By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - Dehydration and communicable diseases are feared to affect Idul Fitri travelers on their home-bound trips to celebrate the post-fasting Idul Fitri holidays at the end of this week.
The mobility of around 27 million Idul Fitri travelers is a potential medium for swine flu to spread from one region to another if preventive measures are not taken. After all, the H1N1 strain of the virus is now spreading in the country.
Besides, the present temperature condition in the country is too hot that could cause dehydration. "The heat waves as a result of high temperatures will peak several days before, during and after the Idul Fitri holidays. Thus, travelers are threatened by dehydration," Abdul Kohir of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for South Tangerang office, said.
He said that the temperature in Jakarta and its buffer zone areas for example could reach 33.5 and 35 degrees. "It's relatively hot and could cause dehydration," he said.
Kohir said that the increase in the temperature was caused by the effect of El Nino, which also caused drought in the country. The impact of El Nino in the September-November period in 2009 is expected to include the continuation of drier-than-average conditions in Indonesia and enhanced precipitation in the west-central tropical Pacific Ocean, according to NOAA.
Current conditions, trends, and model forecasts favored the continued development of a weak-to-moderate strength El Nino into the Northern Hemisphere fall 2009, with the likelihood of at least a moderate strength El Nino during the winter 2009-10, according to an e-mailed press statement of US-based NOAA's National Weather Service received by ANTARA recently.
Besides dehydration, Idul Fitri travelers were also warned of communicable diseases, particularly swine flu which is now also spreading in Indonesia. Alertness must be exercised due to the high mobility of people during the Idul Fitri holidays. At least 27 million people are expected to go home town throughout the country to celebrate the Idul Fitri holidays.
In Yogyakarta, for example, travelers are asked to exercise alertness because the mobility of Idul Fitri revelers in the region is also high. "When there is a high mobility of the people, the swine flu virus could also spread easily," Akhmad Akhadi, head of communicable disease control unit of Yogyakarta's Health Service, said.
He said that Yogyakarta would be much visited by both Idul Fitri travelers and those who were going there for holidaying. They might come from swine-flu affected regions, however.
In anticipation of the spread of the H1N1 virus in Jakarta, medical volunteers had launched a program to provide antiseptic tissues for Idul Fitri travelers at Senen Railway Station.
The service was provided by the United Nations in cooperation with the National Committee of Bird Flu and Pandemic Disease Control. Suzanna Dayne, communication specialist of the UN said the activities were only a small part of the UNICEF program in handling the spread of flu such as H1N1 and bird flu viruses.
"Train passengers and other travelers are given antiseptic tissues in an effort to anticipate the spread of swine flu and this is only a small part of the UNICEF program," Dayne said.
In the meantime, the Jakarta Red Cross has set up a total of 114 first-aid command posts at bus terminals and railway stations across Java island to serve Idul Fitri travelers.
The command posts would help any Idul Fitri traveler who falls ill on the road, Jakarta Red Cross spokesperson Rini Sutiyoso said here on Tuesday.
"We are ready to give our best possible assistance to holiday travelers and for this purpose we have obtained medicines from the Health Ministry, and we are also going to station around 20 medical workers at each post," Rini Sutiyoso said after inspecting home-going activity at Senen railway station in Central Jakarta.
She said the Jakarta Red Cross had assured the public that blood supply during the Ramadan fasting month and Idul Fitri festivity would be sufficient.
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) also launched ambulance services for Idul Fitri travelers. The ambulances are ready to provide medical treatment for passengers.
The ambulance services would be centered in a number of train stations and bus terminals in the capital city. Chairman of (PMI) Mari'e Muhammad on Sunday launched the five units of ambulances which would be placed to serve Idul Fitri travelers.
The standby ambulance services would also be stationed nearby PMI's first-aid command posts in the capital and in the highways of the northern coastal areas of Java.
Other medical workers also prepared health command posts in a number of points of lanes used by travelers such as in Bakauheni port in Lampung, Sumatra, and along the northern coastal areas in Java.
According to Dr Rahmi, a duty doctor at Bakauheni health post, Bakauheni was now ready to provide health services for travelers coming from Java to Sumatra or from Sumatra to Java.
"We are now ready to provide services. Medical workers, medical equipment and medicines have all been prepared," the doctor said.
She said that the medical workers came from the health service of Panjang port, health care centers of Bakauheni, Palas and Way Mili. They will be deployed in 24 hours.
