VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) uses special mechanisms in General Election 2019. Through a special mechanism called the drop box, KPU seeks to increase the participation of Indonesian citizens abroad, especially those working in the plantation sector with limited access. This was conveyed by the Chairman of the General Election Commission of the Republic of Indonesia, Arief Budiman, after handing over Data of Potential Resident of Voters from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office, Jakarta, Wednesday (14/2).

"Every country has its own kinds of mechanism. The problem is, for example, there is one country which citizens mostly work in plantations. They live in shelters in the middle of the plantations. Well that is our difficulty. Hence there is one mechanism called the drop box. So we bring ballot boxes there. We invite our citizens, then they use their rights to vote there. Then we bring the box home, and we count on the day of voting," said Arief Budiman.

Arief Budiman added that so far according to data collected by the General Election Commission, the number of permanent voters abroad in the 2019 General Election is more than 2 million people. According to him, the data has been much better than previous compiled data, because it has been through the process of cleaning or recounting. In addition, reflecting on the experience of the previous General Election, one of the biggest challenges that must be faced related to the data collection of Indonesian citizens who will participate in the 2019 General Election is the mobility of Indonesian citizens, both between cities in the same country or different countries. (VOI/ Rezha/AHM)

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam, Ibnu Hadi agreed with Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s statement saying that the economic performance of Vietnam is better than Indonesia. According to him, it can be used as a benchmark for Indonesia to improve its economic performance, especially related to the increase in export value. Ibnu Hadi explained to the media in Jakarta, Thursday, February 15, that Indonesia's exports in 2017 only reached USD 168.7 billion. This figure is lower than that of Vietnam which reached USD 214.0 billion, while the value of Indonesian imports was USD 156.9 billion, and Vietnam reached USD 211.1 dollars. Not only that, the growth of Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017 was only 5.05 percent, while Vietnam was 6.81 percent. Therefore Ibnu Hadi said, as the Ambassador of Indonesia to Vietnam he will continue to give input to the government. In addition he will not only put Vietnam as a competitor of Indonesia, but also as potential partners. (VOI/REZHA/AHM)

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi hopes that the Islamic education cooperation initiated by Indonesia and the Philippines is expected to show the true face of Islam, which is blessing for the whole world. In addition it is also expected that the cooperation can introduce the values ​​of tolerance and moderation to the younger generation in both countries. This was stated by Retno Marsudi when opening Workshop of Islamic Education of Indonesia-Philippines at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta,Wednesday, February 14^th.

“Let me share my hopes, first through this cooperation we must promote the true face of Islam, Islam as Rahmatan Lil Alamin, blessing for the whole universe. We must show madrasah and pesantren are the past, present, and future of Islamic civilization, as places for nurturing the values and culture of tolerance, peace and moderation. Second, our cooperation must seek to promote modern and high quality Islamic education”, Retno Marsudi said.

Retno Marsudi added through Islamic education, Indonesia and the Philippines can prevent conflict and radicalism. The Workshops held on 14 and 15 February are divided into seven sessions, namely Islamic education in Indonesia, Islamic education in the Philippines, curriculum, Islamic teacher education and clerical development, parents and social community, tolerance in Islamic life, and education cooperation map. At the end of the workshop, the two countries also formulate a map on cooperation to be done by Indonesia and the Philippines. The workshop participants represent various institutions and ministries. Participants from the Philippines are represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Culture, Zamboanga and the Institute of Islamic Studies. While Indonesia are from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Research and Higher Education, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nahdatul Utama (NU) and Muhammadiyah Islamic organizations, and State Islamic University (UIN). (VOI/(Rezha/AHM)