January 17, 2023 – Page 3 – Indonesia News Gazette

January 17, 2023

Academic study on increasing village heads’ tenure readied: Minister

Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (PDTT) Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar said his ministry had readied an academic study regarding increasing the term of office for village heads to nine years in one period.

“When the House of Representatives (DPR) is ready, and the government instructs it, then (we) do not need to wait for a long time because we have readied the academic paper even though we will continue to develop it,” Iskandar remarked when confirmed here on Tuesday.

The minister explained that the increase in the term of office is proposed because, so far, village heads are deemed less effective at working in developing their respective villages.

“I have conveyed the nine-year (term of office) discourse since May 2022. I conveyed several issues of post-election conflict resolution,” he stated.

Iskandar noted that based on the results of various academic studies, the resolution of post-election conflicts takes over a year and the preparation for the next village head election takes one year.

He is upbeat that the increase in the term of office would make village heads’ leadership more effective, as their term of office would no longer be spent on resolving post-election conflicts.

He said that the community should not harbor concerns over the nine-year term of office of village heads, as the Ministry of Home Affairs has the authority to dismiss village heads, who delivered poor performance. Thus, residents did not need to wait nine years to replace a village head, who is performing very poorly.

The minister assessed that the nine-year term of office would offer several benefits for village residents.

He further said that village heads would have more time to improve the welfare of their people and to make village development more effective and not be affected by political dynamics caused by village head elections.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

Regional heads know actions needed to end extreme poverty: President

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes that the ranks of regional governments understand what kind of interventions and policies need to be taken to achieve the target of eliminating extreme poverty by 2024.

He then asked the participants attending the “2023 National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of Regional Heads and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda)” at the Sentul International Convention Center, Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday to follow up on this matter.

“Everything is already listed in the data. Which means the target is already being prepared. I believe all local governments understand the interventions and policies needed to alleviate extreme poverty,” he said in his opening remarks at the meeting, which was broadcast live on the official YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat.

The data related to extreme poverty should already exist in every village across Indonesia, he added. With this facility, he said he hoped local governments would focus on carrying out policies regarding this matter.

Nevertheless, the head of state reminded that the target of reducing extreme poverty to zero percent in 2024 will not be an easy one to achieve.

Moreover, there are currently 14 provinces where the extreme poverty rate is above the national rate.

“All regional heads please check this; there are 14 provinces that are still above the national rate. Even though our target in 2024 is zero extreme poverty, this is not an easy target. In 2022, there was still 2 percent extreme poverty and 14 provinces (whose poverty rate was) above the national average,” he said.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said that tackling extreme poverty and stunting will be a priority in 2023. According to him, the two problems overlap.

“The cause of stunting is motivated by extreme poverty, such as obstacles in accessing basic needs, access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and others,” he noted.

Effendy said that a number of specific and sensitive interventions related to extreme poverty and stunting will require collaboration and synergy across ministries and agencies to carry out

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

TNI commander commits to following directive of military neutrality

National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono echoed his commitment to following President Joko Widodo’s directives that necessitated the military to adopt a neutral stance ahead of the 2024 elections.

Margono noted that the military’s political neutrality had become one of his commitments since he took the fit and proper test by the House of Representatives before being sworn in as TNI commander.

“Yes, right. When I began the fit and proper test, I guaranteed that the National Defense Force must be neutral. I will be consistent on that matter for sure,” the commander stated on the sidelines of the 2023 national coordination meeting of Regional Heads and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum at the Sentul International Convention Center in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.

Margono also said he would remind all personnel of this instruction as a follow-up to anticipate the 2024 Election.

The force’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) was always actively pursuing measures to anticipate the risk of violations of political neutrality within the military force, he stated.

He emphasized that if irresponsible parties were found to be involved in it, then they would be processed in accordance with the applicable law.

Measures to improve the military’s bureaucratic reform also included the implementation of law enforcement within the organization, he remarked.

“If they are punished, they will be punished. Hence, for troops who violate the law, of course, we will impose legal sanctions,” the commander noted.

At the meeting, President Jokowi had reminded the national defense force and police force to not get involved in practical politics, as it was one of the efforts to maintain political stability and security as the 2024 Election drew near.

