VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia airlines continues to improve connectivity both at home and abroad to increase the number of tourist visits to Indonesia. President Director of PT. Garuda Indonesia, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, said the most important thing in the tourism sector is connectivity, considering that Indonesia is an archipelago. He said tourists were connected to tourist destinations by air. Therefore, Garuda opened three additional international routes, one of which is direct flights from Mumbai, India to Denpasar, Bali.  In a press release on Thursday (9/8) Pahala said India was a country with the largest number of tourists besides China. He added Garuda Indonesia also developed domestic flight connectivity, especially airports that have the potential to attract tourists.

“The point is connectivity. So how we continue to develop the good route from outside to Indonesia to be able to develop inbound tourism. So this year there are already three additional routes that we have developed, the first is Mumbai - Denpasar, of course India is one of the countries with tourists with the biggest growth currently reaching almost 500 thousand tourists. Then China as the largest country today we see its potential also its growth is still above 20 percent even reaching 40 percent. Then  domestic connectivity in particular is areas that have good potential in terms of bringing in tourists and also outside Bali” Pahala said.

Pahala added that currently Bali was still the main destination for 40 percent of tourists visiting Indonesia. Therefore Garuda Indonesia also needs to diversify tourist destinations that are not less interesting than Bali. The next route to be opened by Garuda is the route to Selayar, South Sulawesi and Silangit Lake Toba, North Sumatra using a fleet labeled "Explore". (VOI/Rezha/DP)

The use of fuel oil (BBM) with Euro 4 emission standards is not only able to provide a positive impact on air health, but also on the Indonesian economy. Deputy Assistant for Environmental Conservation Coordinating Ministry (Kemenko)  Dida Gardera  said that the economic advantage  could not be separated from the nature of Euro 4 fuel which is more environmentally friendly compared to BBM Euro 2 which is currently available at Pertamina's General Fuel Filling Stations throughout Indonesia. According to Dida, the number of losses incurred from environmental pollution reached 40 trillion rupiah. This figure arises from various public health problems due to breathing polluted air and damage to various facilities and buildings due to acid rain.

“Some research institutions said that the congestion causes pollution and the figure is up to 40 trillion. We are deepening this again. But indeed with the congestion then pollution, health damage, and don't forget, this is sulfur-derived. This sulfur causes acid rain. Acid rain causes corrosive. Automatically with these fuel repairs, even though pollution may remain there, but because the emissions are better so the impact on the environment will decrease,” Dida Gardera said.

Dida added, the application of  Euro 4 fuel will make car  assembled domestically can easily penetrate the export market. Indonesia itself can be said to be lagging behind the implementation of Euro 4 emission standards. According to Dida, Singapore has implemented this emission standard in 2006, followed by Thailand and the Philippines, most recently Malaysia in 2013. Therefore, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs encourages all parties to be able to accelerate the use of Euro 4. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)

The Indonesian government continues to encourage efforts to accelerate changes in emission standards from Euro 2 to Euro 4. Moreover, the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatera, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -World Bank Meeting in Bali have requested low emission levels as conditions for implementation . Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM)  and Pertamina have so far provided enormous support by expanding the Euro 4 fuel oil  distribution area not only in cities that hold two major events but throughout Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry and the Indonesian Association of Automotive Industries (GAIKINDO) have also stated their readiness to welcome Euro 4 fuel oil. As Deputy Assistant for Environmental Conservation of the Indonesian Economic Coordinating Ministry (Kemenko) Dida Gardera said.

“Well, initially, when an initial meeting last year Pertamina agreed to a minimum in several cities for the Asian Games and preparation of the IMF-World Bank. But thanks God now 800,000 gas stations are spread throughout Indonesia. So we ask for five but can be 100 or less. So it's extraordinary that the Ministry of State Enterprises (SOEs), the Director General of Oil and Gas, and Pertamina to prepare it. The second in terms of the car industry, Gaikindo and the Ministry of Industry are also ready. So if it is based on the rules, it must be ready on October, but because the enthusiasm, we don't want to lose to the Asian Games athletes. So before the Asian Games are ready, Dida Gardera said.

Furthermore, Dida said that the number of gas stations that have provided Euro 4 fuel oil does not include gas stations belonging to other retail businesses. On the same occasion, Vice President of Corporate Communication Pertamina, Adiatma Sarjito said, if Euro 4 emission standards were fully implemented in Indonesia, the Premium fuel type with octane value 88, Pertalite with octane of  ​​90, and Pertamax with octane of 92 would be withdrawn from the market. Instead, Pertamina will provide Pertamax Turbo with an octane  of 98 which has a Euro 4 standard.  (VOI/Rezha/DP)

Presidential candidates for the period 2019-2024, Joko Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and his runningmate KH. Ma'ruf Amin, officially registered to the General Election Commission (KPU), Friday morning (10/8). The Presidential pair was also accompanied by leaders from the nine political parties in the Indonesia “Working Cabinet”. The two arrived at the KPU building on Imam Bonjol street, Central Jakarta, after departing from Gedung Joeang with a supporting mob. Joko Widodo, when giving a press statement at the KPU, Friday morning (10/8) said, after registering with the KPU, there were still a number of steps taken.

"I and Prof. KH Maruf Amin were accompanied by leaders of Indonesian Working coalition political parties, have just registered as candidates for president and vice president in 2019-2024. This is only the first step and after this there will be several stages that we must follow.  May the God bless the process to run well and smoothly,” Joko Widodo said.

Joko Widodo invited all the people of Indonesia to carry out the democratic party with excitement. Joko Widodo also stated that it was important for the Indonesian people to continue to maintain the unity despite having different political choices.

Meanwhile the presidential and vice presidential candidate pair of Gerindra Party,  Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno registered to the General Election Commission (KPU) Friday (08/10/2018) after the Friday Prayer.

In his press conference Prabowo said his pair was supported by four parties.

“We today have just made a registration to the KPU. I and Uno are supported by four parties, Democrat Party, National Mandate party (PAN) and Gerindra, and supported by the Berkarya Party represented by Titiek Suharto, and today there is something unique, it was attended by the daughter of the first president, Rahmawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of the second president Suharto and 2 sons of the sixth president.

We want to be powerful and devoted, so there are no poor people in Indonesia. According to us, democracy is the only best system of the government, change of government, apparatus of village heads, governors and the president must be honest. The future of the nation's destiny is on the shoulders of KPU,“ Prabowo said.

While registering at KPU, Prabowo and Sandiaga Uno were accompanied by the leaders of National Mandate Party (PAN) and Social and Justice Party (PKS) and other coalition parties and thousands of supporters. The registration took place in an orderly manner even though it was accompanied by a large mass. (VOI/DP)