Indonesia Morning News For May 21, 2019

President Jokowi re-elected with 55.5 per cent of votes: Elections commission
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo has, as expected, defeated his old rival Prabowo Subianto at the polls again – this time by more than double the votes he had garnered at their last presidential race in 2014.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Global slowdown still shadows Indonesia’s 2020 state budget
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said Indonesia is to still face a tough external economic challenge in 2020 because of an adverse geopolitical situation that was particularly triggered by a trade war between the United States and China.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s election watchdog throws out petitions claiming election fraud
Indonesia’s election supervisory agency (Bawaslu) has rejected – on grounds of weak evidence – complaints filed by supporters of presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto that last month’s election was plagued by cheating, saying that the petitioners only submitted online news links.
— The Straits Times

Government projects 5.3 to 5.6 percent GDP growth in 2020
The government on Monday submitted the macroeconomic assumption and basic fiscal policy for the 2020 state budget, which among other things proposed a gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection of 5.3 to 5.6 percent.
— The Jakarta Post

Tax revenue projected to reach only 88.9 percent of annual target
Referring to slow growth in tax revenue collection in the first four months of 2019, the Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) projects the country will collect Rp 1.40 quadrillion (US$ 96.93 billion) or about 88.9 percent of the Rp 1.56 quadrillion target this year.
— The Jakarta Post

Airlines cut fares to adjust to price ceiling
Indonesia’s major airlines have lowered their fares following the implementation of the new price ceiling on Saturday.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Bank Indonesia accelerates transactions of commercial securities
Bank Indonesia has sped up the issuances and transactions of commercial securities (SBK) as an alternative short-term nonbank source of funds.
— Antara News

To pacify Trump, Indonesia seeks American arms
Indonesia is quietly talking to the United States about the purchase of 32 new Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper jets and six C-130J cargo aircraft in what may partly be an effort to remove the country from any possible sanctions as the US-China trade war returns to a boil.
— Asia Times

Dumping charges curb paper exports
Dumping charges are likely to continue hampering Indonesia’s exports of pulp and paper products as many competitors abroad still accuse the country of selling its products below production cost.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Indonesian court sentences French drug smuggler to death
An Indonesian court sentenced Frenchman Felix Dorfin to death for drug smuggling on Monday (May 20), in a shock verdict after prosecutors asked for a 20-year jail term.
— CNA

Indonesian ex-police brigadier says he was fired for being gay
A former Indonesian police brigadier has filed a complaint to the human rights commission claiming he was fired for being gay, his lawyers said on Monday, in what could be a test case on discrimination in the Southeast Asian country.
— Reuters

Baznas projects zakat collections to reach Rp3.5 trillion in Ramadhan
The National Islamic Alms (zakat) Management Agency (Baznas) is expecting the collection of zakat to touch some Rp3.5 trillion during the holy month of Ramadhan 2019.
— Antara News

Backing for Subianto strong in Riau, with 61.26 percent support
Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno recorded victory in the 2019 presidential elections in Riau, with 1,975,287 votes, or 61.26 percent, excelling over Joko Widodo-Ma’ruf Amin that secured 1,248,713 votes, or 38.49 percent, of the …
— Antara News

Ministry optimistic about industry growth in Q1 2019
Indonesia’s industrial sector is expected to grow more aggressively in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the previous quarter, particularly due to increased demand during the fasting month and the upcoming Eid …
— Antara News

Lion Air Lowers Airlines Tariff by 25 percent
Several national air carriers have finally lowered airlines tariffs starting today, May 20, following the issuance of Transportation Ministerial Decree No. 106/2019 concerning airfare ceiling price on May 15.
— Tempo.co

Tourism minister wants to make Bandung prominent destination
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has expressed his wish to make Bandung Regency a Special Economic Zone (KEK) as a tourist destination through the development of its existing potential by improving attractions, accessibility and amenities.
— The Jakarta Post

Russian, British Embassies caution citizens over election announcement
Russian and British embassies in Jakarta have issued an advisory to their citizens to steer clear from the area where demonstrations will be staged ahead of the announcement of the election results on May 22.
— Antara News

Ministry conducts assessment of fatty acid biodiesel storage tanks
Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is studying to improve infrastructure and lower transport costs for B20, including through evaluating Contractor of Cooperation Contracts’ (KKKS’) idle oil tanks for storing Fatty Acid Methyl Esther (FAME).
— Antara News

Working Requirement in Indonesia
As the largest economy in South-East Asia, Indonesia is an attractive and valuable jurisdiction for patent protection.
— Lexology

Toxic waste containers pile up at Batam seaport
At least 60 shipping containers carrying hazardous and toxic waste (B3) have been piling up at Batu Ampar port in Batam, Riau islands, for five months since it was discovered that an earlier shipment to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, had contained waste from foreign countries.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

East Java Police Catch Jakarta-Bound Prabowo Supporters Transporting Molotov Cocktails
Police in East Java have found four Molotov cocktails hidden inside a minibus used by supporters of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.
— Jakarta Globe

