan asked that the campaign be carried out politely without tribal, religious, racial and intergroup issues.

“Well, friendship like this is important. Committees and volunteers greet each other because they are friends. So, make more friends, meet more. And remember, most importantly, we've been telling you, the democratic agenda happens every five years. We must realize that we elect because opinions are different. Respect each other’s opinion. Tribal issues, religion should not be asked again,” said Zulkifli Hasan.

The declaration of a peaceful campaign organized by the General Election Commission began with a carnival of election participants. After that, the event continued with the reading of the pledge and the signing of the declaration of a peaceful campaign. (Yorike/trans by PUTRI/ART)

Minister of Marine and Fisheries Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti stated that her ministry will continuously apply sinking policy of foreign illegal fishing ships which conduct illegal fishing in Indonesian waters, although her policy brings about pros and cons both in Indonesia and in foreign countries. In a press release in Jakarta on Friday, 21 September 2018, Minister Susi stated that she is not stupid person that lets 7 thousand illegal fishing ships  be freed in Indonesian sovereignty for years.

“The new government has started since October 2014 and we started  sinking illegal fishing ships in December. If there are people who say that sinking illegal ships is foolish. Which one is more foolish? A country has sovereignty and let thousands illegal ships  and  not a thousand or 2 thousands, but it is more than 7 thousand illegal ships conduct illegal fishing,” said Susi Pujistuti.

Minister  Susi further explained that she is wondering why there are still people who ask her about sanction of sinking illegal ships. In fact, the regulation is stated in the law No. 45/2009 concerning on fishery as the sanction of the illegal fishing ships. She also emphasized that as long as the legal standing still exists and it is valid, the Ministry of Marine and fisheries will keep sinking illegal fishing ships. (Rezha/Trans by AF/RHM)

Indonesian fisheries entrepreneurs are expected to take advantage of the momentum of China's trade war against the United States of America -USA to increase fishery product exports. The opportunity that can be taken from the momentum is to fill the fisheries export market to the USA because Chinese entrepreneurs have difficulty exporting after being given high import tariffs by the USA. This was stated by Minister of Marine and Fisheries Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti in a press statement in Jakarta on Friday, (September 21, 2018).

“The reality of the trade war between China and the USA is that should the Indonesian businesspeople should gain advantage and can make breakthroughs in a bid to be able to take incentives in the beneficial situations of this trade war. Thus, many companies from China that export to the USA will be difficult and surely, that will be our opportunity to produce more,” Susi Pujiastuti said.

Furthermore, Minister Susi also reminded that Indonesian fisheries businesses should not use shortcuts to gain profits from China's and US trade war that could potentially harm Indonesia. One of the shortcuts is by doing a "transit document" or borrowing names so that goods from China can enter the USA on behalf of Indonesia. She views that the same thing happened in 2004 which ultimately made Indonesia unprofitable from the increase in import tariffs imposed by the United States to 5 countries. In fact, due to borrowing the name, Indonesia almost received the threat of an embargo on fishery products from the USA. Therefore, Minister Susi wants to make sure this occurrence will not happen again. This can be done by implementing a Legal Reported Regulated Fishing policy -LRRF or integrated reporting to eradicate Illegal Unreported Unregulated Fishing -IUUF. (VOI/Rezha/Trans by Rhm)