Indonesia Morning News For May 13, 2019

UPDATE 1-Indonesia’s c/a deficit shrinks, BOP on surpluscentral bank
Indonesia’s current account deficit narrowed in January-March to the smallest in a year, helping the country to post a balance of payments surplus, but some economists say this would not trigger an interest rate cut by the central bank.
— Intellasia

Nearly 500 election commission employees die in Indonesia
The Indonesian Ministry of Health reported the cause of death of most of the electoral commission employees who died during the vote count after the election was stroke and heart attack, the Strait Times reported.
— News.am

Critics of Indonesian President Face Treason Charges
The lead-up to the May 22 official announcement of the results of the Indonesian presidential and legislative elections has been colored by disbelief, attempts at de-legitimization and denials of loss.
— VOA

Indonesia loses Pacific asset in Franzalbert Joku
Indonesia has lost a significant asset from in its Pacific diplomacy efforts with the recent passing of the West Papuan, Franzalbert Joku.
— Radio New Zealand

Power consumption increases 5 percent during Ramadhan
State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has predicted that the consumption of power during the fasting month of Ramadhan will rise 5 percent compared to other days, due to an increase in industrial activities and household electricity consumption.
— Antara News

Indonesia election tainted, opposition marchers say, but government warns against treason
Hundreds of supporters of an opposition presidential candidate marched in Indonesia on Friday to protest against what they called election fraud, as the government warned that efforts to cast doubt on the outcome could amount to treason.
— Reuters

Indonesia Introduces AI-Powered Batik Analyzer to Battle Cheap Knockoffs
The government has made it easier for customers to distinguish between authentic batik and cheap knockoffs from abroad, by using just their smartphones.
— Jakarta Globe

4.7-magnitude Earthquake Shakes West Papua`s Kaimana
An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 shook Kaimana district, West Papua province, on Saturday night but no casualties or injuries were reported.
— Tempo.co

Hundreds of inmates escape after riot breaks out in Siak prison
SharesA riot broke out in Siak Sri Indrapura Penitentiary in Riau early on Saturday following a drug raid by the prison authority. Several inmates tried to escape and set fire to the guards’ office.
— The Jakarta Post

Blood shortage reported in West Pasaman as supply drops during Ramadan
The West Pasaman chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI West Pasaman) is in short supply of blood as it struggles to find donors during Ramadan.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia steps up to the UN plate
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has kicked off Indonesia’s first-ever term as president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the world’s premier authority for maintaining global peace and security.
— The Nation

Progress made in efforts to reduce fire risk: Indonesia
Indonesia has made significant progress in restoring flammable peatlands and reducing the fire risk for its people and neighbouring countries, says the head of a presidential agency.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Govt to Build 500 Vocational Schools
Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto has said the Government has set a target of building 500 vocational schools by 2024.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s textile and clothing industry’s growth reaches 18 percent
The growth of the textile and apparel industry was the highest recorded at 18.98 percent in the first quarter of 2019, where the number rose significantly compared to the same period last year which was recorded at 7.46 percent and also increased from the acquisition in 2018 of 8.73 percent .
— Antara News

Indonesia should probe deaths of more than 500 election staff: Parliament deputy
Intellasia East Asia News A top Indonesian lawmaker has demanded a parliamentary inquiry into the deaths of more than 500 officials during recent elections, most of them linked to fatigue-related illnesses in gruelling work conditions.
— Intellasia

Indonesia’s Pertamina has signed oil block contract regulator
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesian state energy firm PT Pertamina has signed a production sharing contract with the government for the country’s second-largest crude producing field, said the head of the nation’s upstream oil and gas regulator.
— Intellasia

Old age, poor health caused deaths of poll administrators: Indonesia government
The Health Ministry has announced that a majority of the more than 100 local poll administrators (KPPS) who died in four provinces following election day had suffered a stroke or heart attack.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Gov’t Slaps Travel Ban on Kivlan Zein on Friday, Revokes It on Saturday
The immigration office issued a travel ban on Kivlan Zein, the former chief of staff of the Indonesian Army Strategic Command, or Kostrad, but revoked it a few hours later, a government official said.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia Floats Yet Another Plan to Move Its Sinking Capital
In 1957, Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, took a 36-hour boat trip across a river to the small city of Palangkaraya, soon to be christened as the capital of the Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo.
— FP

Citibank posts net income of Rp 838 billion
Private lender Citibank NA, Indonesia posted a net income of Rp 838 billion (US$58.28 million) in the first quarter of 2019, a 44 percent increase from the same period, last year, a press statement says.
— The Jakarta Post