"The medical workers consisted of three doctors, eight nurses, two sanitation officials and two quarantine staffers. They have been prepared since Monday," she said.
Bakauheni port is a linking point for travelers from Merak port of Java to Sumatra, which is one of the busiest lanes home-bound travelers who want to celebrate the post-fasting Ramadhan month festivities.
In Central Java, Batang district in particular, at least seven health care centers and ambulances have been prepared a long the northern coastal highways to provide service for travelers. "We will operate the ambulances 24 hours," health coordinator for Batang district, Central Java, Richardi said.
According to Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million will use various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million will use private cars and motor cycles. ***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/S012) 18:52/.... ) (T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 15-09-2009 20:21:28
Rabu, 16 September 2009
GOVT READY TO SERVE 27 MILLION IDUL FITRI TRAVELERS
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 12 (ANTARA) - In the face of next week's exodus of about 27 million home-bound Indul Fitri travelers, the government said it was now ready to provide services for the revelers with the focus on three main things - security, safety and comfort.
In order to ensure its readiness to cope with the Idul Fitri ' exodus, the government held a coordination meeting among the relevant agencies on Friday.
"In general, the meeting concluded that the government is now ready to provide the transportation services for Idul Fitri travelers this year," acting chief economic minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
The preparations made included transportation facilities and infrastructures, provision of basic necessaries, fuel, security and the comfortable travel conditions. The focus of the transportation services is given to 10 provinces. All government agencies must therefore be responsible for their respective main duties.
Ministries and other agencies involved included the ministry of public works, the ministry of transportation, the ministry of health, the ministry of informatics and communications, the meteorology, climatology and geophysics office, the Indonesian consumers institute, the organization of land transportation owners and others.
With concerted efforts, the minister is convinced that transportation services this year would be better than that of last year. The president hoped that at least three factors would be met this year, namely security, safety and comfortableness of travelers.
According to Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million will use various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million will use private cars and motor cycles.
In order to accommodate travelers' complaints, Minister Sri Mulyani asked the ministry of informatics and communications to provide an SMS center.
"I asked that the SMS center is made in one number so that travelers who are confused could lodge their complaints, reports or other things with regard to Idul Fitri transportation services," the minister said.
She said that the integrated SMS center was intended to accommodate travelers' complaints or reports that could be responded to immediately by the relevant agencies.
"So far, the transportation ministry has an integrated Idul Fitri transportation command post while the same post also existed with the police. This is confusing," she said. Therefore, she said, one SMS center was enough which would be made public in one or two days ahead.
In the meantime, as part of the efforts to provide security and comfort for travelers, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal inspected the readiness of Lampung province's Rajabasa bus terminal in Sumatra on Sturday.
"We hope that all bus terminal officials will increase cooperation with police in an effort to create security for the travelers," the minister said during his inspection at the terminal.
The minister directly inspected the main terminal of Rajabasa which constitutes the biggest and main inter-city and inter-province bus station for Java and Sumatra in the province of Lampung.
Lampung city police headquarters' chief Senior Commissioner Syauqi Ahmad told the minister that his side guaranteed a good coordination to ensure security for travelers. At least 829 police personnel would be stationed in the field to guard travelers.
Apart from the minister, a group of legislators of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V for transportation affairs also inspected on Saturday the Tanjungkarang train station in Lampung to see its preparations.
Led by Riswan Tony, the legislators directly inspected the facilities and infrastructure of the train station. They also took a look at several train wagons, security posts and health centers which were being prepared to serve home-bound travelers.
"We find that the readiness of the train station in serving passengers is already good enough," Riwan said. PT KA Spokesman for Tanjungkarang Zakaria said that his company had prepared seven additional wagons to anticipate Idul Fitri travelers' exodus next week.
The same preparations were also made at Tanjung Priok bus terminal which constitutes the gateway of those using sea transportation services to Jakarta and other cities in Java. It prepared at least 50 additional inter-city buses to cater for post-fasting month or Idul Fitri travelers.
ML Patikawa, chief of Group I of the Terminal, said the 50 additional buses would be made available in addition to the 150 buses which had been prepared to serve passengers bound for other cities in Java.
On security, Patikawa said the terminal's authorities would tighten security measures. At least 40 police personnel would be deployed, with a health service team of 36 medical personnel, four ambulances and other officials.
