Indonesia Morning News For September 1

Govt launches 16th economic package to boost investment
The policy aims to speed up the issuance of business permits while providing greater certainty on the cost and time involved and to improve coordination between ministries and provincial administrations.
— The Jakarta Post

Large 6.2 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia
Tremors were reportedly felt as far away as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which are both east of the island.
— Independent

Singapore and Indonesia air forces to mark bilateral relations milestone with combined flypast
The public can catch the rehearsal and actual flypast around the Marina South area on Sep 5 and 7.
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia president: Speed up investment approvals
President Joko Widodo, who unveiled measures in a new package of government policies, attacked a lack of progress in tackling red tape to improve the investment climate.
— Bangkok Post

Indonesia launches US$2 million Hasco program for Rakhine State
The humanitarian aid worth US$2 million donated by Indonesians will be channeled into a two-year series of social programs for education, health, livelihood, and post-conflict recovery.
— Antara

Ministry is Rp431tn Short on Infrastructure Budget
The ministry needs a total of Rp1,915 trillion to build infrastructure as planned, while the budget is only Rp1,289 trillion.
— Tempo (EN)

OJK: Capital Market Fund Collection May Reach IDR171 Tln in 2017
The fund collection progress was conveyed by Winboh during the opening ceremony of Jasa Marga’s asset-backed securities issuance (KIK EBA) ceremony at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Building on Thursday.
— Netral News

Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil at a crossroads
Europe’s war against palm oil has exposed an industry that is failing to evolve quickly enough. Nevertheless, contrary to enhancing industry standards, western pressure risks pushing Indonesia and Malaysia closer to less regulated markets.
— Global Risk Insights

Garuda, Bulog, Pertamina Claim Losses: Cannot Pay Dividends
Among the 21 state-owned companies that are likely unable to pay dividends are Krakatau Steel, Kimia Farma, and Garuda Indonesia.
— Tempo (EN)

Indonesia “hopes” Freeport’s Grasberg divestment happens at one time -SOE Minister
“In terms of the 51 percent divestment, we hope that happens at the same time,” State Owned Enterprise Minister Rini Soemarno told reporters.
— Nasdaq

Indonesia cheers Freeport ‘win’ as Grasberg valuation fight looms
The bombastic statement illustrates Indonesia’s view that the dispute with Freeport over the mine was all about asserting the country’s rights to its mineral resources.
— Reuters

Telkom to replace troubled satellite in August 2018
State-owned telecommunications company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom Indonesia) plans to launch its Telkom 4 satellite in a year’s time to replace the troubled Telkom 1.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia Coal Reserves Remain for 70 Years
Indonesia currently has 28 billion tons of coal reserves.
— Hellenic Shipping News

Indonesia expresses ‘deep concern’ over investigation into alleged steel rod dumping
Australia launched an investigation into the alleged dumping of steel rods exported from Indonesia and two other countries.
— Sydney Morning Herald

Lynched Over an Amplifier: Mob Justice Alarms Indonesians
The lynching in Bekasi, a gritty, industrial suburb of Jakarta, has shocked Indonesia and opened a broader discussion about why vigilante mobs continue to torture and execute petty criminals in the country.
— New York Times

Chain-smoking children: Indonesia’s ongoing tobacco epidemic
The country has the highest percentage of male smokers globally and among the highest rate of adolescent and child smokers in the world.
— CNN

Jokowi Must Bring Justice to Indonesia’s ‘The Disappeareds’: Rights Groups
The groups urged Jokowi to meet the government’s obligations under international law and fulfill his own promise to solve past cases of human rights violations
— Jakarta Globe

After Ahok: Indonesia Grapples with the Rise of Political Islam
For decades, Indonesian society has experienced a slow process of Islamization. In 2017, the pace picked up.
— The Diplomat

Women’s Empowerment Minister considering 6 months maternity and paternity leaves in Indonesia
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister received many recommendations from several organizations to double the duration of government-mandated maternity leave in Indonesia.
— Coconuts

Feature photo ILO in Asia and the Pacific
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Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.