KPK cautions Indonesian firms over bringing in Chinese investors
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has called on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to be careful when bringing in investments from Chinese companies.
— The Jakarta Post

Jakarta`s Water Management Team Gets Advice from KPK
Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan has said the capital city’s tap water management team visited the headquarters of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to get legal advices on a plan to take over clean water supply management from private companies.
— Tempo.co

WIKA supports government’s plan to move capital city
which has been experienced in steel fabrication (bridges, conveyors, platework), heavy equipment, and manufacturing industries.
— Antara News

Tourist visits to Tanah Lot decrease following ticket price hike
Domestic tourist visits in Tanah Lot tourist attraction, Tabanan District, Bali, dropped drastically following the increase in airplane ticket prices, and probably was due to the factor of Ramadhan Islamic fasting month.
— Antara News

Indonesia’s search for new capital vexes green groups
President Joko Widodo has ended a two-day trip to different cities in Kalimantan on Borneo island in search of options to set up a new capital for Indonesia, after his administration decided to move ahead with a plan to create a new administrative hub away from overcrowded Jakarta.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Floods hit residential areas in Bekasi
Floods struck several residential areas located on the banks of the Bekasi River in West Java on Saturday after the river overflowed at the headwater streams.
— The Jakarta Post

More than half of 539 sunk fishing ships come from Vietnam
In the period from 2014 to 2019, the Indonesian government sunk 539 foreign fishing ships operating illegally in Indonesian waters, 55 percent of which came from Vietnam, an official from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has said.
— The Jakarta Post

E-voting Needs Public Trust, says Expert
The Indonesian Democracy Network (JaDi) of Yogyakarta said that e-voting could be an alternative for the Indonesian elections in the future but required public trust.
— Tempo.co

MER-C, Human Rights Commission explore potential cooperation
The deaths of over 500 members of polling station working committees across Indonesia have encouraged the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to explore potential cooperation on issues of humanity.
— Antara News

Vocational schools should be linked with industry: President
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said vocational schools must be linked to the industry to enable graduates to meet the growing demands of the sector.
— Antara News

PDIP, Golkar, Gerindra come out on top in 2019 elections
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Golkar and Gerindra have come out on top in the 2019 general elections, according to preliminary vote count results of the General Election Commission (KPU).
— Antara News

E-voting needs public trust: Expert
The Indonesian Democracy Network (JaDi) of Yogyakarta that groups former election executors said e-voting could be an alternative for the Indonesian elections in the future but required public trust.
— Antara News

Pertamina signs Rokan contract, paves way for transition
ertamina has become the official operator of the Rokan Block in Riau, allowing the state energy holding company to put the necessary investment into maintaining output after signing a new production sharing contract (PSC) with the government recently.
— The Jakarta Post

Health minister reminds travelers to ensure health before “mudik”
Health Minister Nila Moeloek reminded travelers to ensure their health before leaving for conducting “mudik” or annual mass exodus ahead of the Idul Fitri festivity which marks the end of holy month of Ramadhan.
— Antara News

BNN Seizes 200 kg Narcotics Smuggled from Malaysia
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) again seized 200 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy and “happy five” drugs smuggled from Malaysia, in Bekasi district, West Java, on Friday (May 10) night.
— Tempo.co

Bogor Set to Build a Tramway
Bogor in West Java plans to build a tramway that will be integrated with the the Greater Jakarta Light Rail Transit system.
— Jakarta Globe

Bali to Host World Surfing Championship
Bali is to host the 3rd series of surfing competitions from the World Surfing League or WSL Champions Tour 2019 which is planned to be held at Keramas Beach in Gianyar district, Bali, on May 13-25, 2019.
— Tempo.co

Drugs Agency seizes 200 kg narcotics smuggled from Malaysia
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) again seized 200 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy and “happy five” drugs smuggled from Malaysia, in Bekasi district, West Java, on Friday (May 10).
— Antara News

N Jakarta fire displaces 3,500 people
A fire destroyed some 450 homes in a densely-populated area in Kampung Bandan, North Jakarta, over the weekend, displacing some 3,500 people.
— Antara News

Indonesians aghast at the price of garlic
Communities across Indonesia, including Jakarta and Palembang, particularly traders and mothers, were flabbergasted at garlic prices skyrocketing, from Rp30 thousand to Rp90 thousand, and up to Rp100 thousand per kg during a week of Ramadhan.
— Antara News

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This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges Vesak Day, May 17.

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 May 13 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 13, 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.