VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Pekanbaru, Riau - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has expressed hope that the schedule for Hajj pilgrimage would remain unaffected despite Saudi Arabia's decision to suspend entry for Umrah pilgrims to avert further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The schedule for Hajj pilgrimage has yet to be changed. It will run in June and July this year for Eid al-Adha, Amin stated during a working visit to Pekanbaru, Riau, on Friday.

"We do not know yet. Preparations for Hajj pilgrimage are still running normally, but we will observe the developments. If the situation is unsafe, we may have a different decision. However, until now, there is no change," Amin stated.

The vice president noted that the government was able to cognize with Saudi's decision to suspend entry for Umrah pilgrims.

Saudi has also chosen to suspend Umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the kingdom and barred them from visiting the Prophet’s mosque in Medina.

Saudi Arabia, on Monday, confirmed its first case of new coronavirus after one of its citizens, who returned from the COVID-19 hotspot Iran, had tested positive.

On Feb 27, it suspended the entry of foreigners for Umrah pilgrimage from countries where the new coronavirus has spread, as a growing number of cases outside China deepened fears of a pandemic.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the suspension was temporary in nature but offered no timeframe until when it would be applicable.  (ANTARA)

Jakarta - The Indonesian government's spokesperson for COVID-19 handling measures, Achmad Yurianto, confirmed that two more Indonesians were infected with the coronavirus.

"Two more people have confirmed positive for COVID-19, whom we refer to as case-3 and case-4," Yurianto, concurrently secretary of the Indonesian Health Ministry's Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control, stated.

The Indonesian government had earlier reported two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 infection in Indonesia. The first and second patients, later referred to as case-1 and case-2, include a 64-year-old female and 31-year-old female from Depok, West Java, a city located on the outskirts of the capital city of Jakarta.

They are undergoing treatment in isolation rooms in North Jakarta's Sulianti Saroso Hospital for Infectious Diseases. (ANTARA)

Bogor, W Java - Some 180 representatives of 130 Dutch companies and knowledge institutions have confirmed participation in a parallel economic mission during the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to Indonesia from March 9 to 13.

The economic mission that will be organized to Jakarta and Surabaya is led by four cabinet members, according to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta, as revealed in a press statement that ANTARA received in Bogor, West Java, Friday.

They are Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of State Sybilla Dekker, and Vice Minister of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality Jan Kees Goet.

"The Netherlands is keen to partner up with Indonesia to create smart solutions in solving global challenges. Both Indonesia and the Netherlands face common challenges in various fields," the embassy revealed in the press statement.

Among the common challenges are the impact of climate change on coastal protection and water resources, the accessibility of healthcare, the shift to a circular economy, and increasing pressure on food production systems.

"This mission will offer opportunities for companies and institutions between the two countries to exchange knowledge and expertise in finding smart and innovative solutions together," the Dutch embassy said.

During their five-day visit, the participating representatives of the Dutch enterprises and knowledge institutions would focus their endeavors to boost and strengthen their cooperation with their Indonesian counterparts in five sectors. (ANTARA)

Pekanbaru, Riau - Halal tourism that applies sharia principles in the sector would not change tourist attractions in areas with a non-Muslim majority, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said. "In non-Muslim majority regions, services for Muslims tourists, both domestic and foreign, will be improved to make them more comfortable," Amin said in his working visit to Pekanbaru, Riau Friday.

Halal tourism would not change the tourist spots but the services for Muslim tourists would be improved, he reiterated.

"There will be no change, we still offer the same destination, the same beautiful nature, but there will be sharia-based services to make (Muslim) tourists comfortable," he added.

The government has encouraged the development of a sharia economy in regions hence local governments should demonstrate its seriousness on the issue.

"First, willingness. Second, preparedness. We will encourage them," Amin who is concurrently is the Chairman of the National Committee on Sharia Finance and Economy (KNEKS), said.

KNEKS has focused on four targets namely the industries of halal and finance, social funds such as alms and endowments, and the sharia business, he said.

"I support Riau to become a special sharia economic zone. People had requested investment (in Riau). I told them to wait for Riau's readiness," he added.

The administration was committed to imposing a sharia economy in the development of its economy and tourism sector, Riau Governor Syamsuar said.

The governor has issued a regulation on halal tourism that could be used as a guideline for operators to improve their services.

The halal tourism concept is aimed at attracting travelers from the Middle East countries, he said.

"In the banking sector, we have converted the conventional Bank Riau-Kepri into a sharia bank," Syamsuar said. (ANTARA)