Indonesia Has a Grand $412 Billion Plan to Rebuild the Country
Indonesia is drafting ambitious plans for more than $400 billion in building projects, from constructing 25 airports to new power plants, as the government seeks to stoke growth in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, according to the country’s planning minister.
— Bloomberg
Investigation Finds Indonesia’s Election Commission Violated Vote Procedures
An investigation found that Indonesia’s election commission violated official procedures when tallying votes during the country’s presidential election.
— BloombergQuint
Indonesia tells airlines to trim fares without compromising safety
Indonesia’s transport ministry has trimmed the maximum fares airlines can charge for domestic routes, effective later this week, as millions of Muslims prepare for homecoming trips at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
— Reuters
Bank Indonesia keeps policy rate unchanged at 6 percent
Bank Indonesia (BI) will keep its interest rate unchanged amid rising uncertainties in the global financial market, adopting a monetary policy stance it called “cautious neutral” and “data dependent”.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia’s January-April tax collection shows signs of economic slowdown – finmin
Indonesia’s tax collection in the first four months of 2019 showed signs that economic activity is weakening in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the finance minister said on Thursday.
— Today Online
State-owned healthcare insurance covers 83.94 percent of Indonesians
The Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) has revealed that 83.94 percent of the population, or 221 million people, are registered under the National Health Insurance and Healthy Indonesia Card (JKN-KIS) program.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia raises 177b yen in Samurai bond sales
Indonesia has raised 177 billion yen (S$2.2 billion) in six series of Samurai bond sales, its finance ministry said on Thursday, describing the issuance as the biggest public offering of such bonds by an Asian country.
— The Business Times
Malaysia to appeal boss’ acquittal over Indonesian maid’s death
Malaysia’s attorney general office has assured Indonesia’s government that it will appeal a recent court decision to acquit a Malaysian employer after her Indonesian domestic worker died after being physically abused in February 2018.
— Aljazeera
President Jokowi pays Rp55 million of zakat mal through Baznas
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) paid Rp55 million of income-based alms (zakat mal), or a rise of Rp5 million from last year, paid in cash through the National Alms Agency (Baznas).
— Antara News
Biak district bans use of plastic bags
The Biak Numfor district government in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua plans to ban the use of plastic bags in shops and markets, as of June 1, 2019, as part of efforts to reduce plastic trash.
— Antara News
RI, Germany ink deals on human development
Indonesia and Germany have signed an agreement on technical cooperation focused on effective governance, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and the protection of the environment and biodiversity.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
Indonesia and Argentina Strengthen Economic Ties to Weather Trade War
Indonesia and Argentina have agreed to double the value of bilateral trade between then to $3.4 billion within the next two years as both countries seek alternative destinations for their commodities amid a global trade war.
— Jakarta Globe
Indonesia offers spot LNG cargoes after exports dive to two-year low
State-owned firm Pertamina has offered five liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes after Indonesia’s monthly exports of the super-chilled fuel in April dropped to its lowest in two years, according to industry sources and shipping data.
— Today Online
Mood of consumers in Thailand and Indonesia on the upswing: Credit Suisse Emerging Consumer Survey
The mood amongst Thai consumers is surprisingly encouraging compared to our impression on various macro-economic indicators, according to the latest consumer survey launched by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, which looked at Thailand for the first time.
— The Business Times
Inmates riot, set fire at prison in western Indonesia
Hundreds of police and soldiers have retaken control of a prison in western Indonesia following a riot on Thursday, officials said.
— The Washington Post
Musim Mas Program Increases Financial Access for Independent Smallholders
For the first time, independent smallholders around Musim Mas subsidiary Siringo-Ringo, in Rantau Prapat, North Sumatra, are receiving funding to replant their palm trees.
— Jakarta Globe
Indonesia hunts scores of inmates after jailbreak in North Sumatra
At least 100 prisoners are on the run from an Indonesian jail, the authorities said on Thursday (May 16). It is the country’s second mass prison escape in less than a week.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Indonesia sets precautionary measures to fight spread of monkeypox
Singapore, a city state which is located next to the Indonesian island of Batam, has been shocked by a case of monkeypox over this past week.
— Antara News
Tanjungpinang offers isolation room to prevent spread of monkeypox
Tanjungpinang Health, Birth Control, and Family Planning Office is offering an isolation room at Raja Ahmad Thabib Hospital for monkeypox virus patients as a precautionary measure to fight its spread, a local government official …
— Antara News
New government urged to control tobacco sales
Nineteen civil society organizations, led by the National Tobacco Control Committee, urged the next elected government, following the 2019 General Election, to be more assertive in controlling tobacco sales, in a bid to protect …
— Antara News
Grab partners with the University of Indonesia to nurture local talent
Grab Indonesia through its venture arm Grab Ventures Velocity (GVV) is teaming up with the University of Indonesia (UI) in order to support the education and research within UI.
— KrAsia
Leaving Paris Agreement: Indonesia’s loss or the world’s?
Angry comments have greeted the announcement of the European Union that Indonesia’s palm oil would be banned as the industry had aggravated deforestation, thus it was not renewable energy.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia faces political stand-off as vote count nears finish
Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto’s vehement insistence on rejecting the upcoming election results – on grounds of alleged vote-rigging – could thrust Indonesia into a tense political stand-off, which some fear may lead to civil unrest in the world’s third-largest democracy.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
US Navy chief would welcome Australian, Indonesian action in South China Sea
The US Navy’s operations chief would like Australian and Indonesian maritime forces to have a greater presence in the disputed South China Sea, including by sailing controversial freedom of navigation operations.