“I urge you to maintain a conducive situation. To protect our society from becoming a victim of politics known as identity politics, and I need to remind the national defense force and police force to not practice politics,” he noted.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

Ensure people do not fall prey to identity politics: President

All efforts must be optimized to ensure that people do not fall victim to identity politics in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections, President Joko Widodo has said.

“Regarding political and security stability issues in the run-up to the 2024 elections, I hope you can maintain a conducive situation and ensure the people are not becoming a political victim, an identity politics victim,” he emphasized during the “2023 Regional Heads and Regional Leadership Forum National Coordination Meeting” in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.

While reminding the police and the military not to involve themselves in politics, the President also urged regional leaders to map election vulnerabilities in their respective areas.

“We must not act only after the incident occurs, nor point fingers to who we must blame,” he said.

He asked all parties to show sensitivity in the upcoming election year by monitoring public conditions and allowing frictions and issues to be resolved sooner so that they do not lead to potential clashes.

Last December, People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo had also urged political parties to refrain from identity politics that could cause polarization in society.

Political parties must not vie for popular support by promoting polarization based on religion, ethnic groups, and race, which could be harmful to Indonesia’s democracy, he said.

“There is no time for anyone who promotes religious, ethnic groups, and racial polarizations (during electoral campaigns) to gain more voters as it will cause division among the people. Solidarity and national unity and integrity must be our priority,” Soesatyo expounded.

Political parties and the people must also strive to make general elections an enjoyable “fiesta of democracy” that does not divide the nation, he remarked.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

Mataram government ensures smooth, safe Chinese New Year celebrations

The Mataram City Government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province supports and guarantees that various activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2574, falling on January 22, run safely and smoothly.

“The local government guarantees that Chinese-descendant citizens in Mataram can hold the Chinese New Year celebrations and worship comfortably and safely,” Head of the Mataram City Communication and Informatics Office Nyoman Swandiasa stated in Mataram, Tuesday.

Moreover, with the revocation of the Public Activities Restrictions (PPKM) policy, various activities involving the congregation of large crowds of people have been permitted.

However, Swandiasa noted that based on a meeting between the Mataram City Government and the NTB Indonesian-Chinese Association (INTI), an agreement was reached to not hold any activities to welcome the 2023 Chinese New Year celebrations.

“There will be no celebrations with processions, lion dance performances, and music performances like before the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese New Year will be celebrated internally and limited within the communities,” Swandiasa stated.

According to the committee of the 2023 Chinese New Year, there were several reasons for not celebrating the 2023 Chinese New Year with various entertainment activities, such as the committee’s insufficient time to make preparations.

“In addition, it is possible that due to unfavorable weather conditions, outdoor activities cannot be carried out,” he stated.

Swandiasa remarked that the city does not prohibit the celebrations, but on the contrary, supported all traditional celebrations carried out by all existing religions.

On the other hand, the city administration, through related regional apparatus organizations, such as the municipal police unit (Satpol PP) and Mataram Transportation Office, will monitor the situation when the Chinese-descendant citizens conduct the Chinese New Year worship and celebrations.

“The area of the temple will be monitored, including the traffic management, so that the worship can run safely and smoothly,” he stated.

Speaking in connection with this, Swandiasa also appealed to the public to maintain security and order in their respective areas as a form of tolerance among religious communities in order to create a sense of security and comfort.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

West Papua allocates Rp6 bln for Sail Teluk Cenderawasih

The West Papua government has allocated Rp6 billion for Sail Teluk Cenderawasih (STC), which will be held in October 2023, with the budget proposal approved by the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda).

The provincial government has been coordinating with several districts in West Papua that are a part of the Cenderawasih Bay Area—Teluk Wondama, Manokwari, and South Manokwari—for organizing the event, acting head of the West Papua Culture and Tourism Office Ruland Sarwon informed here on Tuesday.

“We have also communicated with the Biak Numfor district government, Papua, about this Sail Teluk Cenderawasih event,” he said.

The coordination has been carried out so that each district government can allocate a budget for the STC agenda’s implementation.

Sarwon said that the budget has been sourced from the 2023 West Papua regional budget (APBD) to make the tourism agenda a success.

Meanwhile, the technical implementation of the Sail Teluk Cenderawasih will be fully carried out by the Biak Numfor administration, he informed.

“Later, they (Biak Numfor district) will arrange technical matters. We will give support in terms of the budget,” he said.

