VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

We start from an event on February 8, 1904 about Port Arthur Sea battle.

Port Arthur Sea battle was opening battle between Russia and Japan. The battle was begun with sudden attack at night by the Japanese destroyer squadron on the Russian fleet which was docked in Port Arthur, Manchuria, and continued by great battle in the morning. The battle ended without result and small battle surrounding Port Arthur continued until May 1904. In the war, the Japanese mobilized 15 warships and explorers and escort ships. 90 people were killed. While, Russia deployed 12 warships and explorers. The number of casualties reached 150 people and seven ships were damaged.

The next event is that in 1971, the first electronic stock exchange, NASDAQ was opened in the United States.

NASDAQ or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations was a stock exchange operated by the National Association of Securities Dealers. When it started trading on February 8, 1971, NASDAQ was the world's first electronic stock exchange. Since 1999, Nasdac was the largest stock exchange in the United States of America. More than half of the companies that traded in the US were recorded here. NASDAQ consisted of NASDAQ National Market and NASDAQ Small Cap Market. Its main exchanges were located in the United States, with branches in Canada and Japan. NASDAQ also had associations with stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Europe. On July 17, 1995, NASDAQ closed at a level above a thousand points for the first time. The peak occurred on March 10, 2000 on which the index reached 5,048. 62 points. On September 11, 2001, the result of the NASDAQ terrorist attack was closed from 11 to 14 September 2001.

And the last event is that in 2005, it was the announcement of the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire.

Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on February 8, 2005 announced a ceasefire to end four years of violence in the Middle East. Abbas said that the ceasefire, which began soon, would lead to a "new era of peace and hope". Meanwhile, Sharon vowed to stop military action against Palestinian targets after militants stopped violence. US Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice said that this was the best chance for peace over years. But Sharon and Abbas did not sign a formal ceasefire agreement. Their talks were extensive, including agreements on the release of Palestinian prisoners and the handover of five West Bank cities to Palestinian control. The meeting at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh was a high-level discussion between the two sides since the Palestinian intifada began more than four years earlier.

In today’s edition, we will review an Indonesian film entitled “Dilan 1990”, directed by Fajar Bustomi. Indonesia had entered millennial and digital era. The people of Indonesia can find everything easily they need. They just need fast internet connection. In addition, entertainment can be found on internet, such as film. Film is almost overwhelmed with the technology development. However, in the end, the filmmakers can adapt with such condition. Through the advanced technology, “Dilan 1990” film gained its popularity, beginning from its novel that had been loved by many readers, until its newly-launched film. 

Director of Dilan 1990, Fajar Bustomi began his career as director in 2013 through a movie entitled “Slank Ga ada Matinya”. Afterwards, Fajar’s career in Indonesian film industry developed as he released various love drama films. Formulating a story into touching visualization is Fajar’s expertise. That expertise gave Fajar an opportunity to direct a touching drama film in 2017 entitled “Surat Kecil Untuk TUHAN”. 

“Dilan 1990” is about Dilan and Milea whose story was based on real life. This’s why, the story in “Dilan 1990” feels quite natural and not overdramatic. The teenager issues in 1990 made “Dilan 1990” quite popular. In making the film, Fajar Bustomi cooperated with Pidi Baiq, an author, in adapting the novel into film without discarding core elements of the novel version. In screenwriting, Pidi Baiq was assisted by Titien Wattimena. While the producer of “Dilan 1990” was Ody Mulya Hidayat. 

“Dilan 1990” is a love story of two teenagers named Dilan and Milea. The story began from their unusual introduction at a high school in Bandung. They met in 1990 when Milea had just moved from Jakarta to Bandung. The unique introduction made Milea know Dilan further. Dilan is a smart, kind, and romantic boy. He has his own way to approach Milea. Dilan sounds quite awkward, but it made Milea more curious about him. However, their sweet moment must end due to Beni, Milea’s boyfriend who lives in Jakarta. Also, Dilan was apparently involved in brawls and motor gang. Nevertheless, Dilan can make Milea believe that they will be together. But, can Dilan and Milea really be together? 

In a press conference held by Falcon Pictures and Max Pictures production houses some time ago in Jakarta, Fajar -the director expressed why they chose Iqbal Ramadhan, former personnel of Coboy Junior boyband, to play Dilan in his film.

“…In casting for Dilan, we spend one year, because his character is different; he is smart. After we discussed with the author, the best choice was Iqbal, because Dilan is purely Indonesian. Also, both Iqbal and Dilan are smart, still in high school, and born in Bandung.” Fajar said. 

Casting characters of based-on reality novel is not easy. To strengthen the plot and chemistry, Fajar had his own casting and chose those who were appropriate to the sketches in the novel.

“…In casting Vanessa, Pidi Baiq had told me that Milea and Vanessa are quite similar. Pidi saw Milea in Vanessa.  Wati also said that everyone here has similarities with the sketches in the novel.” Fajar added. 

“Dilan 1990” film is adapted from a novel that made Pidi Baiq famous. Fajar Bustomi also did not deny that he had a strong connection to the novel, until he finally directed the film.

“…There is something unique between Dilan novel and me. In 2014, I was called by a big production house for a contract to direct 4 films. I asked to direct Dilan first, because its novel had just been released and I felt a connection, but the production house said someone had taken it. Then, I was offered to direct Dilan by Mr. Alfon. How I imagined Dilan now and then is different. I was also introduced with the author. So, I got to know Dilan more deeply. I was going to cast a Caucasian, but I find that Dilan is not a usual teen novel, but about how parents educate their children.” Fajar expressed. 