As regard to those willing to use air transportation, the government has prepared flight seating capacity at 30 percent in excess of the predicted number of travelers.
According to Director General for Air Transportation Tri Sunoko, about 2.2 million airplane seats had been prepared. The seating capacity is 30 percent more than the number of Idul Fitri travelers expected to use air transportation services, namely 1.6 million.
"So, there will be no problem with airplane seating capacity for Idul Fitri passengers," he said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/22:50/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 12-09-2009 22:53:44
Jakarta, Sept 12 (ANTARA) - In the face of next week's exodus of about 27 million home-bound Indul Fitri travelers, the government said it was now ready to provide services for the revelers with the focus on three main things - security, safety and comfort.
In order to ensure its readiness to cope with the Idul Fitri ' exodus, the government held a coordination meeting among the relevant agencies on Friday.
"In general, the meeting concluded that the government is now ready to provide the transportation services for Idul Fitri travelers this year," acting chief economic minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
The preparations made included transportation facilities and infrastructures, provision of basic necessaries, fuel, security and the comfortable travel conditions. The focus of the transportation services is given to 10 provinces. All government agencies must therefore be responsible for their respective main duties.
Ministries and other agencies involved included the ministry of public works, the ministry of transportation, the ministry of health, the ministry of informatics and communications, the meteorology, climatology and geophysics office, the Indonesian consumers institute, the organization of land transportation owners and others.
With concerted efforts, the minister is convinced that transportation services this year would be better than that of last year. The president hoped that at least three factors would be met this year, namely security, safety and comfortableness of travelers.
According to Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million will use various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million will use private cars and motor cycles.
In order to accommodate travelers' complaints, Minister Sri Mulyani asked the ministry of informatics and communications to provide an SMS center.
"I asked that the SMS center is made in one number so that travelers who are confused could lodge their complaints, reports or other things with regard to Idul Fitri transportation services," the minister said.
She said that the integrated SMS center was intended to accommodate travelers' complaints or reports that could be responded to immediately by the relevant agencies.
"So far, the transportation ministry has an integrated Idul Fitri transportation command post while the same post also existed with the police. This is confusing," she said. Therefore, she said, one SMS center was enough which would be made public in one or two days ahead.
In the meantime, as part of the efforts to provide security and comfort for travelers, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal inspected the readiness of Lampung province's Rajabasa bus terminal in Sumatra on Sturday.
"We hope that all bus terminal officials will increase cooperation with police in an effort to create security for the travelers," the minister said during his inspection at the terminal.
The minister directly inspected the main terminal of Rajabasa which constitutes the biggest and main inter-city and inter-province bus station for Java and Sumatra in the province of Lampung.
Lampung city police headquarters' chief Senior Commissioner Syauqi Ahmad told the minister that his side guaranteed a good coordination to ensure security for travelers. At least 829 police personnel would be stationed in the field to guard travelers.
Apart from the minister, a group of legislators of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V for transportation affairs also inspected on Saturday the Tanjungkarang train station in Lampung to see its preparations.
Led by Riswan Tony, the legislators directly inspected the facilities and infrastructure of the train station. They also took a look at several train wagons, security posts and health centers which were being prepared to serve home-bound travelers.
"We find that the readiness of the train station in serving passengers is already good enough," Riwan said. PT KA Spokesman for Tanjungkarang Zakaria said that his company had prepared seven additional wagons to anticipate Idul Fitri travelers' exodus next week.
The same preparations were also made at Tanjung Priok bus terminal which constitutes the gateway of those using sea transportation services to Jakarta and other cities in Java. It prepared at least 50 additional inter-city buses to cater for post-fasting month or Idul Fitri travelers.
ML Patikawa, chief of Group I of the Terminal, said the 50 additional buses would be made available in addition to the 150 buses which had been prepared to serve passengers bound for other cities in Java.
On security, Patikawa said the terminal's authorities would tighten security measures. At least 40 police personnel would be deployed, with a health service team of 36 medical personnel, four ambulances and other officials.
As regard to those willing to use air transportation, the government has prepared flight seating capacity at 30 percent in excess of the predicted number of travelers.
According to Director General for Air Transportation Tri Sunoko, about 2.2 million airplane seats had been prepared. The seating capacity is 30 percent more than the number of Idul Fitri travelers expected to use air transportation services, namely 1.6 million.
