VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Tuesday 17 July 2018 is the deadline for registration of candidates for legislative members. Indonesian General Election Commission -KPU has set the stage of registration up to the determination of Legislative Candidates for 2019 Election. The announcement of the candidate list was publicized on 1-3 July, and the stages of the submission of candidate list are on July 4-17.

A number of political parties began to register their prospective candidates for the members of the House of Representatives -DPR which in the 2019 General Election to the KPU on Monday (16/7/2018). Based on the official schedule of the KPU, there are at least seven political parties to register their candidates. The seven parties are the NasDem Party, the Indonesian Solidarity Party, the National Awakening Party -PKB, the Working Party, the Golkar Party, the Perindo Party and the Justice and Unity Party of Indonesia (PKPI). This means that eight political parties have not registered their candidates. So, they only have time until Tuesday (17/7) They are the National Mandate Party -PAN, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle -PDI-P, the Democrat Party, the Gerindra Party, the Garuda Movement Party, the Hanura Party, the Prosperous Justice Party -PKS, the United Development Party -PPP.

Commissioner of KPU, Ilham Saputra hopes that political parties should ensure to register the names of legislative candidates who have no administrative problems so that there is no need to be restored or repaired by the political parties. He also reminded that in the registration of candidate files, there is no candidate who is an ex-convict of corruption. Therefore, the KPU during the verification process of the candidate will certainly not pass the legislative candidate who was a convict of corruption. In addition, the KPU will not extend the registration period because it is feared that it will affect the election day.

The question is why political parties choose to register their candidates only 2 or even one day from the registration deadline. Why are they taking risk? In fact, they should have known that it would be risky for the prospective candidates. If a candidate has been verified and he or she is not eligible,  they may fail to become legislative candidates. This will certainly disadvantage the legislative candidates and political parties. Or will the KPU be generous to provide additional time for those who will complete the shortcomings or improve the requirements as a candidate? But it should not happen. The KPU should show a good example or educate the legislative candidates as well as the political parties about the meaning of being disciplinary. Being disciplinary is necessary and educative so that if the legislative candidates are elected later, they must be responsible and disciplinary to attend the parliamentary meetings.

That’s Commentary!

Here are the Headlines of several national newspapers published today, July 17 2018.

We begin with Kompas entitled, "Food Price Affects Poverty."

Contribution of food commodities towards poverty grew greater. This can slow down the poverty reduction rate. Based on data of Indonesian Central Statistics Agency BPS, the contribution of food commodity against poverty in March 2017 reached 73.31 percent, but it increased into 73.48 percent in March 2018. Based on BPS data, the number of the poor in March 2018 was 25.95 million or 9.82 percent of the total population. While in March 2017, the number was 27.77 million or 10.64 percent of total population. Last year, March 2017-March 2018, the number of poor people in Indonesia decreased 1.82 million people. 

We move on to Republika, entitled "Asian Games Torch Arrives in Yogyakarta."

Asian Games 2018 torch relayed from India is about to arrive in Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (17/7). The torch is brought by Chairman of Indonesian Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (Inasgoc), Erick Thohir and Indonesian badminton legend, Susy Sussanti. Inasgoc Ceremony Director, Herty Purba said, five T-50 fighter aircraft of Indonesian Air Force will guard the Boeing 737-400 where the torch is brought upon. The entourage will be welcomed by Chief of Staff of Indonesian Air Force, Marshall Yuyu Sutisna.

We end the Headline with Bisnis Indonesia, entitled, "Merpati At Stake."

Debt of state-owned PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was greater than their owned assets until December 2017. Merpati Airlines had debt amounting Rp 10.72 trillion. With asset only Rp 1.21 trillion with equity recorded minus Rp 9.51 trillion per December 31, 2017. Restructuring and Development Deputy of State-owned Enterprises Ministry, Aloysius Kiik Ro explained that Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati and of State-owned Enterprises Minister, Rini Soemarno had stated that they will not intervene in Merpati restructuring. It means, the government will not disburse any fund for the process.

That was Headlines.

