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Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has signed a Decree of the Minister of Religion (KMA) Number 176 Year concerning the Distribution of Additional Allocation of Hajj Quota for Each Province. This follows the addition of a quota of 10 thousand pilgrims during the 1440 H / 2019 Hajj season given by the Saudi Government to Indonesia, during President Jokowi's visit in early April 2019.

"The KMA regarding the distribution of the quota was signed by the Minister of Religion this afternoon. The distribution of quotas is carried out proportionally in each province, "explained the Director of Haji Maman Saepulloh Fund Management, in Jakarta, Friday (4/26) night.

In the KMA, it was explained that 10,000 additional quotas were divided into 5000 pilgrims based on the portion number, as well as the elderly pilgrims and their companions as many as 5000 worshipers.

"According to KMA, the age limit of the elderly congregation, the lowest is 75 years old as of July 7, 2019. Elderly and companion congregations already have a portion number, and are registered as pilgrims before January 1, 2017," Maman explained. (setkab-kemenag)

The presence of electric cars is believed to be driving vehicle fuel diversification from BBM (fuel oil) to electricity which has a significant impact on air quality. Not only that, the presence of electric cars will also reduce the volume of fuel imports.

"Because of this strategic value, the Government continues to encourage the use of electric vehicles that have low emissions to be able to compete with conventional vehicles," ESDM Minister Ignasius Jonan said after commemorating the 49th Earth Day at the Geology Museum, Bandung, Saturday (27/4).

On the occasion Jonan had the opportunity to test a crossover electric car called EVHERO and the V8 VADI Sportcar, made by the Bandung Institute of Technology (Itenas).

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources admitted, the biggest challenge for electric cars is the price problem. "If the price of an electric car is Rp 1.5 billion, who wants to buy it, or Rp 750 million, who can buy it, that's twice the price (type car) of the deer," he said.

However, electric cars are very necessary because fuel consumption continues to increase along with the growth in the number of motorized vehicles as well as the strengthening of highway infrastructure. According to Jonan, in the future it is difficult to balance the increase in demand or fuel consumption. One way to reduce fuel imports or import crude oil is by electric cars.

"All primary energy sources for electricity generation are all in the country such as coal, sun, natural gas, geothermal, wind and water. Everything is there and is owned by Indonesia, so that the import of fuel keeps getting higher every day. Our job is to control the import of BBM in a measurable capacity, because if not, the longer it gets higher, "explained Jonan.

Regarding the availability of the General Electric Charging Station (SPLU) for charging electric cars, Minister Jonan ensured that it would be fulfilled because according to Jonan, currently installed electricity reserves were more than 30% and providing SPLU for PLN as well as selling ordinary electricity. (setkab-esdm)

The Ministry of Industry collaborates with regional governments and the industrial sector to be actively involved in creating competent human resources. Collaboration between stakeholders related to this field is believed to have accelerated the target of the government's priority programs.

"Indeed, we must immediately move faster in order to prepare competent human resources, according to the priority program of Mr. President Joko Widodo. After the intensive development of infrastructure, it was then continued with the development of human resources, " said Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry Haris Munandar through his statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

Haris said, the Ministry of Industry and the Government of South Sulawesi Province gathered a number of leaders of manufacturing companies in Makassar. This strategic effort is a follow-up to the launch of an industrial vocational education program in the Sulawesi region in early January 2019.

"This program is not only carried out by the central government, but also involves the regional governments and primarily the industry players themselves. This follow-up is one of them to compile the curriculum and other steps that will need to be done, "he explained.

Haris added, his party had also facilitated the development of community polytechnics and academies in several industrial areas including those in eastern Indonesia. For example, the Metal Industry Polytechnic in Morowali, Central Sulawesi and the Academy of Manufacturing Industry Communities in Bantaeng, South Sulawesi.

"We believe that the presence of the community polytechnic or academy can make it easier to supply competent industrial workforce," he said.

The opposite effect is believed to boost the local and national economy. For example, in Morowali industrial area, the value of investment has penetrated 5 billion US dollars, exports reached 4 billion US dollars, and employment of 20 thousand people until 2018.

Haris stated, in carrying out industrial vocational education at the polytechnic and community academy, the Ministry of Industry has collaborated with Switzerland to develop the Skill For Competitiveness (S4C) program.

"We use the concept of learning in a dual system, which is 30 percent theory and 70 percent is practice," he explained.

Then, as the digitalization era began, the Ministry of Industry was building a 4.0 Center for HR Innovation and Development in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah said that he wanted to continue to synergize with the central government and industry players in an effort to boost economic growth in the region. One of the strategic steps is to prepare skilled industrial human resources.

"We have to change the pattern that has only been waiting for investors to arrive. So now, we have to pick them up. If necessary, investors do not need to come to an audience at the office of the regional head, but the regional head must go to the investors in his office. Now the model is like that, "he explained.

Furthermore, according to Nurdin, he has long cooperated and established communication with the Ministry of Industry, especially when he was still serving as Bantaeng district head.

"The presence of the Ministry of Industry is timely, because at that time we were encouraging the development of the industry in Bantaeng. Indeed, the key to success is the preparation of competent human resources, "he concluded. (ant)

Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi had a brief discussion with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Minister U Kyaw Tin of Myanmar and FM Vivian Balakrishnan of Singapore on ASEAN’s involvement in Rakhine State at the sidelines of 2nd BRF, Beijing (27/04) (twitter menlu)