Indonesia Morning News For March 28, 2019

Deforestation triggering natural calamities in Indonesia
Palm oil production in Indonesia has been held responsible for cutting down vast swathes of tropical forests and killing biodiversity. Now, deforestation may also be the reason why the region is witnessing flash floods.
— DW

Bank Indonesia, Navy distribute cash to outermost islands
Bank Indonesia (BI) in cooperation with the Indonesian Navy is distributing cash to the country’s 116 outermost islands to help prevent the use of foreign currencies in border areas.
— The Jakarta Post

When easing risks become reality in Indonesia
WE see Bank Indonesia cutting the policy rate by 75 basis points in 3Q19 amid a weaker US dollar, a more dovish Fed, low domestic inflation, and a narrowing current account deficit in Indonesia.
— The Business Times

Much is riding on Indonesia’s election
Presidential candidates are focused on domestic issues ahead of next month’s vote, but democracy itself hangs in the balance
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Indonesia nickel boom on track to overshadow palm oil: investment chief
Indonesia’s nickel-related industries such as the production of stainless steel and battery materials are set to surpass the value of its second-biggest export earner, palm oil, in the next 10 to 15 years, its investment board chief said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Rampant Illegal Fishing; Gov’t Urged to Step Up Maritime Security
The Indonesian fisheries watchdog, Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW), coordinator Abdi Suhufan said that illegal fishing committed by foreign boats are still rampant.
— Tempo.co

Sea change: Indonesia fun park covers up breasts of its giant mermaids
Two naked mermaid statues at an Indonesian amusement park have had their breasts covered with golden tube tops in a bid to make them more “appropriate” and appealing to families.
— The Guardian

Govt raises Rp 223.97t from debt papers in Q1, economist warns of risks
The government has raised Rp 223.97 trillion (US$15.76 billion) from the auction of conventional and sharia government debt papers implemented along the first quarter of 2019.
— The Jakarta Post

Prabowo Camp: Indosat Buyback Important for Frequency Sovereignty
The narrative to buyback Indosat, as promised by vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno, is seen as a positive discourse by their campaign team. The camp also claims that the corporate act would be a profitable one.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s start-up ‘disaster news agency’
Journalist Yardin Hasan barely survived the disaster that flattened much of the Indonesian city of Palu last September. Today, he leads a group of local journalists trying to hold their government to account as his city’s recovery lurches forward.
— Relief Web

El Niño 2019: Possible impact in Indonesia
The worst ever recorded El Niño of 2015 caused the world’s weather to change. Presently El Niño is predicted to be more frequent, turning into a major climate anomaly threat.
— The Jakarta Post

West Papua hit by magnitude-4.8 earthquake
The quake’s epicenter was located at 1.06 degrees northern latitude and 132.91 degrees eastern longitude, some 817 kilometers northeast of Tambrauw, and at a depth of 10 kilometers, the Sorong geophysics station stated here, Wednesday.
— Antara News

Indonesia to fix motorbike ride-hailing rates; may hurt Grab, Go-Jek
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesian authorities mandated on Monday (March 25) that ride-hailing motorcycle service providers will only be able to charge rates within a fixed band, a move that could put hurdles in the expansion plans of Go-Jek, Grab and other ride-hailing firms.
— Intellasia

The Carbon Brief Profile: Indonesia
Indonesia was the world’s fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2015. It is the 16th biggest economy and the largest in southeast Asia.
— Carbon Brief

Pharmaceutical holding to be established in first half of 2019
The State-owned enterprises (SOE) Ministry is expecting to establish a pharmaceutical holding company in the first half of 2019, perhaps before the April 17 presidential and legislative elections.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia / A company intimidates, evicts and plants oil palm without permits
One day in March last year, Rahim was shocked and furious to find an excavator rolling through his rice field, turning the bright green grains into piles of mud.
— Southeast Asia Globe

Indonesia foils illegal Facebook sale of Komodo dragons
Indonesian authorities said Wednesday (Mar 27) they had seized five komodo dragons and dozens of other animals being sold on Facebook, as the country battles to clamp down on the illegal wildlife trade.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Flash flood strikes Ulu Ogan, South Sumatra
A flash flood hit Kelumpang Village, Ulu Ogan Sub-district, Ogan Komering Ulu District, in South Sumatra Province, on Tuesday evening, following incessant heavy rain that triggered the Kepayang River to overflow its bank.
— Antara News