Pancasila is the values of life for Indonesian people. It belongs to neither an individual nor to any regime. Pancasila is a common asset of the people of Indonesia. It unites the Indonesian nation. This was disclosed by Head of the Bureau of the Secretariat of the Leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly -MPR, Muhammad Rizal as quoted from rmol.com during the Four Pillars of Socialization to members of Citra Bhyangkaradi Curug, Tangerang on last Sunday (15/7). In this socialization, MPR calls for the members of Citra Bhayangkara Curug to implement the values ​​of Pancasila in everyday life.

Rizal affirmed that the founders of the nation have defined the national identity through a long process and history. Until finally, the Indonesian identity is formulated in the five principles of Pancasila. In addition, Rizal also explained that there are still many people who do not memorize the five principles of Pancasila, let alone to implement the values ​​of Pancasila. In fact, Pancasila is the values of life in Indonesian people. It is not only memorized but also implemented in everyday life. Rizal took example, the -first principle of Pancasila -Belief in the One God. Following any religion is the first implementation of the principle of Pancasila. If a person does worship, regardless of his or her religion, he or she will influence his or her attitude and behavior.

Furthermore, Rizal said that Pancasila unites the Indonesian nation. Pancasila has been tested in the journey of the Indonesian nation. He disclosed that countries like the United States and other countries to praise Pancasila. Rizal pointed out that the Soviet Union could break into 15 countries. Yugoslavia broke out into six countries. Arab countries like Syria and Afghanistan are experiencing civil war. However, Indonesia as a large country with a diversity of tribes, languages, religions which are prone to split, has been proven to be united. Pancasila unites the Indonesian nation.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of the Board of Directors of Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP), Mahfud MD while attending the study of Abuya Muhtadi in Pandeglang, Banten on last Monday (09/7) said that Islam does accept Pancasila as a state ideology of Indonesia whose ethnic, language and culture are diverse. That’s My Indonesia!

Welcome back to “Indonesian Wonder”, a daily segment featuring tourism, culinary arts, fine arts and culture from various regions across Indonesia. In today’s edition, we will introduce “Camilan Slondok Renceng” from Sleman, Yogyakarta. So stay tuned..

Poncoh Village, Sleman regemcy located 15 kilometers from Mount Merapi. The region was affected by eruption of Mount Merapi in last 2010. Post-eruption, the village clean up and transformed into a tourist village in 2012. Poncoh Tourism Village offers a beautiful mountain atmosphere. In the area you can also enjoy a variety of ecotourism while doing environmental care activities. In the tourist village that can be reached within 1.5 hours drive from downtown Yogyakarta, those who come n the object will be treated to a variety of typical snacks, such as nogosari salak , ubi rebus or literally means boiled sweet potatoes, kelepon and slondok renceng, a typical snack from Poncoh.

In contrast to Slondok renceng snack in general, in Yogyakarta the snack is packed in a plastic bag. In Poncoh Tourism Village, slondok is tied into one bundle using a bamboo strap. Because of the packaging, slondok is called slondok renceng. The packaging of slondok with the model is consciously preserved because it is in line with the ecotourism village spirit which emphasizes on environmental sustainability. In the Poncoh tourist village, Slondok Renceng is served for welcoming the guests and tourists.

Slondok is made of raw cassava. After cleaned, the cassava boiled until half cooked, then let it cold for several hours and separated from the axis. The boiled cassava then milled in a special tool and mixed with fine garlic and salt to taste savory. Milled cassava is then formed a small circle like a ring and dried in a full day . After that, the slondok is fried until crunchy. Then tied into one renceng or string using a bamboo strap.

Slondok is made without preservatives. The seasoning is only rely on garlic and salt. Slondok is safe for the tongue since it is made of only somewhat flavorings. The delicious snack is usually eaten with warmed wedang ginger lemongrass, a typical drink of Mount Merapi area. You can buy Slondok Renceng as souvenirs from Poncoh Tourism village. One kilogram slondok is sold for Rp 6,500 to Rp 7,000. This snack can last up to several months.

That was Indonesian Wonder for today with the topic “Slondok Renceng” the typical food from Sleman Yogyakarta.We will meet again tomorrow with other interesting topics. Sampai Jumpa.