"So, there will be no problem with airplane seating capacity for Idul Fitri passengers," he said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/22:50/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 12-09-2009 22:53:44
GOVT READY TO SERVE 27 MILLION IDUL FITRI TRAVELERS
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 12 (ANTARA) - In the face of next week's exodus of about 27 million home-bound Indul Fitri travelers, the government said it was now ready to provide services for the revelers with the focus on three main things - security, safety and comfort.
In order to ensure its readiness to cope with the Idul Fitri ' exodus, the government held a coordination meeting among the relevant agencies on Friday.
"In general, the meeting concluded that the government is now ready to provide the transportation services for Idul Fitri travelers this year," acting chief economic minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
The preparations made included transportation facilities and infrastructures, provision of basic necessaries, fuel, security and the comfortable travel conditions. The focus of the transportation services is given to 10 provinces. All government agencies must therefore be responsible for their respective main duties.
Ministries and other agencies involved included the ministry of public works, the ministry of transportation, the ministry of health, the ministry of informatics and communications, the meteorology, climatology and geophysics office, the Indonesian consumers institute, the organization of land transportation owners and others.
With concerted efforts, the minister is convinced that transportation services this year would be better than that of last year. The president hoped that at least three factors would be met this year, namely security, safety and comfortableness of travelers.
According to Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million will use various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million will use private cars and motor cycles.
In order to accommodate travelers' complaints, Minister Sri Mulyani asked the ministry of informatics and communications to provide an SMS center.
"I asked that the SMS center is made in one number so that travelers who are confused could lodge their complaints, reports or other things with regard to Idul Fitri transportation services," the minister said.
She said that the integrated SMS center was intended to accommodate travelers' complaints or reports that could be responded to immediately by the relevant agencies.
"So far, the transportation ministry has an integrated Idul Fitri transportation command post while the same post also existed with the police. This is confusing," she said. Therefore, she said, one SMS center was enough which would be made public in one or two days ahead.
In the meantime, as part of the efforts to provide security and comfort for travelers, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal inspected the readiness of Lampung province's Rajabasa bus terminal in Sumatra on Sturday.
"We hope that all bus terminal officials will increase cooperation with police in an effort to create security for the travelers," the minister said during his inspection at the terminal.
The minister directly inspected the main terminal of Rajabasa which constitutes the biggest and main inter-city and inter-province bus station for Java and Sumatra in the province of Lampung.
Lampung city police headquarters' chief Senior Commissioner Syauqi Ahmad told the minister that his side guaranteed a good coordination to ensure security for travelers. At least 829 police personnel would be stationed in the field to guard travelers.
Apart from the minister, a group of legislators of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V for transportation affairs also inspected on Saturday the Tanjungkarang train station in Lampung to see its preparations.
Led by Riswan Tony, the legislators directly inspected the facilities and infrastructure of the train station. They also took a look at several train wagons, security posts and health centers which were being prepared to serve home-bound travelers.
"We find that the readiness of the train station in serving passengers is already good enough," Riwan said. PT KA Spokesman for Tanjungkarang Zakaria said that his company had prepared seven additional wagons to anticipate Idul Fitri travelers' exodus next week.
The same preparations were also made at Tanjung Priok bus terminal which constitutes the gateway of those using sea transportation services to Jakarta and other cities in Java. It prepared at least 50 additional inter-city buses to cater for post-fasting month or Idul Fitri travelers.
ML Patikawa, chief of Group I of the Terminal, said the 50 additional buses would be made available in addition to the 150 buses which had been prepared to serve passengers bound for other cities in Java.
On security, Patikawa said the terminal's authorities would tighten security measures. At least 40 police personnel would be deployed, with a health service team of 36 medical personnel, four ambulances and other officials.
As regard to those willing to use air transportation, the government has prepared flight seating capacity at 30 percent in excess of the predicted number of travelers.
According to Director General for Air Transportation Tri Sunoko, about 2.2 million airplane seats had been prepared. The seating capacity is 30 percent more than the number of Idul Fitri travelers expected to use air transportation services, namely 1.6 million.
"So, there will be no problem with airplane seating capacity for Idul Fitri passengers," he said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/22:50/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 12-09-2009 22:53:44
Jakarta, Sept 12 (ANTARA) - In the face of next week's exodus of about 27 million home-bound Indul Fitri travelers, the government said it was now ready to provide services for the revelers with the focus on three main things - security, safety and comfort.
In order to ensure its readiness to cope with the Idul Fitri ' exodus, the government held a coordination meeting among the relevant agencies on Friday.
