Day: October 20, 2021

The personal data protection bill would provide certainty regarding data protection, particularly for victims of illegal online lenders whose personal data are leaked, Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) Wahyudi Djafar has said.

“The personal data protection bill will provide legal certainty regarding personal data protection and provide regulations on reporting personal data leak or abuse,” he told ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He expressed the hope that the bill would establish a mechanism for reporting grievances and provide a medium for data leak victims to question data controllers, including online lenders.

“The personal data protection law would provide the legal basis for victims to question their data controllers regarding the leak,” Djafar said.

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has conceived a regulation to handle illegal online lending cases, but a law on data protection remains necessary, he added.

“The legal basis for data protection would be stronger after the data protection law is passed,” he noted.

The personal data protection bill should regulate the duties and obligations of data controllers as consequences of collecting personal data from data subjects, he said. Financial technology service providers and online loan companies are among the data controllers that are within the scope of the bill, Djafar stated.

Despite its initial goal to establish an inclusive financial service, uncontrolled financial technology development without firm security instruments to protect personal data causes more harm than good to users seeking relief for financial problems, he warned.

“Because the law regulating data controllers does not exist yet, public members are harmed by unregulated personal data collection system,” Djafar remarked.

Source: Antara News

Industry Ministry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has said he is optimistic that by 2022, the target of 35-percent import substitution can be achieved given the enthusiastic support from stakeholders.

“With that enthusiasm, it is possible that this country will be able to achieve the 35-percent import substitution target by 2022,” Kartasasmita said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The minister said the high potential for the program to increase domestic use (P3DN) of the government budget must be optimized.

President Joko Widodo has stipulated that spending on domestic products be prioritized in the government’s budget from the beginning, he explained. Moreover, there are already policies and regulations that support such statements, he added.

Under Article 86 of Law Number 3 of 2014 on Industry, the government requires ministries, institutions, local governments, state-owned enterprises, and region-owned enterprises to use domestic products for all procurements of goods and services, he noted.

The law is backed by Government Regulation Number 29 of 2018 about Industrial Empowerment, he said.

Article 61 of the regulation stipulates that the procurement of goods and services focus on domestic products with a Domestic Component Rate (TKDN) value and a 40-percent company benefit value, he added.

Moreover, Article 107 elaborates sanctions and punishment for procurement officials who fail to fulfill the obligations specified in the government’s regulation, Kartasasmita said.

“Thus, every government institution, either they are ministries, non-ministries, state-owned enterprises, or region-owned enterprises, which uses the national budget, regional budget, or grants, must use domestic products,” the minister added.

He said that this effort would not succeed without the support of stakeholders and good system integration.

A P3DN National Team has been formed on the basis of Presidential Decree No. 24 of 2018, he pointed out.

The team monitors the use of domestic products from the planning stage, coordinates, and evaluates the work of other P3DN teams, the minister said.

It also promotes and expedites information about domestic products, monitors the consistency of the Domestic Component Rate value, and addresses issues regarding the rate value, he added.

The team encourages all stakeholders to form P3DN Teams in their respective agencies, he said.

“The P3DN team is a strategic partner of the P3DN national team,” Secretary General of the Industry Ministry Dody Widodo said.

He asked all involved stakeholders to spread the notion or idea so that many more would support the program.

The team also aims to improve the integration of the P3DN information system, starting from the official website (http://tkdn.kemenperin.go.id/), the P3DN reporting application, the complaint application (http://tkdn.kemenperin.go.id/ reports), to e-catalogs, he informed.

The government’s commitment to making domestic products predominate the local or domestic marketplace is proven by its optimizing P3DN as much as possible through capital and goods expenditure, he said.

Moreover, the potential for capital expenditure for P3DN is pegged at 31 percent of the total national budget for 2021, Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan confirmed in Bogor, West Java recently.

“The potential to increase domestic products in national budget expenditure is quite large. Of the total 2021 National Budget of Rp1,954.5 trillion (US$138 billion), the potential for P3DN through capital expenditure and government goods reaches Rp607 trillion (almost US$43 billion),” he revealed.

President Widodo believes that this figure might help increase its use considering the large capital expenditure of state-owned enterprises, he added.

Source: Antara News

The Indonesian Government has sought investments for three renewable energy projects at the 2nd Indonesia-Japan Business Forum (IJBF), Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi said in a statement received here on Wednesday

The three projects are the Bantar Gebang Refuse-Derived Fuel Plant in Jakarta, the Minihydro Power Plant in Banyumas, and the Waste to Energy project in Semarang, he informed.

He said that the projects had been curated in a clean and clear manner by Bank Indonesia and the Capital Investment Coordinating Board representative offices in Tokyo.

He assured that the Indonesian Embassy in Japan would continue to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the countries.

“We encourage the establishment of concrete cooperation in the renewable energy sector to expedite the energy transition implemented by the two countries,” he said.

Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo also attended the virtual forum titled ‘Cooperation Opportunities in the Renewable Energy Sector’.

He said that it is the right time to invest in Indonesia as the nation’s economic condition is starting to improve, with growth reaching 7.07 percent in the second quarter of 2021.

