January 22, 2023 – Indonesia News Gazette

January 22, 2023

Gov’t committed to maintaining economic recovery momentum: Indrawati

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining positive trends of Indonesia’s economic recovery in the midst of global challenges and uncertainties.

“We will ensure that our high economic growth will continue in 2023. We will maintain all factors supporting our national economy, including consumption,” Indrawati stated at the national economy webinar observed here Sunday.

To maintain the public consumption level, the minister said the government would allocate Rp104 trillion (US$6.65 billion) for food resilience programmes to ensure food prices not to inflate.

The government would maintain the purchasing power of vulnerable groups through social assistance programmes, basic food package distribution, and subsidies, including the subsidy for energy whose prices surged in 2022.

“We strive to maintain the people’s purchasing power even if our subsidies tripled. At the same time, we must also ensure that our budget remains healthy to enable us to continue helping the people. Even to address inflation, we have done much,” Indrawati expounded.

She noted that to preserve the economic recovery momentum, the government is committed to increasing the smallholder business credit (KUR) amount to Rp370 trillion with a low-interest rate of three percent.

“We will continue utilising the state budget to maintain the economic growth momentum,” the minister said.

Indrawati also expressed hope that the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and other research agencies would be able to embark on new research projects to increase the productivity of food commodities, either on the seeding, fertilisation, or watering aspects.

Earlier, Indrawati echoed her optimism that Indonesia would record overall economic growth of 5.2–5.3 percent in 2022, with a possibility of growth in the range of 5.0 percent in the fourth quarter.

“Our economic growth has also started to recover and the momentum is strengthening,” she said in a press statement in relation to the plenary cabinet meeting, which was followed online from Jakarta on Monday (January 16).

The improvement in Indonesia’s economy has been visible as revealed by the fact that investment has recovered, exports are still high, and imports are recovering to support the manufacturing industries.

Source: Antara News

January 22, 2023

Minister Effendy highlights innovation to reduce stunting

Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy highlighted innovation as essential to expedite the effort to eradicate stunted growth among Indonesian children.

As per the statement received here Sunday, he pointed out that one of the innovations that has been implemented to reduce stunting is the provision of USG installation and other measuring instruments to monitor baby growth at local health centres.

“We expect that more public health centres have standard equipment to expedite our efforts in reducing stunted growth prevalence,” Effendy said.

The coordinating minister also emphasised the need to mobilise trained assistants to monitor the children’s nutrient intake and growth in their community to ensure prompt action to childhood stunting cases.

“We also need sensitive and specific intervention measures in every region,” he noted.

He assured that the government is taking action to expedite childhood stunting and extreme poverty eradication in Indonesia by coordinating with regional authorities.

“To support those programmes, the coordinating ministry is studying various issues encountered in regions through coordination with regional leaders in several regions in Indonesia through virtual means, or the ‘Stunting Prevalence Reduction and Extreme Poverty Eradication’ online roadshow,” Effendy expounded.

Regional authorities’ role would be essential in reducing stunting growth prevalence and eradicating extreme poverty in respective areas, he said.

“Measures to address stunting and extreme poverty will not be implemented properly without the main roles played by regional authorities,” the coordinating minister said.

Earlier, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that prevention of stunting growth must start from the pre-birth stage through the provision of blood-booster tablets and animal protein-rich intake for pregnant mothers.

A child born with stunting conditions due to lack of nutrients might have an intellectual capacity that is 20 percent lower than average. The condition could have an adverse effect on the mental capacity of the population and, in the long term, the regional revenue, Sadikin said.

The Indonesian government is seeking to reduce stunting growth prevalence, which in 2022 stood at 24 per cent, to 14 per cent by 2024.

Source: Antara News

January 22, 2023

Bali Welcomes 1st Flight From China as COVID Rules Ease

DENPASAR, INDONESIA — A direct flight from China landed in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali for the first time in nearly three years Sunday after the route was suspended due to the pandemic.

At least 210 people were on board the chartered plane operated by Indonesia’s Lion Air from Shenzhen in China’s southern Guangdong province.

Some Chinese tourists who arrived at the airport in Bali said they were glad to have the chance to travel internationally again after China ended its strict COVID-19 restrictions.

“I feel very happy and relaxed. It was a long time we did not go abroad,” said An Pei, a Chinese tourist who was on the flight.

The flight followed the Chinese government’s decision to lift travel restrictions announced January 8 and it coincided with the start of the Lunar New Year, which was being marked Sunday.

The Shenzhen-to-Bali route will operate once a week during its initial phase, according to a statement from Danang Mandala Prihantoro, a spokesperson for Lion Air.

Indonesia is targeting 255,000 tourists from China in 2023. Indonesia recorded 94,924 visits from China from January to October 2022. More than 2 million tourists from China visited Indonesia each year before the pandemic.

The return of Chinese tourists is expected to support the overall target of foreign tourist arrivals this year. Indonesia aims to record 3.5 million to 7.4 million foreign visits, said Sandiaga Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, in a statement Friday. China is one of the largest markets for inbound tourism in Indonesia.

