Indonesia Morning News For January 8, 2019

Bank Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves increase to $120.7 billion in December
Indonesia’s central bank’s foreign currency reserves increased to $120.7 billion in December, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
— Today Online

Indonesia’s conservative Islam regains clout ahead of elections
Religious intolerance is on the rise in Indonesia as conservative Muslims regain political clout ahead of general elections scheduled for April, a sign that the country is re-examining its Islamic foundations.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Government allocates Rp15 trillion for disaster fund
The Indonesian government has agreed to allocate Rp15 trillion in budget fund for disaster anticipation and mitigation in the 2019 state budget.
— Antara News

Indonesia targets 7 percent growth in agroindustry
The Industry Ministry has targeted an increase of 7.1 percent in the agroindustry in 2019, higher than last year’s 6.93 percent, following a surge in domestic demand.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia`s measles rubella immunization coverage reaches 87.33 percent
The Measles and rubella (MR) immunization campaign in Indonesia has recorded a coverage of 87.33 percent on an average, according to an official of the Health Ministry.
— Antara News

Indonesia’s 2018 natural rubber output rises to 3.77 mln tonnes – assoc
Indonesia Rubber Association (Gapkindo) estimated total natural rubber production in 2018 stood at 3.77 million tonnes, chairman Moenarji Soedargo said on Monday.
— Reuters

Bank Mandiri plans to issue debt instruments worth Rp40 trillion
State lender Bank Mandiri plans to issue various debt instruments, worth Rp40 trillion, this year in line with its aggressive program to boost the growth of credits, including those in foreign currencies.
— Antara News

Indonesia sets Jan HBA thermal coal price at $92.41/mt, down 0.11% on month
Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has set its January thermal coal reference price, also known as Harga Batubara Acuan or HBA, at $92.41/mt, down 0.11% month on month, and down 3.28% year on year.
— S&P Global Platts

Indonesia Faces Difficult Recovery After Series Of Natural Disasters
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesia has suffered a series of major earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides in the past three months, killing thousands and devastating parts of the country.
— Intellasia

Indonesia to import additional 30,000 T corn until March – trade ministry
The Indonesian government will assign state food procurement agency Bulog to import an additional 30,000 tonnes of corn, Trade Ministry’s senior official Oke Nurwan said on Monday.
— Reuters

Indonesia’s Nov palm, palm kernel oil exports at 2.99mn T
Indonesia’s palm and palm kernel oil exports in the month of November rose 14 percent to 2.99 million tonnes compared to the same month a year earlier, Indonesia Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) said in a statement on Monday.
— Business Recorder

Ancol Management Set to Hire People with Disabilities in 2019
PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol plans to recruit people with disabilities in 2019 to serve several positions at the Ancol Dreamland recreation park.
— Tempo.co

Is Indonesian democracy up to the challenge?
Viewed from most places in Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections seem a landmark in a democratic success story.
— East Asia Forum

2019 state budget focused on maintaining prosperity of people: minister
The 2019 State Budget will focus on maintaining the momentum of prosperity of the people, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said.
— Antara News

Dissemination on Lion Air Paid Baggage Must Be Extended: House
Fary Djemi Francis, the chairman of the House of Representatives Commission V, deemed the annulment of the free baggage allowance for domestic flights of Lion Air and Wings Air of 20 kilograms and 10 kilograms per passengers could be detrimental to consumers.
— Tempo.co

Nobel laureate Ramos-Horta urges Indonesia-Papua dialogue
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has urged Indonesia’s government to hold talks with the Papuan independence movement to help end a decades-long insurgency in the country’s easternmost region.
— Miami Herald

W Kalimantan police uncover 771 drug cases last year
The West Kalimantan Provincial Police uncovered 771 drug cases last year compared to 530 cases a year earlier.
— Antara News

PT Semen Baturaja records 24 percent increase in sales
State-owned cement producer PT Semen Baturaja (SMBR) has recorded a 24 percent increase in sales at 2.17 million tons in 2018, as compared to 1.76 million tons in the previous year.
— Antara News

Bekasi City to Impose Plastic Ban in March
The Bekasi administration will impose a ban on plastic starting March 2019. The ban will begin from modern stores in the city.
— Tempo.co