“Various monetary and fiscal policies have also been implemented to support the green economy transition, for instance, the issuance of green Sukuk (sharia-based bonds) since 2018,” he added.

Meanwhile, Director General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Dadan Kusdiana reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to achieving its carbon neutral target by 2060 through the Grand National Energy Strategy.

The 2nd IJBF was also attended by head of the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in Tokyo, Hilman Tisnawan, and more than 200 Japanese business actors.

The forum also featured a one-on-one meeting to explain the details of the cooperation scheme with Japanese investors.

Source: Antara News

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) disbursed 332 thousand masks for the public in Ambon city on Wednesday as part of activities commemorating the Disaster Risk Mitigation Month.

The mask distribution was carried out under the ‘Mask Car Movement for the Community’, which was launched by BNPB Head Ganip Warsito along with Maluku Governor Murad Ismail.

Initiated by the BNPB, the ‘Mask Car Movement for the Community’ program aims to strengthen mitigation attempts as well as to educate the public on the importance of the health protocols, especially wearing masks, to curb COVID-19 transmission.

BNPB Head Warsito likened masks with umbrellas, saying that although umbrellas cannot stop the rain, they can still protect people from rainwater.

“It is (a) similar to (case with) mask. It (A mask) can prevent us from being exposed to COVID-19,” he explained.

Ten cars were deployed by the national agency to support the program in places where people might gather, especially in the four sub-districts of Ambon city — Nusaniwe, Sirimau, Baguala, and Teluk Ambon, he informed.

Furthermore, additional mask assistance will be disbursed in stages till the total masks distributed reach 500 thousand, Warsito said.

In implementing the program, the national agency also involved the Maluku Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the Maluku Provincial Social Affairs Office, as well as volunteers from various organizations, he informed.

Meanwhile, Maluku Governor Ismail lauded the movement, saying health protocols need to be applied consistently by the entire community.

On Wednesday, the BNPB also handed a rescue car unit to the Maluku Disaster Mitigation Agency.

As per official data, the number of COVID-19 cases in the province reached 14,558 while recoveries stood at 14,257 as of Monday.

The ‘Mask Car Movement’ is expected to maintain the efficient handling of COVID-19 in Maluku province, especially in Ambon city, Warsito said.

The program has been carried out by BNPB in several other cities, such as Jakarta, Makassar, Manado, and Bali.

Source: Antara News

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir on Wednesday distributed house renovation assistance to Baduy people in Pasir Huni Village, Leuwidamar Sub-district, Lebak District, Banten Province whose homes had been destroyed by fire last week.

He directly handed the aid to the Outer Baduy elder Jaro Saija, who was accompanied by Inner Baduy elders Ayah Mursid and Jaro Sami.

“We are very concerned to learn about the disaster,” he said after visiting the location of the fire and the refugee camp on Wednesday.

Furthermore, on the day of the disaster, the Banten SOEs Task Force was the first to disburse food, kitchen utensils, clothes, and tents assistance to the village, the minister noted.

“We expect that the renovation can be completed as soon as possible so the houses can be occupied immediately,” Thohir said.

In addition, he said that the renovation program will also include the construction of clean water facilities.

Meanwhile, Head of Kanekes Village, who is also an Outer Baduy elder, Jaro Saija, said that the people were delighted with the minister’s visit and assistance, especially the renovation.

At least 16 homes were charred to the ground in last week’s fire, which left 84 people and 24 families without homes, he informed.

Currently, they are living in a refugee camp, but it has been quite uncomfortable for them, the village head informed.

Meanwhile, senior manager of the Community Development Center at Angkasa Pura II, Agus Lubis, said his company had deployed the Banten SOEs Task Force to help the victims.

In addition to the assistance announced by Thohir earlier, the task force also handed generators to the villagers.

“We are ready to assist, thus the Baduy people can live normally again,” Lubis added.

Source: Antara News

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on regional leaders to push for the development of superior products in their respective regions and not merely mimic other regions in terms of their commodities.

“Every region should focus on its superior product. Do not take up everything, so that in future, we can support each other. We are so accustomed to following or copying, (such as when) rubber was on the rise, everyone grew rubber and (when) palm was on the rise, everyone grew palm. When the entire palm oil sector collapsed, everything also collapsed. All rubber prices dropped, and everything also dropped. Do not be like that,” the head of state noted at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Wednesday.

Jokowi delivered the statement at the opening of the All-Indonesian District Government Association (Apkasi) Autonomy Expo in 2021, with attendees also comprising Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, as well as heads of districts that attended either in person or virtually.

“I remind all regions that they need to focus on their superior products because of the uncertainty I mentioned. Do not be like: ‘Whoa, that region is growing rubber! Why is their economy so good?’ Then, we tell our people to plant rubber. When it is good, of course it is good. However, when (the price) dropped, be careful, (everyone would take the tumble). It will be dangerous,” he emphasized.

The president believes that such focus or specialization in producing superior products is beneficial, so that the regions can support and complement one another in the national value chain.