"In general, the meeting concluded that the government is now ready to provide the transportation services for Idul Fitri travelers this year," acting chief economic minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
The preparations made included transportation facilities and infrastructures, provision of basic necessaries, fuel, security and the comfortable travel conditions. The focus of the transportation services is given to 10 provinces. All government agencies must therefore be responsible for their respective main duties.
Ministries and other agencies involved included the ministry of public works, the ministry of transportation, the ministry of health, the ministry of informatics and communications, the meteorology, climatology and geophysics office, the Indonesian consumers institute, the organization of land transportation owners and others.
With concerted efforts, the minister is convinced that transportation services this year would be better than that of last year. The president hoped that at least three factors would be met this year, namely security, safety and comfortableness of travelers.
According to Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million will use various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million will use private cars and motor cycles.
In order to accommodate travelers' complaints, Minister Sri Mulyani asked the ministry of informatics and communications to provide an SMS center.
"I asked that the SMS center is made in one number so that travelers who are confused could lodge their complaints, reports or other things with regard to Idul Fitri transportation services," the minister said.
She said that the integrated SMS center was intended to accommodate travelers' complaints or reports that could be responded to immediately by the relevant agencies.
"So far, the transportation ministry has an integrated Idul Fitri transportation command post while the same post also existed with the police. This is confusing," she said. Therefore, she said, one SMS center was enough which would be made public in one or two days ahead.
In the meantime, as part of the efforts to provide security and comfort for travelers, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal inspected the readiness of Lampung province's Rajabasa bus terminal in Sumatra on Sturday.
"We hope that all bus terminal officials will increase cooperation with police in an effort to create security for the travelers," the minister said during his inspection at the terminal.
The minister directly inspected the main terminal of Rajabasa which constitutes the biggest and main inter-city and inter-province bus station for Java and Sumatra in the province of Lampung.
Lampung city police headquarters' chief Senior Commissioner Syauqi Ahmad told the minister that his side guaranteed a good coordination to ensure security for travelers. At least 829 police personnel would be stationed in the field to guard travelers.
Apart from the minister, a group of legislators of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V for transportation affairs also inspected on Saturday the Tanjungkarang train station in Lampung to see its preparations.
Led by Riswan Tony, the legislators directly inspected the facilities and infrastructure of the train station. They also took a look at several train wagons, security posts and health centers which were being prepared to serve home-bound travelers.
"We find that the readiness of the train station in serving passengers is already good enough," Riwan said. PT KA Spokesman for Tanjungkarang Zakaria said that his company had prepared seven additional wagons to anticipate Idul Fitri travelers' exodus next week.
The same preparations were also made at Tanjung Priok bus terminal which constitutes the gateway of those using sea transportation services to Jakarta and other cities in Java. It prepared at least 50 additional inter-city buses to cater for post-fasting month or Idul Fitri travelers.
ML Patikawa, chief of Group I of the Terminal, said the 50 additional buses would be made available in addition to the 150 buses which had been prepared to serve passengers bound for other cities in Java.
On security, Patikawa said the terminal's authorities would tighten security measures. At least 40 police personnel would be deployed, with a health service team of 36 medical personnel, four ambulances and other officials.
As regard to those willing to use air transportation, the government has prepared flight seating capacity at 30 percent in excess of the predicted number of travelers.
According to Director General for Air Transportation Tri Sunoko, about 2.2 million airplane seats had been prepared. The seating capacity is 30 percent more than the number of Idul Fitri travelers expected to use air transportation services, namely 1.6 million.
"So, there will be no problem with airplane seating capacity for Idul Fitri passengers," he said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/22:50/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 12-09-2009 22:53:44
GOVT DECIDES TO IMPORT SUGAR FOR NEXT YEAR STOCKS
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 11 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has decided to import 180,000 tons of raw sugar in an effort to increase its sugar stocks and to secure sugar supplies in the country in the first five months of 2010. | |
HAZE STILL HAMPERING FLIGHTS IN KALIMANTAN
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 10 (ANTARA) - Haze that has blanketed at least three airports in West and Central Kalimantan provinces has been disturbing flight activities to and from the regions in the past few days.
Pontianak's Supadio airport of West Kalimantan was closed for one hour on Thursday while Beringin airport of Muara Teweh of Central Kalimantan still remained quiet from flight activities.