Domestic car sales drop 17 percent
Domestic car sales dropped 17.8 percent year-on-year to 84,029 vehicles in April from 102,258 in the same month last year, according to a statement issued by the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo).
— The Jakarta Post

Travelers Demand Security Assurance in Trans Sumatra Toll Road
Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) urged the government to assure the security in Trans Sumatra toll road that is functionally operable for 2019 Eid homecoming season or locally known mudik lebaran
— Tempo.co

Jakarta Calls Hospitals Readiness for May 22
Jakarta Health Agency instructed all hospitals in the capital city to prepare in treating patients starting on May 21 prior to the announcement of the 2019 general elections results by the Election Commission (KPU).
— Tempo.co

Pilot Nabbed for Hate Speech, Calling for Riot
The West Jakarta Police are set to involve counterterrorism special squad Densus 88 in the questioning of a pilot nabbed over a social media post that allegedly contained hate speech and elements of radicalism.
— Tempo.co

Democrat Refrains from May 22 Election Protest
Democrat Party secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan asserted its party members would not join the upcoming protest on May 22 that many deemed as a “people power” movement against the presidential election results.
— Tempo.co

Bawaslu: We cannot Accept Reports on Alleged Electoral Fraud
The Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) has determined to reject two reports on the alleged electoral fraud in 2019 general elections.
— Tempo.co

Arrested BPN Spokesman Expresses Paranoia and Fears for His Life
A spokesman for presidential ticket Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno’s campaign team (BPN), Lieus Sungkharisma, was arrested by the Jakarta Police’s special criminal investigation directorate over alleged hoax spread and attempted treason.
— Tempo.co

KPU Situng’s data covers 90.7 percent of total polling stations
Ma’ruf Amin secured 77,344,150 votes, or 55.64 percent, while contender Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno garnered 61,659,747 votes, or 44.36 percent, the official website of the KPU Situng reported on Monday at 5 a.m. local …
— Antara News

Ministry focuses attention on using natural gas for domestic demand
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is laying emphasis on the utilization of natural gas for domestic requirements to drive the nation’s economic growth.
— Antara News

Indonesia arrests dozens of terror suspects ahead of poll results
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesian police said Friday that they have arrested dozens of Islamic-State linked terror suspects, including some who planned to detonate bombs at political demonstrations when election results are announced next week.
— Intellasia

Batam seeks to revive shipyard industry
The Mayor of Batam in the Riau Islands, Muhammad Rudi, wants to revive the shipyard industry, which once was known as the finest shipyard throughout Asia Pacific.
— Antara News

Papua gov’t urged to follow up on convicted civil servant dismissal
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) encourages the Provincial government of Papua to follow up on the imposition of disrespectful dismissal on the state civil servants who have been sentenced based on a court decision …
— Antara News

KPK to Question Energy Ministry over Riau Coal Plant Bribery Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will question Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan in the alleged corruption that took place during the Riau-1 PLTU project. The questioning will take place today, May 20.
— Tempo.co

Japanese can avail Central Java’s Borobudur Temple tourism packages
The Central Java provincial administration, through the Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office, has offered Borobudur Temple tour packages to Japanese citizens via travel agents specifically invited to visit the site on May 18-19, …
— Antara News

“People power” movement does not contravene Constitution: Syamsuddin
Din Syamsuddin, a prominent figure of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, believes that the “people power” movement does not go contrary to the Constitution and hence must not be thwarted.
— Antara News

Rubber Tapper Mauled by Tiger in North Sumatra
Abusali Hasibuan, a 61-year-old, had previously been reported missing by his family. His body was later found, in a deplorable state, by the local villagers and the police, with a missing right arm. His head was found 50 metres away from the body.
— Indonesia Expat

Egyptian women use ancient Indonesian martial arts to fight abuse
In the heart of Egypt’s capital, an ancient Indonesian martial arts sport is helping dozens of women stand up to harassment.
— Reuters

Indonesia invites Brazil to invest in sugar industry
The government has invited Brazil to invest in Indonesia’s agriculture sector, especially in the development of the sugar industry.
— Antara News

Away from home, child refugees muse over what Ramadan means
Having been an asylum seeker for three years, 15-year-old Umar Nasir from Ethiopia is getting used to observing Ramadan in Indonesia. Nasir, his parents and elder sister fled their war-torn hometown of Jimma in 2017.
— The Jakarta Post

KSEI strengthens investor protection through AKSes Next-G facility
Indonesia Central Securities Depository PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia (KSEI) unveiled the latest generation of securities ownership reference facility termed AKSes Next-G at the Indonesia Stock Exchange here.
— Antara News

Batik Air reports passenger for smoking in toilet
Batik Air has reported a passenger to the police for smoking in a plane’s toilet while flying from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta to Padang Pariaman in West Sumatra on Sunday, according to a press statement issued by the airline.
— The Jakarta Post

Feature photo Madu Bina Apiari

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Bee Day, May 20.

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 21 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 21, 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.