— Sydney Morning Herald
Photo of boy saying he’s ready to die in jihad against election fraud goes viral, child protection commission concerned
The Commission for the Protection of Indonesian Children (KPAI) says it plans to summon representatives of President Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto’s election campaigns over an extremely troubling social media post that raises the disturbing possibility of children becoming victims of the ongoing election feud.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Indonesia taking action to boost moderate Islam
A new university campus in Indonesia is being built by the Joko Widodo government to be a showcase for moderate Islam, in a country riven by the rise of conservative Muslims and their active participation in recent elections.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Palm oil exports increase in Q1: Gapki
SharesAccording to the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki), the country’s palm oil exports increased in the first quarter of 2019, despite an alleged smear campaign against the commodity led by the European Union and a global economic slowdown.
— The Jakarta Post
IDX, healthcare agency to swap data to deepen financial market
The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on information exchange with the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) to help the bourse deepen the country’s financial market.
— The Jakarta Post
Fish-finders increase efficiency among C. Java fisherfolk: Governor
With the introduction of a device called the fish-finder, Central Java fishermen are now able to more efficiently locate schools of fish before sailing out to sea.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesian FM to lead UNSC discussion on Middle East
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, as president of the the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the May 2019 period, will lead the council’s session in New York on May 22 in a discussions of the latest situation …
— Antara News
Viral: Netizens praise unofficial rail guards for aggressively stopping motorcyclist from crossing ahead of incoming train
Anyone who’s come up to a railway crossing in Indonesia has likely seen motorcyclists (and sometimes car drivers) risking their lives by going through the intersection even while under threat of an incoming train.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Police Study Treason Allegations Against Amien Rais, Rizieq Shihab and Bachtiar Nasir
Investigators are currently studying a police report containing treason allegations against prominent figures Amien Rais, Rizieq Shihab and Bachtiar Nasir.
— Jakarta Globe
VP Kalla discusses handling refugees with UNHCR
Vice President Jusuf Kalla discussed Indonesia’s efforts to handle refugees, during a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi.
— Antara News
Hardship faced in maintaining 5 percent growth: Minister
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati says that Indonesia will face difficulty in maintaining gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 5 percent this year because of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China
— The Jakarta Post
Lombok International Airport begins scanning passengers for monkeypox
The management of Lombok International Airport (LIA) in West Nusa Tenggara with the port health office (KKP) has heightened the monitoring of passengers arriving from Singapore after the city-state reported its first human case of the rare monkeypox virus.
— The Jakarta Post
Lion Air increases flight frequency to Ambon
The Lion Air group airline increased the frequency of flights to Ambon, specifically the Soekarno Hatta route to Djuanda Surabaya to Ambon and Makassar-Ambon route.
— Antara News
Indonesia supports Timor Leste as member of ASEAN
Indonesia supports the recommendation that Timor Leste becomes the 11th member state of ASEAN, in a bid to add to the strength the organization in the Southeast Asia region.
— Antara News
President to visit Atambua for Rotiklot dam inauguration
President Joko Widodo is scheduled to pay a visit to Atambua, the capital of Belu District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on May 20, 2019, for inaugurating the Rotiklot Dam in the border area with Timor Leste.
— Antara News
Indonesia’s BPPT cooperates with Australian firm for cattle breeding
Indonesia’s Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) extended its second year of cooperation with Coffey International Development PTY LTD to study the impact of palm-cattle integration on land fertility and palm …
— Antara News
KPU violated procedures in inputting data in Situng: Bawaslu
The General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) reported that the General Election Commission (KPU) had failed to follow the necessary procedures in entering data into the vote counting information system …
— Antara News
Indonesia tops open-access publishing charts
European funders have been leading a charge under ‘Plan S’ to make more of the scientific literature free to read. Yet the nations that publish the highest proportion of their research papers open access (OA) aren’t in Europe, according to a preliminary analysis shared with Nature.
— Nature
Transgender women in Pekanbaru intimidated into leaving boarding house by Islamic Defenders Front vigilantes
The Holy Month of Ramadan is meant to be about peace and reflecting on the hardships of others but, for a few groups, it’s become an excuse to persecute those whose beliefs are different from their own.
— Coconuts Jakarta
A Central Java policeman is fired for being gay. He now fights for his rights
He had loyally served in the police force for 10 years but was dishonorably discharged last December, not for accepting bribes or disobeying his superiors but because of his sexual orientation.
— The Jakarta Post
DPR Deputy Speaker Criticize Use of Treason Law by Police
The House of Representatives (DPR) deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah expressed his criticism against the use of treason law to someone who made a statement in public space. According to Fahri, a person could be said to practice treason if he possessed weapons.
— Tempo.co
KPU violates registration procedure for quick count institutions
The Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) said in its recent verdict that the General Election Commission (KPU) violated the procedure for the registration of quick count institutions during the 2019 general elections.
— Antara News
Police: No Potential Riot on Election Result Announcement Day
National Police believe that there will be no public riot during the announcement of the vote recapitulation of the 2019 presidential election to be held by Election Commission (KPU) on May 22.
— Tempo.co
APEC senior officials reassert unstinted support for multilateralism
Senior officials of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have strongly reasserted the forum’s support for multilateralism and pledge to boosting collaboration in realizing stronger trade and economic growth in the …
— Antara News
Pertamina readies 112 service points along Trans Java toll road
State-run oil company PT Pertamina (Persero) has readied 112 service points along the Trans Java toll road from Merak to Pasuruan to cater to the refueling needs of Eid al-Fitr holidaymakers.
— Antara News
Feature photo pwbaker
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 17 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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Stella-maris Ewudolu
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.
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