Tjilik Riwut airport of Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan), after being closed for five days has, however, reopened but some airlines had not yet served the route to the airport until Thursday.
"We hope our plane will begin landing again at Tjilik Riwut tomorrow (Sept. 11) because the airport has begun to be clear of haze and it has been reopened," General Manager for Garuda Indonesia for Palangkaraya Agus Dewanta said in Palangkaraya on Thursday.
In the meantime, flight activities at Beringin airport in North Barito District, Central Kalimantan, have not yet resumed. The haze was still thick. Flights to this airport have been stopped in the past five days.
"Flights activities at Beringin airport are still completely stopped because thick haze still blanketed this region," Muara Teweh airport official Sidik said on Thursday.
Due to the haze in Central Kalimantan, airport authorities closed Tjilik Riwut airport of Palangkaraya on Tuesday for all flights.
Head of the airport, Jamaluddin Hasibuan said the visibility at the runways reached only about 400 meters which was considerably worse than the minimum of 1,600 meters. The runways cannot be used at all," Hasibuan said.
He said that due to the thick haze, his side closed the airport and banned all flights from landing and taking off at the airport.
As the result of the closure, five airlines canceled 14 of their flights at the airport on Tuesday. The canceled regular flights were those of Batavia Air over the Jakarta-Palangkaraya-Jakarta route and the Surabaya-Palangkaraya-Surabaya route, of Sriwijaya for the Jakarta-Palangkaraya-Jakarta route, and Garuda for Jakarta-Palangkaraya-Jakarta route.
Local flights which were canceled included those of Susi Air for the Palangkaraya-Murara Teweh-Palangkaraya route and Aviastar for the Palangkaraya-Buntok-Palangkaraya and Palangkaraya-Muara Teweh-Palangkaraya routes.
"Sriwijaya passengers had been diverted to Syamsuddin Noor airport in South Kalimantan," Hasibuan said on Tuesday.
However, Garuda Indonesia will begin its flight on Friday and serve the Jakarta- Palangkaraya-Jakarta route again after canceling its flights for five days.
"We hope our plane will be landing again beginning tomorrow. After all the haze is declining and the airport has been reopened again," Agus Dewanta said on Thursday.
Agus said that his airlines diverted its flight operations to Syamsuddin Noor airport in South Kalimantan, about 180 km east of Palangkaraya. The passengers were transported free of charge with buses from Banjarbaru in South Kalimantan to Palangkaraya or vice versa.
The diversion of transportation by land of passengers was done because Garuda had no other choices as the condition of Tjilik Riwut airport in the past several days was bad for flights. "We see now that airport condition has begun to be conducive where the airport has begun to be clear of haze so that we would resume flight activities at the airport tomorrow," Agus Dewanta said.
If Tjilik Riwut airport has been reopened, flights activities at Beringin airport of Murara Teweh were still stopped. Visibility up to Thursday was still at a range between 500 and 800 meters.
"We hope a strong wind will clear the airport tomorrow. The haze actually was brought in by the wind from the south," airport administrator of Beringin in Muara Teweh, Sidik, said.
He said that the thick haze had canceled flights over the past five days. "The activities are still completely stopped today," he said.
He said that virtually, the airport was not closed but due to the haze flights from Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) and Palangkaraya were canceled.
In the meantime, flights were also canceled at West Kalimantan airport of Supadio on Thursday because the airport was closed for at least one hour due to haze. That was the second closure in two days.
With visibility reduced to only 400 meters by haze, Pontianak's Supadio airport was closed from 6 am to 7 am on Thursday.
"Earlier today, we had to close the airport for one hour because visibility in the morning was just 400 meters, while normal visibility is around 800 meters," Syarif Usmulyani, head of the local chapter of PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II's traffic service, said.
He regretted that the local authorities did not immediately anticipate the emergence of haze coming from forest fires in Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan) and Ketapang District.
However, he considered today's condition was better than the previous day when visibility was just 300-400 meters, forcing the airport's closure for several hours.
He said that even though Supadio was already equipped with good devices such as visual only direction (VOD), distance measuring equipment (DME) and instrument landing system (ILS), airplanes remained unable to land due to the range of visibility which was below the normal level.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:30/H-YH)
(T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 10-09-2009 21:58:04
Jakarta, Sept 10 (ANTARA) - Haze that has blanketed at least three airports in West and Central Kalimantan provinces has been disturbing flight activities to and from the regions in the past few days.
