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 about Kesehatan which means Health.

Here is the conversation entitled “Jaga Jarak Ketika Antre” which means “Keep a Distance while Queueing”. This dialog is between Kevin and Mela at the canteen. Kevin reminds Mela to keep a distance while queueing at the cashier.

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 Jaga jarak ketika antre (2X) which means Keep a distance while queueing. In the expression, there is the word ketika (2X) which means when or while. It is a connecting word that explains the time of something happens.

Other examples:

Let’s read to the other examples of using the word ketika

When someone asks “Apa arti simbol itu” (2X) which means “What is the meaning of the symbol?”

You can answer Dilarang menggunakan telepon seluler ketika berkendara (2X) which means Do not use cellphone while driving

Kenapa tidak menjawab teleponku? (2X) which means Why didn’t you answer my call?

Aku sedang mandi ketika kamu menelpon (2X) which means I was taking a bath when you called

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. 

Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that Indonesia's manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) in June was still massive, showing the expansion of the manufacturing industry. He refers to the IHS Markit report which puts Indonesia's manufacturing PMI at 53.5. Based on the survey conducted by IHS Markit, Indonesia's PMI index fell to 53.5 in June compared to May's 55.3. IHS Markit used a value of 50 as neutral. An index above 50 indicates that manufacturing companies are expanding. Meanwhile, the index below 50 weakens.

Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita further stated in Jakarta, Thursday (1/7) that there is still a passion for business amid the impact of the increase in Covid-19 cases. He remains optimistic that the national economy will grow positively in the second quarter of this year. This belief is based on a number of indicators, including the performance of the manufacturing sector.

He also explained that in the last eight months, Indonesia's manufacturing PMI continued to be above 50. This means that the domestic manufacturing industry is in an expansive level. Industrial growth is expected to reach a positive point in the second quarter of this year. The good performance of the manufacturing industry sector in Indonesia, for example, can be seen in the export value of the manufacturing industry which was recorded at US$66.70 billion in January-May 2021, up 30.53 percent compared to the same period in 2020. Of the achievements, the processing industry contributed the highest, almost 80 percent of the total national exports.

He emphasized that the large proportion of exports of processing industry products also illustrates that there has been a shift in Indonesia's exports from primary commodities to manufactured products with high added value. This means that Indonesia has carried out an economic transformation, no longer being an exporter of raw materials, but of finished products or semi-finished goods.

In addition, during the first quarter of 2021, the investment value realized by the manufacturing industry reached an increase of 38 percent compared to the achievement in the same period last year.

The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh held a fun bike event titled ‘Batik-Kroma Fun Bike’. Kroma is a traditional Cambodian accessory. The fun bike was held last Wednesday (30/6) by implementing health protocols. All participants who joined had to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and to wear masks. The Indonesian Embassy also cooperated with the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism and the Cambodian Cycling Federation. According to the official release of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, on Thursday (1/7), the participants took a 27-km route around the Angkor complex. This event opened a series of commemorations of the 76th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia as well as a form of support for Cambodia as the host of the 2023 SEA Games. Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Sudirman Haseng said that Batik-Kroma is a tangible form of implementing bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Cambodia considering that Siem Reap and Central Java as well as Temple Tourism Park and Apsara National Authority have a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Indonesian Embassy in Bratislava in Slovakia was again conducting gastronomic diplomacy by introducing Indonesian cuisine. The diplomacy was carried out through the holding of the "Indonesian Cuisine Cooking Class 2021: Taste of Indonesia" event on Wednesday (30/6). In the event, Chef Yusuf from Indonesia demonstrated how to cook Indonesian food that is easy to do and according to Slovak tastes. These dishes include fried rice, gado-gado and dadar gulung. In addition, this event was also to introduce tempe as a "super food", an original Indonesian food since the 17th century which is easy to make and obtain and has a higher protein than beef.

The Indonesian Embassy in Rabat collaborated with Hassan I University by inaugurating the 'Indonesian Cultural Gallery' at the Hassan I University Innovation Building Library on 28 June. The 'Indonesian Cultural Gallery' featured an exhibition of photos of Indonesian flora and fauna, Indonesian traditional wedding dress and documentation of the visit of the First President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno to Morocco in 1960. The inauguration of the 'Indonesian Cultural Gallery' was enlivened by the Pambahan Dance from West Sumatra and the Saman Dance from Aceh. On the same occasion, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Indonesian Embassy in Rabat and Hassan I University as well as a memorandum of understanding between Semarang State University and Hassan I University. They agreed to increase cooperation, especially in the field of education.

The increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia, especially in Java and Bali, has resulted in high sales of vitamins by up to 50 percent. Not only that, the need for certain drugs, although never officially declared as an antidote but  widely considered potential in therapy for COVID-19, has also become high. This is apparently used by some business actors to increase the selling price of drugs to the public. Apart from hunting for drugs, there are lots of people fighting over certain supplement products that are claimed to be the cure for covid 19.

In order not to harm the public, the Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin then  set the Highest Retail Price for Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic. According to the Minister of Health in his press conference last weekend, it is the highest selling price for drugs in pharmacies and various health facilities that apply throughout Indonesia. However, he emphasized  the public should not be indiscriminate in buying anti-virus medicines which have never been officially declared as Covid 19 medicines.

There are some people who tend to do panic buying actions  even to the black market to hunt for drugs that are claimed to be able to treat or relieve the symptoms of Covid-19.

This is of course worrying,  considering that consuming strong drugs without a doctor's supervision can be dangerou.

In fact, the explosion of worsening pandemic cases in one country or region can be minimized through prevention by discipline in  applying health protocols. Namely wearing masks, washing hands with soap and running water, maintaining distance, staying away from crowds, and limiting mobilization and interaction.