He further said he expected the agenda to encourage the development of the local economy and tourism sector in West Papua.

Currently, the West Papua provincial government and Manokwari district government are working to promote Petrus Kafiar Amban Beach as a new tourist destination for wave surfing.

“We hope that tourists’ visits can have an impact on tourism development in West Papua,” Sarwon said.

Furthermore, STC 2023 is expected to be a policy instrument for driving the regional economy, encouraging regional connectivity, developing Papuan society and culture, strengthening Indonesia’s maritime sovereignty in eastern Indonesia, and strengthening Papua’s role as the gateway to Indonesia in the Pacific region.

The STC agenda covers the development of community-based maritime tourism, historical tourism, and religious tourism, among others.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

New capital to create many jobs: deputy minister

The development of Indonesia’s new capital (IKN), Nusantara, in East Kalimantan will create many job opportunities, both in the formal and informal sectors, Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor has said.

“IKN will become a new source of economic growth, especially for East Kalimantan and supporting regions, such as Central Kalimantan. The chain effect will be extraordinary, including in the field of employment,” he added here on Tuesday.

He made the statement at a national seminar on “Work Opportunities for Millennials in the Supporting Regions of IKN Nusantara,” which was attended by students of Palangka Raya Muhammadiyah University.

The new job opportunities will include those in the field of development, namely basic infrastructure, such as the construction of roads, dams, and buildings, Noor informed.

Jobs will also be created in other fields, such as property in the form of housing development, the field of electricity-based or environmentally friendly transportation, and the field of hospitality or entertainment, such as cafés and tourist destinations, among others.

The development carried out by the government will be based on increasing the competitiveness of sectors that have developed in Kalimantan, which are oriented toward advanced and sustainable technology, he said.

Jobs will also be transformed during the Industry 4.0 technological development. Thus, many jobs will emerge or disappear.

“Expertise in the digital world is important to be able to work in the smart city IKN,” he said.

The readiness of Indonesia’s workforce to support the vision for IKN as “a global city for all” is still not sufficient, he added. The workforce participation rate is still low, namely at around 68.63 percent or 143.72 million.

“Of the number, around 92.63 million people work full time, or more than 35 hours per week, and there are still around 42.67 million people who only work under 35 hours. This shows a waste of resources. Thus, an appropriate solution is needed,” Noor added.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2023

Ministry allocates Rp15.07 trillion for labor-intensive programs

The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry has allocated a budget of Rp15.07 trillion for labor-intensive programs in a bid to expand the job market in 2023.

“In 2023, to help create jobs and maintain people’s purchasing power, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry is expediting work-intensive programs,” Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said during a meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives here on Tuesday.

He informed that he is aiming to cover a total of 785 thousand beneficiaries in this year’s labor-intensive program.

In this year’s work-intensive program plan, a budget of Rp5 trillion has been allocated for the water resources sector, which will employ 353 thousand workers. Moreover, Rp2.11 trillion has been allocated for labor-intensive settlements with 62 thousand workers targeted as beneficiaries.

A budget of Rp4.78 trillion has been set aside for the labor-intensive roads and bridges sector, which will seek to employ 80 thousand workers. As for the labor-intensive housing sector, a budget of Rp3.18 trillion has been allocated with the aim of generating employment for 290 thousand workers.

As of the end of December 2022, the Cash Labor-Intensive Program employed 1.06 million workers, the ministry informed.

To boost economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry also continued the Cash For Work Program in the form of infrastructure development, which involved local communities as the main force of development.

In 2022, the allocation for the Cash Labor-Intensive Program was Rp13.76 trillion with the number of targeted beneficiaries pegged at 668,764.

Until the end of December 2022, budget realization reached 91.33 percent, with 1,064,994 people employed under the program. Their number exceeded the initial plan.

The Cash Labor-Intensive Program comprises small-scale infrastructure development activities that do not require technology. It includes the program to pursue the improvement of irrigation water use as well as the operation and maintenance of irrigation networks and swamps.

Other activities include the routine maintenance of roads and bridges, road drainage revitalization, development of community-based drinking water and sanitation, city without slums, and regional socioeconomic infrastructure, sanitation for Islamic boarding schools and religious institutions, and community-built houses.

Source: Antara News