Pontianak's Supadio airport of West Kalimantan was closed for one hour on Thursday while Beringin airport of Muara Teweh of Central Kalimantan still remained quiet from flight activities.
Tjilik Riwut airport of Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan), after being closed for five days has, however, reopened but some airlines had not yet served the route to the airport until Thursday.
"We hope our plane will begin landing again at Tjilik Riwut tomorrow (Sept. 11) because the airport has begun to be clear of haze and it has been reopened," General Manager for Garuda Indonesia for Palangkaraya Agus Dewanta said in Palangkaraya on Thursday.
In the meantime, flight activities at Beringin airport in North Barito District, Central Kalimantan, have not yet resumed. The haze was still thick. Flights to this airport have been stopped in the past five days.
"Flights activities at Beringin airport are still completely stopped because thick haze still blanketed this region," Muara Teweh airport official Sidik said on Thursday.
Due to the haze in Central Kalimantan, airport authorities closed Tjilik Riwut airport of Palangkaraya on Tuesday for all flights.
Head of the airport, Jamaluddin Hasibuan said the visibility at the runways reached only about 400 meters which was considerably worse than the minimum of 1,600 meters. The runways cannot be used at all," Hasibuan said.
He said that due to the thick haze, his side closed the airport and banned all flights from landing and taking off at the airport.
As the result of the closure, five airlines canceled 14 of their flights at the airport on Tuesday. The canceled regular flights were those of Batavia Air over the Jakarta-Palangkaraya-Jakarta route and the Surabaya-Palangkaraya-Surabaya route, of Sriwijaya for the Jakarta-Palangkaraya-Jakarta route, and Garuda for Jakarta-Palangkaraya-Jakarta route.
Local flights which were canceled included those of Susi Air for the Palangkaraya-Murara Teweh-Palangkaraya route and Aviastar for the Palangkaraya-Buntok-Palangkaraya and Palangkaraya-Muara Teweh-Palangkaraya routes.
"Sriwijaya passengers had been diverted to Syamsuddin Noor airport in South Kalimantan," Hasibuan said on Tuesday.
However, Garuda Indonesia will begin its flight on Friday and serve the Jakarta- Palangkaraya-Jakarta route again after canceling its flights for five days.
"We hope our plane will be landing again beginning tomorrow. After all the haze is declining and the airport has been reopened again," Agus Dewanta said on Thursday.
Agus said that his airlines diverted its flight operations to Syamsuddin Noor airport in South Kalimantan, about 180 km east of Palangkaraya. The passengers were transported free of charge with buses from Banjarbaru in South Kalimantan to Palangkaraya or vice versa.
The diversion of transportation by land of passengers was done because Garuda had no other choices as the condition of Tjilik Riwut airport in the past several days was bad for flights. "We see now that airport condition has begun to be conducive where the airport has begun to be clear of haze so that we would resume flight activities at the airport tomorrow," Agus Dewanta said.
If Tjilik Riwut airport has been reopened, flights activities at Beringin airport of Murara Teweh were still stopped. Visibility up to Thursday was still at a range between 500 and 800 meters.
"We hope a strong wind will clear the airport tomorrow. The haze actually was brought in by the wind from the south," airport administrator of Beringin in Muara Teweh, Sidik, said.
He said that the thick haze had canceled flights over the past five days. "The activities are still completely stopped today," he said.
He said that virtually, the airport was not closed but due to the haze flights from Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) and Palangkaraya were canceled.
In the meantime, flights were also canceled at West Kalimantan airport of Supadio on Thursday because the airport was closed for at least one hour due to haze. That was the second closure in two days.
With visibility reduced to only 400 meters by haze, Pontianak's Supadio airport was closed from 6 am to 7 am on Thursday.
"Earlier today, we had to close the airport for one hour because visibility in the morning was just 400 meters, while normal visibility is around 800 meters," Syarif Usmulyani, head of the local chapter of PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II's traffic service, said.
He regretted that the local authorities did not immediately anticipate the emergence of haze coming from forest fires in Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan) and Ketapang District.
However, he considered today's condition was better than the previous day when visibility was just 300-400 meters, forcing the airport's closure for several hours.