Developers push government for luxury residence incentives
Real Estate Indonesia (REI) is urging the government to fulfill its promise to introduce fiscal incentives for the development of luxury residences early this year, as part of its efforts to boost property sales and trigger growth in other sectors
— The Jakarta Post

Addressing challenges of fake news for Indonesia`s fair elections
Less than four months from now, Indonesia will have a new pair of president and vice president as a result of the 2019 Presidential Election scheduled on April 17.
— Antara News

30,000 Tons Imported Corn Awaits SOE Ministry’s Assignment
Director General of Foreign Trade Oke Nurwan said his side was still processing the import permit of 30,000 tons of corn.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s New Year’s Eve landslide death toll reaches 32: Official
At least 32 people were killed by a landslide in Indonesia on New Year’s Eve, the authorities said on Monday (Jan 7) as they ended a week-long search for missing victims.
— The Straits Times

Singapore’s Education Minister Ong makes three-day visit to Indonesia
Education Minister Ong Ye Kung will be in Indonesia from Tuesday to Friday (Jan 8 to 10), where he will meet with political and business leaders and visit joint Singapore-Indonesia projects.
— The Straits Times

Privacy rights, the other victim in Indonesia’s latest celebrity prostitution scandal
Sensationalism trumps ethics in Indonesia’s latest celebrity prostitution scandal.
— Coconuts Jakarta

News focus – Development of Indonesia-European Union partnership By Yuni Arisandy
Indonesia and the European Union (EU) have developed relations across a wide spectrum of areas in the space of a few years as outlined in the EU-Indonesia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).
— Antara News

Indonesian online investment startup Ajaib raises $2.1m from SoftBank, others
Indonesia-based online investment app Ajaib has announced the completion of a $2.1-million seed funding round co-led by SoftBank Ventures, Y Combinator, Alpha JWC, Insignia Ventures Partners and an undisclosed former Sequoia partner.
— Deal Street Asia

UI Med School Tuition among Cheapest: Dean
The dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia (FKUI), Prof. Ari F Syam, claimed that the tuition of medical school in his institution was not pricey.
— Tempo.co

Ministry prepares for forest fires following moderate el Nino forecast
The Environment and Forestry Ministry has taken early precautionary measures against land and forest fires, with the climatology agency forecasting moderate El Nino during the period from January to February.
— Antara News

Jakarta’s elevators to be guarded to prevent vandalism
The Jakarta administration plans to station police officers at some of its pedestrian bridge elevators to help in emergency situations as well as to prevent vandalism.
— The Jakarta Post

What are the National Public Holidays in Indonesia in 2019?
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago. Due to the country’s huge size it contains a high degree of diversity in terms of religion and traditional belief systems.

Drunk man shoots own foot, claims to be victim
A man who shot himself in the foot in South Tangerang, Banten has been charged for possession of an illegal firearm.
— The Jakarta Post

Ma’ruf Amin: Islamic State System Not Only Caliphate
Vice presidential hopeful number 01 Ma’ruf Amin said caliphate was not the only form of an Islamic state.
— Tempo.co

Megawati sheds tears when talking about her promise to Soerkarno
Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri shed tears when talking about her promise to her father, Soekarno, during the change from Old Order to Soeharto`s New Order in Indonesia.
— Antara News

Jakarta: BPJS Patients Still Treated, Referred to Other Hospitals
The Jakarta Health Agency asserted that patients of the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) would continue to receive treatment despite the temporary contract termination between BPJS and three regional hospitals (RSUD).
— Tempo.co

Balinese Man Finds Endangered Animal on his Doorstep
On Saturday, January 5, 2019, I Ketut Gede Yasa Ariana heard a neighbourhood dog barking frantically in front of his house. Ariana looked around and found a curled up pangolin on his property.
— Indonesia Expat

After getting injured in hit-and-run, Indonesian police chief shows grace, forgives driver
Despite the police chief breaking his collarbone in the accident, he chose not to press charges against the driver (who had turned himself in to the authorities).
— Coconuts Jakarta

Overweight Central Kalimantan woman asks for government help
A woman who weighs around 350 kilograms in Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan, has asked for assistance from the local government to help tackle her obesity.
— The Jakarta Post

Feature photo Basarnas

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo depicts the effects of Tsunami on Sunda Strait in Indonesia’s Banten and Lampung regions.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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.

Indonesia morning news for January 8 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on January 8, 2019
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.