VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Voice of Indonesia presents Let’s Speak Indonesian, a program that introduces the Indonesian vocabulary and guides you to speak in the language. Mari Berbahasa Indonesia or Let’s Speak Indonesian is a joint initiative of Voice of Indonesia and the Language Development Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.  Today’s topic is still about Kesehatan which means Health.

Here is the conversation entitled Isolasi Mandiri di Rumah which means Independent Isolation at Home. This dialog is between Kevin and Mela at the canteen. Kevin asks Mela curiously about the purpose of independent isolation at home. Let’s read to the conversation.

After listening to the conversation, now I am going to introduce some vocabulary and expressions related to the topic of the day.

In the dialog, you listen to an expression isolasi mandiri di rumah (2x) which means independent isolation at home. In the expression, there is the word di (2x) which means in, on or at. It is a preposition to show place.

Let’s read to the other examples of using the word di:

Mela    : Di mana Ayu membeli kue? (2x) which means Where did Ayu buy the cake?

Kevin   : Ayu membelinya di toko kue (2x) which means She bought it at the cake shop

Mela : Di mana rapat hari ini berlangsung? (2x) which means Where is today’s meeting held?

Ayu   : Di ruang Srikandi (2x) which means in Srikandi room

Not all the word di isa preposition. It may also serve as an affix and be used to form passive verb such as dijual, dibaca, and ditulis which means to be sold, to be read and to be written. For example, Artikel itu ditulis oleh Mela (2x) which means The article is written by Mela.

That was “Let’s Speak Indonesian” for today. Hopefully, this edition can be useful for those of you who want to know more about Indonesian language.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment as well as the Coordinator for Java-Bali Emergency Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM Darurat), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan instructed the oxygen production to be directed for medical needs. This was announced on Sunday (04/07). He also said that the oxygen supply is an issue that must be handled immediately.

Data from the Health Ministry and Industry Ministry showed that oxygen demand rose 5 times. Therefore, Minister Luhut in the meeting coordinated directly with the Industry Ministry so that the recording of oxygen demand is tidied up in every city.

Responding to that, the Industry Ministry stated both big and small producers are obliged to convert their oxygen 100 percent for medical oxygen. Therefore, the national target of 1,700 tons oxygen per day can be achieved. From that, 1,400 ton per day will be used in Java. 

Besides, some companies in some regions, such as Morowali, Balikpapan, Belawan, and Cilegon also sent ISO tanks to handle oxygen supply. Some oxygen manufacturers, such as Samator Group, LINDE Indonesia, Petrokimia Gresik, Air Products Indonesia, Air Liquide Indonesia, and Iwatani Industrial Gas Indonesia were also committed to supplying medical oxygen into Java that can reach 1,315 ton per day.

Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo explained that Indonesia is recommended to increase the financial technology inclusion index of ASEAN countries. Based on its records, Indonesia's financial inclusion index is still the lowest among ASEAN countries. The financial inclusion index in Indonesia was recorded at 76 percent in 2019, while ASEAN countries, such as Singapore reached 98 percent, Malaysia 85 percent, and Thailand 82 percent. The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore reported on Thursday (1/7) that Ambassador Suryo Pratomo in his remarks at Webinar titled “the Digital and Fintech Opportunities for Indonesia and Singapore” explained that around 80 percent of Indonesia's digital industry, including the financial technology sector, is more developed in Java and Sumatra. In fact, the potential of the digital economy, such as the financial technology industry in Indonesia, is still very large, including in eastern Indonesia.

Moreover, Ambassdor Suryo Pratomo further said that building infrastructure to support the financial technology industry in Indonesia is not easy. As a wide archipelagic country, Indonesia needs a large investment to establish the facilities and infrastructure. Besides, Indonesia's digital financial literacy rate is also still low, only 35.5 percent. In fact, Indonesia has the second largest number of mobile phone users in the world. During 2020, the online transaction was estimated to reach Rp201 trillion. While, the distribution of funding through financial technology companies reached Rp155.9 trillion or it rose more than 90 percent compared to the previous year.

At the webinar attended by more than 140 participants from the Singapore and Indonesia financial technology industry, Ambassador Suryo Pratomo hopes that financial technology companies would be able to promote literacy in Indonesian society. Financial technology companies are also expected to help business players, particularly Small,Micro and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to integrate into the digital economy network.

After September 11, 2021, the Government of Afghanistan will be tested in maintaining the security situation of its country. Gradually, the United States has begun to withdraw its troops and abandon the Afghan government in resolving the armed conflict with the Taliban. The withdrawal of troops, which was President Biden's decision, was carried out in stages. He emphasized that the entire US military would be withdrawn by September 11, 2021. Even the evacuation of the largest and main military headquarters of the United States and NATO troops in Bagram, might be carried out before the deadline. The Joe Biden administration's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan marked the end of the United States' 20-year war on foreign soil. The longest time ever, even when compared to when they were involved in the war in Vietnam.

After the US and NATO left, the Afghan government must try to solve its internal problems, especially dealing with the Taliban group. Since the withdrawal of the United States troops, the Taliban group has carried out a movement to increase influence by controlling a number of districts, especially in the northern region. Government forces reportedly clashed with Taliban militias while defending the area.

Efforts to resolve the civil war in Afghanistan are actually still open through negotiations, as proclaimed at the meeting in Doha, Qatar last year. The withdrawal of US and NATO troops is one of the Doha deals. Another is dialogues between the two warring parties in Afghanistan.

The question is, how can the Government in Kabul and the Taliban Group negotiate and agree on solution toward a peaceful and better Afghanistan? So far, the goal of the Taliban is to restore Afghanistan as a country based on strict Islamic law. Meanwhile, the government has other principles. Within the Taliban itself there are moderate groups and hard-line groups who may have different views in dealing with state and community affairs.

Therefore, after the withdrawal of US and NATO troops, the Afghan people may still have to be patient in hoping for a better situation in their country. It can only be realized when the government in Kabul and the Taliban Group are willing to continue negotiations and find a solution for a peaceful and better Afghanistan. If a consensus is not reached, it is very possible that the situation in the country will be even more deplorable due to political conflicts and prolonged wars.