Day: September 10, 2021

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has said he expects the Free Halal Certification Program (Sehati) to help micro small entrepreneurs (MSEs) rise from the adversity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Free Halal Certification Program is a form of concern for the Religious Affairs Ministry for the people. Not only in matters of religion as its core business, but also about business sustainability for its people,” he said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

The Religious Affairs Ministry launched the Free Halal Certification Program on Wednesday (September 8, 2021). The program is targeting MSEs in the category of product types that are subject to the obligation to be certified halal; moreover, most of them do not have halal certification, the minister said.

The Free Halal Certification Program reflects the government’s concern for the revival of MSEs for strengthening the foundation of the national economy, he added.

MSEs have played an extraordinary role in the national economy, he noted. Thus, their role must be continuously improved both in terms of productivity and competitiveness, he said.

“We are aware that in this pandemic situation, many businesses have ceased operating, and this Free Halal Certification is one of the breakthroughs to overcome business sluggishness,” Qoumas stated.

In addition, by obtaining halal certification, the opportunity for MSE products to penetrate a wider market will broaden, he pointed out. Moreover, the government has continued to make efforts to support the penetration of MSE halal products into the international market through various collaborations, he added.

Today’s global community equates halal products with quality and hygiene, the minister highlighted. Thus, it is not surprising that the growth of halal products has continued to increase, even becoming a global lifestyle (halal lifestyle), he said.

“Through this free halal certification, it is hoped that more MSEs can penetrate the global halal market,” Qoumas asserted.

Earlier, acting head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Mastuki, said that halal products created within the national halal ecosystem have the potential to support increased trade performance.

“The size of Indonesia’s halal ecosystem with the support of halal capital that we have, both human resources, social capital, demographic capital, and so on, we can be sure that our halal products have the potential to support the improvement of national trade performance,” he explained.

Mastuki said the huge potential for Indonesian halal products is supported by infrastructure and halal chains that are connected from upstream to downstream. Halal certification is the intermediary item that connects the upstream halal industry with downstream markets between producers and consumers, he added.

This includes halal preparation materials produced by companies and the service industry and micro and small business actors who use halal materials as new products, he added

Source: Antara News

The West Papua police have named 19 suspects in connection with the September 2 attack on the Kisor military post in South Aifat sub-district, Maybrat district, which led to the death of four soldiers.

Two of the suspects have been placed under police custody, while a hunt has been launched for 17 others, West Papua police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Adam Erwindi told local journalists here on Friday.

The two suspects in police custody have been identified by their initials as MY (20) and MS (18). MY is a resident of Boksu village, while MS is a resident of Insum village of South Aifat sub-district, he said.

The police have launched a manhunt for Silas Ki, Manfred Fatem, Musa Aifat, Setam Kaaf, Titus Sewa, Irian Ki, Alfin Fatem, Agus Kaaf, Melkias Ki, Melkias Same, Amos Ki, Musa Aifat, Moses Aifat, Martinus Aisnak, Yohanes Yaam, Agus Yaam, and Robi Yaam, he added.

The West Papua police have released the names of the 17 other suspects based on the confessions of MY and MS to the investigators of South Sorong police precinct, Erwindi informed. Early last Thursday (September 2, 2021), members of an unidentified terrorist group had ambushed several soldiers while they were sleeping at the Kisor military post.

Four soldiers—2nd Sergeant Amrosius, Chief Private Dirham, First Private Zul Ansari, and First Lieutenant Dirman—had died in the attack, while two others had sustained serious injuries.

The bodies of three soldiers had been found at the post, while the body of another soldier had been discovered in the bushes not far from the post.

Owing to the incident, several local residents had fled their homes over security concerns.

Erwindi further disclosed that the ambush had been thoroughly planned and organized by members of the West Papua National Committee operating in the Kisor neighborhood of Maybrat district.

Therefore, the police had classified the assault as a premeditated crime by the KNPB-Kisor chapter, led by Silas Ki, he said.

A joint team of personnel from the Indonesian Military and National Police force will continue their efforts to arrest all perpetrators, he added.

To this end, local residents are requested to inform security personnel if they have information on the suspects’ whereabouts, Erwindi said.

Referring to the September 2 attack, West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan had earlier appealed to residents of Kisor village to help security personnel capture the killers of the four soldiers.

Mandacan, who visited the scene of the shooting on September 4, 2021, also asked Kisor villagers who had fled to the forest to return home and resume their normal lives.

“The villagers do not need to panic or take refuge in the forest because the government works with the military and police to ensure public safety and security,” he said.

The assault on the Kisor military post in West Papua has added to the list of cases of armed violence in Papua and highlighted the grave danger posed by Papuan separatist terrorists.

Source: Antara News