Author: Web Desk

Indonesia should create a friendly environment for investors from developed countries, especially in terms of the political system, official at the National Development Planning (PPN) Ministry and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) stated.

The political system here means the regulatory framework for policies between sectors as well as between the regional and sectoral governments.

Existing regulations or policies often did not synchronize and support one another, Scenaider Casein Hasudungan Siahaan noted at the 23th Infrastructure Roundtable (IIR) Seminar T20 Edition on Friday.

Initiated by G20 in 2012, the Think20 (T20) engagement group is independent from national governments and comprised prestigious think tanks and academia from the international community.

This friendly environment is deemed crucial to draw investors, especially those from developed countries, who usually purely invest to gain profits, according to Siahaan.

In addition to the political system, Indonesia should be able to convince investors from developed countries regarding the execution capacity, especially within the scope of infrastructure financing.

Development of the domestic market and domestic investors that are still lacking in Indonesia is also crucial to attract international investors.

Siahaan deems it crucial since not all investors from developed countries are accepting of Indonesia’s environment, especially its political system.

“If they are domestic investors, then they have risk tolerance. They understand Indonesian culture more, especially the domestic environment, primarily politics, within the country,” he explained.

Throughout this time, Indonesia tends to receive funding support from various development partners that have higher risk tolerance toward Indonesia’s investment environment, such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, that have representatives within the country.

As a result, they have a broader understanding of the condition in Indonesia, he stated.

In addition, several bilateral institutions provide significant financing support to Indonesia.

However, these institutions tend to have a certain mission in developing countries and do understand the capacity of such nations.

To this end, Siahaan expects that a friendly environment for investors should continue to be developed in accordance with the types of investors that Indonesia is keen to attract.

 

Source: Antara News

The Environment and Forestry Ministry has urged regional authorities to optimize the use of the thermal incinerator installed at Warloka Landfill in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara, to address the issue of waste.

“We are reviewing the thermal incinerator facility, (developed) to destroy the waste into ashes to reduce piles of waste and achieve zero percent residue,” Deputy Minister for Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong said during a visit to the landfill on Friday.

The development of the thermal incinerator in the district—the home of super-priority tourism destination Labuan Bajo—is being prioritized because waste issues can discourage tourists and ruin the beautiful natural landscape of the tourist attraction, he added.

The deputy minister said that the thermal incinerator, operated for the full 13-hour cycle, can process up to 13 tons of waste produced in Labuan Bajo daily into 10 percent residue, which would relieve the landfill capacity.

The thermal incinerator’s operation will also help reduce the piles of waste that could pollute the environment and the sea, he added.

“As Labuan Bajo consists of islands, we hope no waste will pollute the sea,” Dohong said.

The deputy minister expressed the hope that the regional authority would optimize the facility by assigning the operational budget for the thermal incinerator after it is handed over to the regional authority soon.

The high operational cost due to the utilization of a diesel fuel-based generator to run the facility can be reduced by up to 30 percent if the facility is powered by electricity, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, head of the West Manggarai District Environment, Housing, Residential Area, and Land Office, Sebastianus Wantung, committed to optimizing the facility and preparing the regional budget for meeting the operational fee.

“We also have 13 armadas fully capable of transporting waste daily,” he informed.

The regional authority is also committed to optimizing the central government’s assistance to bolster tourism activity in Labuan Bajo, he added.

 

Source: Antara News

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) stated that victims of sexual violence at the Malang-based Selamat Pagi Indonesia (SPI) Foundation School in East Java could appeal for restitution rights against the suspect.

“The LPSK has calculated the losses that the victims suffer due to the crimes (that the suspect committed) against them,” LPSK Deputy Head Antonious P. S. Wibowo noted as per a written statement received here, Friday.

Wibowo’s remarks were made in connection with the foundation’s owner and defendant in the sexual violence case, JE, who remains free despite the case having been on trial, for which the agenda of the latest session was witness examination.

The agency opined that victims of JE, identified by their initials as SDS, aged 22, and JH, aged 21, can appeal for restitution rights against the defendant, he remarked.

He noted that according to the agency’s calculation, they would appeal for Rp60 million (US$4,020) in restitution rights for the victims.

The defendant must also receive a hefty sentence for his crime, particularly as it was committed when one of the victims was still underaged, the agency deputy head emphasized.

“The suspect is a teacher or a person given authority as (the students’) guardian. Hence, the suspect must receive harsher punishment,” Wibowo stressed.

The agency deputy head also expressed optimism that the judges would revoke the school license while also respecting other pupils’ right to education.

He said that power relations played a significant role in the sexual violence case at the SPI School, as the suspect is the school foundation’s owner.

“The suspect used the victim’s trust and power over the victim to commit rape and sexual violation,” Wibowo stated.

The LPSK expressed concern that the suspect, who is yet to be taken to prison, will use his power to intimidate victims, he stated.

Wibowo also warned that parties attempting to disrupt the legal process against sexual violence suspects will be prosecuted according to Article 19 of Law No. 19 of 2022 on Sexual Violence.

 

Source: Antara News

The younger generation’s collaboration and support are essential to preserve the wayang shadow puppet art and ensure the art’s popularity, dhalang (puppet master) Ki Bayu Aji Nugraha said.

“Wayang will not fade away because the art has survived for more than three thousand years, from our ancestors’ time and the era of animism and dynamism. Wayang (develops) according to the current developments. Cross-discipline collaboration must be attempted to preserve (the wayang),” Nugraha told ANTARA , on Sunday.

He opined the youth’s interest in wayang can be nurtured by inviting them to collaborate in artistic activities and not restricting their creativity, which will motivate them to explore, share, and develop their artistic skills more.

“That is the main strategy to stir the youth’s interest to be curious and learn (the wayang). From there, we believe that we are successful in our mission,” Nugraha stated.

The dhalang said that activities at Yogyakarta’s Bajran Gupita Art Studio, where he hailed from, are dominated by the youth actively studying puppeteer, traditional music, and traditional singing arts.

Senior practitioners are also present to guide younger generations with basic art skills, hence allowing the youth to be creative in developing their skills, he added.

“They have an outstanding spirit because they are not ceasing from making new works. They are not only developing (the art) but also conducting cross-art collaborations, sharing experiences and experimenting with new performances,” the dhalang remarked.

He recalled that he was attracted to wayang since his high school year in 2008. He then decided to follow the path of his grandfather, Ki Basirun Hadisumarta, a renowned dhalang in Yogyakarta.

The variety of wayang narratives also enticed him to learn wayang, Nugraha said, highlighting wayang characters’ dialogues as one of the most appealing aspect of the art besides the narrative visualisation and the story-telling style.

The puppet master then expressed hope residents’ sense of belonging to the wayang will be preserved in the future.

“The sense of belonging alone is enough to ensure wayang will survive and continue telling stories for us all,” Nugraha remarked.

 

Source: Antara News