“Based on online travel agent data in China, there has been an increase in search volume for overseas tourist destinations by 430%. Indonesia is in the top 5 searches and Bali’s search volume has increased by 250%,” Uno said.

Indonesia’s government is exploring ways to attract more Chinese tourists, including the possibility of direct flights from three main cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Source: Voice of America

January 22, 2023

Chinese New Year momentum for self-introspection: Minister Qoumas

Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas opined that the Chinese New Year needs to be a momentum for self-introspection to evaluate the past, and improve oneself.

“Let us use the Chinese New Year as a momentum to introspect ourselves, correct our past journey, and plan the upcoming year,” Qoumas stated, as per the statement here, Sunday.

The minister pointed out that Confucius had said that if people could renew themselves, then they should ensure that their renewal was continuous.

He also expressed hope that harmony could be realised to achieve an outstanding Indonesia.

“Happy Chinese New Year 2574 Kongzili. Gong he xin xi (Happy New Year), Wanshi ru yi (may everything go as wished), to all who practice the Confucian faith in Indonesia and everyone who celebrates it,” Qoumas remarked.

He also conveyed the Chinese New Year greetings through the ministry’s official Instagram @kemenag_ri.

While conveying the greetings in the Instagram post, he quoted a section from a Confucian classic, the Great Learning, which reads, “to govern well their states, one must first harmonise their own family.”

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo conveyed his greetings through his official Twitter @jokowi and expressed hope that tomorrow will be better for all.

“Time changes, the year passes, and new challenges appear, but one that must remain is the hope that tomorrow will be happier, more prosperous, and more advanced. Gong xi fa cai (May you have a prosperous new year),” as tweeted through his official account.

Moreover, several state officials also conveyed their Chinese New Year greetings, including the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar, through his official Instagram.

“Happy Chinese New Year, may we are blessed and successful,” Iskandar said.

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah also conveyed her greetings. “Happy Chinese New Year, Gong xi fa cai, may prosperity and happiness be abundant for all of us this year,” she remarked.

Source: Antara News

January 22, 2023

Jakarta Police sterilise major temples for Chinese New Year

Police officers in Jakarta have sterilised major Buddhist and Chinese temples in the capital city to maintain security on Chinese New Year’s day.

“For the major temples, we have conducted sterilisation works, while for the (smaller) traditional temples, we only do manual observation,” Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector General Fadli Imran stated during his visit to Dharma Jaya Temple in Glodok here Saturday (January 21).

He did not elaborate how the police officers sterilised major temples in the city. He, however, affirmed that he had personally inspected the temples to monitor security arrangements and preparation ahead of the Chinese New Year, celebrated across the country on Sunday.

The police operations at temples in Jakarta were aimed to maintain security and order to ensure those celebrating the Chinese New Year could perform rituals at the temples safely and peacefully, he said.

“(The inspection) is also one of my ways to ensure that the religious activities ahead of theChinese New Year’s day take place properly,” the police chief said.

Meanwhile, Imran also conveyed Chinese New Year greetings to all people who celebrate the day, particularly the Chinese community.

“I hope at this water rabbit year, entrepreneurs will hopefully get success (in their businesses); those in careers will be more advanced; families will be more harmonious, and we, as part of one nation, will always be protected by God. We must preserve our brotherhood in this turbulent time,” he remarked.

Earlier, Jakarta Police Spokesperson Senior Commissioner Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said that 4,550 security personnel had been deployed to secure the celebrations of Chinese New Year.

The 4,550 joint officers comprise 1,403 provincial police officers, 1,513 local police officers, 343 military officers, and 1,291 local authority apparatus, he expounded.

Source: Antara News

January 22, 2023

Swedish Prime Minister Condemns Quran Burning

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s prime minister has condemned as “deeply disrespectful” the weekend burning of a Quran in Stockholm, which has raised tensions with Turkey as the Nordic country courts Ankara over its NATO bid.

Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan set fire to a copy of the Muslim holy book on Saturday in front of Turkey’s embassy in the Swedish capital.

Furious that Paludan had been permitted by Swedish police to carry out the protest, Ankara canceled a visit by Sweden’s defense minister and summoned Stockholm’s ambassador.

Late on Saturday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act.”

“I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today.”

Paludan’s demonstration has further damaged relations as Stockholm tries to convince NATO member Turkey to approve Sweden and Finland joining the military alliance.

Sweden’s bid has been stalled amid Ankara’s demands that Stockholm hand over Kurdish activists and prevent rallies attacking Turkey’s leadership.

Many Muslim countries said they were outraged by the burning of the Quran on Saturday.

Morocco said it was “astonished” the authorities had allowed it to take place “in front of the Swedish forces of order.”

Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also condemned it, as did the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Jakarta said, “the act of blasphemy against the holy book has hurt and tarnished religious tolerance,” adding that “freedom of expression must be exercised in a responsible manner.”

Dozens of protesters gathered late Saturday in front of the Swedish consulate in Istanbul, where they burned a Swedish flag and called on Turkey to sever diplomatic ties with Stockholm.

Paludan, a Swedish-Danish activist who has already been convicted for racist abuse, provoked rioting in Sweden last year when he went on a tour of the country and publicly burned copies of the Quran.

Source: Voice of America