This film is expected to give many life lessons for teenagers, because the meaning of life can be found easier through experience. This also makes audiences crowded every cinema in Indonesia to watch Dilan. It is safe to say that the film was innovation for Indonesian teenagers. As the novel has sequels, “Dilan 1990” will present further story of Dilan and Milea.

That was Book and Film for today. 

This is RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia with Mosaic of Indonesia. In today’s edition, we will present you three items of information. The first one is that 15 Javanese lorises are ready to be released at forest in Ciamis. Unsyiah students create electric car for competition in Singapore. We end Mosaic of Indonesia on regional office of Law and Human Rights’ ministry of North Sulawesi deported 15 Filipinos.

Javanese lorises are ready to be released at Mt. Sawal, Ciamis regency, West Java province after rehabilitation process since they were confiscated from animal trade syndicate. Manager Animal Care International Animal Rescue of Indonesia, Prameswari Wendi during the process of habituation of 15 lemurs at the Mt. Sawal Wildlife Reserve in Ciamis, West Java on Tuesday said that all animals underwent long rehabilitation process. The process began from quarantine, medical examination, behavioral observation, feed enrichment until they are declared healthy to be released. Prameswari also explained that the habituation was the last step for the lemurs before being released at the forest as habitat of protected primate animals. The slow lorises that consist of five males and 10 females were secured by the police in Tasikmalaya and Bandung, West Java in 2016.

Director of IAR Program of Indonesia, Karmele L Sanchez added that even after being released, the staff will monitor the animals’ activities by using special tool to observe every development, beginning from behavior, exploring area, sociability and survival from predators. After six-month release, they are monitored. The monitoring process will be helped by radio transmitter. They are equipped with collar radio which will emit signal to receiver radio.

The conservation program of the lorises at Mt. Sawal is cooperation between Central Conservation of Natural Resources, West Java and IAR Indonesia. The program is an effort to support the ongoing ecological processes within the region, as well as to safeguard and increase the population of primates as endemic species that continue to decrease in number.

The next information is that Unsyiah student creates electric car for competition in Singapore.

Technical Faculty of Syiah University in Kuala Banda Aceh will send one unit of urban energy-efficient electric car to International Shell Eco Marathon which will be held in Singapore in March 2018.  The urban energy-efficient electric car which is named “Malem Diwa R.2.0” was created by a group of students majoring in mechanical engineering and electronics. Chairman of the Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering Department, Muhammad Tajudin told the press on Tuesday (6/2/18) that the electric car can run with the distance around 90 kilometers per Kwh, with a blend of power connectivity and highly efficient design. He explained that Usyiah students participated in national competition on energy-efficient electric car in 2015 and won third place.  At that time, energy-efficient electric car was able to take the distance 175 kilometers per Kwh. Since 2014, the students have produced solar electric car but it was not for competition. Then in 2015, the car was maintained and competed in the National competition and won third place.  

We end Mosaic of Indonesia on regional office of Law and Human Rights’ Ministry of North Sulawesi deported 15 Filipinos.

Head of Immigration Division of Regional Office of Law and Human Rights Ministry of North Sulawesi, Dody Karnida explained as quoted by Radio Republik Indonesia on Tuesday (6/2) that for the first step, 4 Filipinos were deported on Thursday, February 1 through Sukarno-Hatta airport to Manila. Meanwhile, 11 Filipinos are scheduled on February 14. Dody added that the deportation has been through procedure, beginning from notification to representatives of the Philippines and to be continued by verification which recognizes their citizenship. Then, they are given travel documents which are completed with ID cards. Dody Karnida made sure that they are in good condition.

Here is the Headlines of several national newspapers published today, February 8 2018.

We begin with Kompas entitled, “Moment to Revitalize Puncak”

After three days, the search of landslide victims in Riung Gunung, Puncak, Bogor, West Java was stopped on Wednesday (7/2) evening. There was not clear evidence on more victims still being under the landslide. However, the emergency period still continues until the next 10 days until February 18. Public Works and Public Housing Ministry is expected to immediately finish the road normalization after landslide. During this period, four-wheeled vehicles cannot pass through the Jakarta-Cianjur main road. Bogor Regency Disaster Mitigation Agency BPBD’s Emergency and Logistic Division Head, Sumardi at the slide location said that 60 personnel of BPBD will still be posted at Riung Gunung.

Moving on to Republika with “Alms of State Civil Apparatus Not Compulsory” 

The government is forming presidential regulation on alms collection amounting to 2.5 percent of Muslim State Civil Apparatus’s monthly payment. Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said, the alms collection is not compulsory. That was said by the Minister in a press statement at the Religious Affairs Office in Jakarta, on Wednesday (7/2). He reasons that the Muslim State Civil Servants who object the alms collection can file request to their ministry or institution. The mechanism of request must be written.

We end today’s Headline with Media Indonesia, “Puncak Revitalization Must Not Be Just a Plan”.

The seriousness of the central government in revitalizing Puncak area, Cisarua, Bogor Regency, is crucially needed after the landslide in the area. The plan affirmed by Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono on Tuesday (6/2) is expected to be realized soon, and not ended as a plan only. Bogor Agricultural Institute’s spatial planning and environmental researcher, Ernan Rustiadi did not believe that the regency’s government had political willingness to revitalize Puncak. Because, for the regency government, Puncak area is merely for tourism, and is focused on its economic function, not their protection functions. Meanwhile, House of Representative’s Commission IV member, Firman Soebagyo in Jakarta, Wednesday (7/2) expects the central government to take over the Puncak revitalization, and to create special body for the revitalization. Firman said, in short term, House’s Commission IV plans to have a meeting with the government on the revitalization.