Boeing 737 MAX: What to expect at Capitol Hill, Boeing meetings
Wednesday will be a pivotal day for aircraft maker Boeing Co and federal aviation safety regulators as they try to rebuild trust following two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airliners.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia certifies a record amount of palm plantations as sustainable
Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, has certified a record amount of land under palm oil cultivation as employing environmentally sustainable methods, the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Standard (ISPO) Commission said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

INDONESIA: Which Candidates Are Running on Islamic Identity?
In a recent op-ed, the acclaimed Indonesian novelist Eka Kurniawan announced that, whatever the outcome of the upcoming Indonesian national election, “the Islamists have won.”
— The News Lens

Some 3,000 names axed from Official Voter List by KPU
Some three thousand names were taken off the Official Voter List (DPT) of the 2019 legislative and presidential elections scheduled simultaneously across the nation’s 34 provinces on April 17, 2019, an election body commissioner stated.
— Antara News

BI calls for greater synergy, focus on structural reforms
Bank Indonesia (BI) called on greater synergy between stakeholders to help the country book a higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
— The Jakarta Post

Bawaslu Sanctions Village Minister for Violating Campaign Rules
The Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) given a warning to Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo for attending a campaign event of presidential-vice presidential candidate number 01 Jokowi – Ma’ruf Amin without taking leave.
— Tempo.co

No quiet rules at flyover library in Indonesia’s congested capital
SINGING and laughter briefly drown out the roar of cars under a flyover in Greater Jakarta, where an unlikely library for kids is thriving despite choking fumes – and opposition from menacing gangsters.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Government evaluates fate of Saka Energy
State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry undersecretary for mining, strategic industries and media affairs Fajar Harry Sampurno told the press on Tuesday that the evaluation would be completed by September.
— The Jakarta Post

Leaders Urged to Reduce Abstainers in Wake of Indonesia Election
Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo ordered regional leaders and village heads across the country to help suppress the number of possible abstainers ahead of the 2019 Indonesia election.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s Next Generation
Adisuryo combines his legal expertise with business savvy; as managing partner of ADCO, he led the firm to reach $1 million revenue of 2018, apart from maintaining the size of the firm at 12-15 fee earners for the last three years.
— Legal Business Online

Rising Star in Indonesia Bets $100 Million on Ousting Incumbent President
Indonesia’s Sandiaga Uno has spent nearly $100 million of his private equity fortune to defeat Joko Widodo in next month’s election. It may be a down payment on his own presidential ambitions.
— Bloomberg

Indonesia: Six months after Sulawesi triple disaster, survivors face slow and complex recovery
Intellasia East Asia News Six months after Sulawesi was hit by a powerful and shallow earthquake, tsunami and liquefaction, survivors face a painfully slow and complex recovery. On 28 September 2018, a series of strong earthquakes struck Central Sulawesi, the worst a shallow, magnitude 7.4.
— Intellasia

Bank Danamon shareholders approve merger plan
The shareholders of publicly listed private lender PT Bank Danamon have agreed to merge the bank with Bandung-based PT Bank Nusantara Parahyangan (BNP) in a move initiated by the parent company of the two banks — Japan-based MUFG Bank Ltd.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia keeps cocoa export tax at 5 pct, palm untaxed
Indonesia set reference price for cocoa beans at $2,228.03 per tonnes for April, within its threshold of 5 percent export tax, Trade Ministry said on Wednesday
— Reuters

Indonesia, Thailand slowly reduce dependence on the dollar in bilateral trade
USE of the local currency settlement (LCS) scheme between Indonesia and Thailand has grown substantially since its inception in late 2017, Bank Indonesia (BI) said in a statement on Monday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Earth Hour adjusted to presidential debate
With the next presidential debate scheduled on Saturday at 8 p.m., an official has said that the city administration will limit Earth Hour to only a handful of locations.
— The Jakarta Post

South Sumatra to host 2019 UEA Summit
South Sumatra has been entrusted to host the Urban Environmental Accords (UEA), or a network of areas keen on responding to global climate issues, in Palembang in October-end of 2019.
— Antara News

Man Pretending as Garuda Pilot Named Suspect of Document Forgery
A young man pretending to be a Garuda Indonesia pilot, Alvin Aditya, has been named a suspect for document forgery. He was caught wearing the airline’s uniform and other pilot attributes, including a fake pilot ID card.
— Tempo.co

Feature photo Sutopo Purwo Nugroho

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 March 28 added by Piseth Pov on March 28, 2019
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Piseth Pov

Piseth Pov graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh in 2017, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Communications from Western University, Phnom Penh, the same year.