“The Autonomy Expo, organized by Apkasi, is an opportunity to get to know one another and work together to strengthen inter-regional trade cooperation as well as to strengthen our exports to other countries, including the expansion of new export markets,” Jokowi elaborated.

However, President Jokowi reminded the regions to not overlook the domestic market.

“The potential is huge, as our population reaches 270 million, and the middle class is growing very rapidly. This should be an opportunity to strengthen the domestic industry,” the head of state noted.

Jokowi expects Indonesia’s domestic market to not be taken over by products from other countries.

“It is necessary to strengthen trade between regions, districts, provinces, and islands. This is very important to expedite it,” he affirmed.

Despite concurring on the need to push trade, tourism, and investment, the president reminded that health continued to be the top priority presently.

“The economy needs to be pushed while staying alert or aware of health issues, protocol discipline, and also vaccinations that must be expedited as soon as possible,” Jokowi stated.

The importance increases even more now, with face-to-face learning kicking off at schools. The regional leaders are expected to continue to control the spread of the virus among members of the public.

“Especially now, it is related to face-to-face learning at schools. Check the schools’ readiness in implementing health protocols, because managing elementary school children is not easy, and 1-2 have started to be exposed again,” President Jokowi stated.

The president also reminded regional leaders to be more cautious, given the fact that several countries were experiencing a spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases due to the reopening of schools.

“We do not want that to occur in our country. Moreover, check the stock of drugs and the readiness of hospitals, although I know that the BOR (Bed Occupancy Ratio) is already all low. Once again, we have to start pushing our economy and always be ready to face all things that are uncertain, as today’s global world is full of uncertainty and complexity of problems that have never occurred before,” he emphasized.

Source: Antara News

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on heads of regional governments to help boost exports of superior products.

“We must continue to increase our export volume, provide facilities, and facilitate entrepreneurs to aggressively make the most of existing export opportunities,” President Jokowi stated at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Wednesday.

The president made the statement while delivering an opening remark at the 2021 Autonomy Expo organized by the All-Indonesian District Government Association (Apkasi).

Attendees at the opening ceremony comprised Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and several district heads that attended in person or via videoconferencing.

Jokowi urged the regional government heads to capitalize on the export opportunities and boost their local products for exports and to be competitive in global markets.

The president cited the latest data that the value of Indonesia’s exports during the January-August 2021 period had reached US$142 billion, or up 37.7 percent year-on-year (yoy).

“This means our exports are growing very well, at 37.7 percent yoy. The regions can take advantage of this, as almost all countries need our commodities. Hence, lest the complicated licensing process hinders exports,” Jokowi affirmed.

Indonesia’s export market potential is still wide open, according to the president.

“Our trading partners have also started to recover. China grew 7.9 percent, the United States grew 12.2 percent, Japan grew 7.6 percent, and India even grew 20.1 percent. This opportunity should encourage us to push our products to enter those countries that I mentioned earlier,” he noted.

President Jokowi also drew attention to the recent energy crisis in several countries in Europe and China. The crisis was unexpected, he remarked.

“However, we benefit from the rising commodity prices. I think regions with palm oil, coal, nickel, or copper are all happy, as the economy in commodity-producing areas will climb. God willing, it will climb,” he affirmed.

During the 2021 Autonomy Expo, the president is optimistic that the regions would not only promote their products and tourist objects but also investment.

“However, (we should) also show that the investment climate in the regions is getting better, legal certainty is getting better, licensing is getting better, and the Online Single Submission (OSS) has also been going well. Such certainties are actually needed by the business circle,” he emphasized.

Source: Antara News

Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga affirmed that the national Child Protection Index (IPA) and Child Rights Fulfillment Index (IPHA) were able to surpass the targets the government set in 2020.

In 2020, the national Child Protection Index exceeded the set target of 66.34, as it was pegged at 66.89. A similar trend could be observed with the Child Rights Fulfillment Index in 2020, in which a rate of 65.56 was recorded, exceeding the target of 64.00.

“This achievement is our collective success, as the administration responsible for child protection efforts,” the minister noted in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Despite Indonesia’s achievements stated earlier, the rate of the Child Special Protection Index (IPKA) had yet to reach the set target. The recorded rate was just 73.11, lower than the target of 74.46 set in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) .

Puspayoga noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was a factor causal to the low achievement based on how it affected several indicators, especially impacting children from the vulnerable groups, to decline or even worsen, including increased child labor, child marriages, and children living in extreme poverty or below the poverty line.

The minister called for diverting greater attention to the Child Special Protection Index rate.

This data serves as a basis to create children protection priority programs and policies, especially for vulnerable children in need of special protection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the ministry, along with the Central Bureau of Statistics, has completed calculating the achievements and forecasted the rate projection of the three indexes at the provincial level.

It showed diverse index distribution at the provincial level. Some provinces scored rates that are still far below the national figures.

Puspayoga noted that provinces with such rates below the national average must work harder to ensure the right strategies to improve child protection.

“Child protection can only be achieved if all inter-sectoral parties work hard and work together,” the minister affirmed.

Source: Antara News