He said that even though Supadio was already equipped with good devices such as visual only direction (VOD), distance measuring equipment (DME) and instrument landing system (ILS), airplanes remained unable to land due to the range of visibility which was below the normal level.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:30/H-YH)
(T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 10-09-2009 21:58:04
NEXT CABINET NEEDS PROFESSIONALS
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - The need to form a small cabinet, embrace a big number of political parties and accommodate professionals may be a difficult issue for President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before he announces his cabinet lineup in October.
"The president-elect needs to be cautious in making his choice for his cabinet lineup because basically naming a minister could reflect whether or not he takes side with the people," Ruslan Ismail Mage, a political observer of the Indonesian Political Investment Study Center, said.
He however suggested that Yudhoyono should not hesitate in naming ministers of his choice for his next cabinet lineup. "The president should not hesitate to select his aides," he said.
Ruslan Ismail Mage, who is the author of the book 'Industri Politik' (Political Industry), said that if the president took side with the people he would name professionals to reinforce the economic team of his cabinet. Professionals in this sense must have two abilities namely the abilities to formulate effective policies and to prevent misuse of state money.
The president should not be deceived by the industrial-type concept of professionalism because professional in politics means that the ministers should master their respective fields and be able to protect all economic resources so that they would not be annexed by foreigners.
Therefore, Mage suggested that political party cadres should be given ministerial portfolios outside the economic team.
The same voice was also raised by Sociologist Prof Dr Badaruddin of the North Sumatra University (USU). He said that Yudhoyono's next cabinet ministers should be truly professionals so that they would be able to carry out their tasks based on the people's aspirations.
"Prospective ministers must be people who have high dedication and are free from corruption," Badaruddin said in response to new faces who were likely to be given a ministerial post.
The USU governor said that naming qualified ministers who had greatest responsibility would help the president to accomplish well all programs that had been made. They can even continue programs made during the term of the 2004-2009 cabinet ministers. The people wanted ministers who were able to continue Yudhoyono's program in his second term.
"The ministers should also sign a political contract with the president. If they fail in carrying out their tasks, they should be prepared to resign and be replaced," he said.
He said that actually, it was up to President Yudhoyono whether to name ministers from professional, political party, or from academician circles but they should master their respective fields. In this case, the president should not make a wrong choice.
"If he makes a wrong choice, he will be disadvantaged. So, he should select those who are experts in their respective fields. He should not consider other factors such as political interest," he said.
Prof Dr Tonny Pariela of the Pattimura University of Ambon in Maluku concurred with Badaruddin.
He said that the next cabinet could well be filled in with political party cadres as long as they were professional in their respective fields. "There will be no problem if the president picks up political party cadres to fill his cabinet ministerial portfolios, as long as they are professionals in their fields," he said.
However, Tonny also suggested that the president should also pay attention to pluralism issue in naming his ministers. "If the president uses the professionalism and pluralism approaches in appointing his ministers, his next cabinet will certainly perform better than the previous one," he said.
Tonny, who is a lecturer at Pattimura University's school for social and political affairs said the government ahead would face an increased complexity of development and social services so that it would need professional figures to manage governmental departments.
"Therefore, the next cabinet should not reflect the interest of political parties only but also pluralism with professional figures who could support President Yudhoyono in realizing his promises during the campaign," Tonny said.
In the meantime, House member-elect Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not stick to the choice of the need for professionals.
"The ministerial post is a political position. So, Yudhoyono should not merely consider the aspect of professionalism," Soesatyo said. The important thing is that a minister should be able to formulate and take a decision, or a policy with its political dimension and interest.
"The qualification of such a minister is badly needed if we look at the present problem that is being faced by the Indonesian people," he said.
He said that in the coming five years, the government needed to take a number of political measures to serve, protect and safeguard the people's interest.
"In taking a political decision, the government should include its political wisdom. Professionals would always think about profit or losses," Soesatyo said.
A professional, he said, only think of how to gain a profit and avoid potentials of losses. He cited as an example a decision on fuel oil subsidy or import duty borne by the government and on the small-holder's credit scheme (KUR). Direct cash assistance (BLT) or fuel oil subsidy is a political decision.
"A decision of this kind is typically not of a professional one," he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/15:03/A/O001)
(T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 08-09-2009 15:08:13
Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - The need to form a small cabinet, embrace a big number of political parties and accommodate professionals may be a difficult issue for President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before he announces his cabinet lineup in October.
"The president-elect needs to be cautious in making his choice for his cabinet lineup because basically naming a minister could reflect whether or not he takes side with the people," Ruslan Ismail Mage, a political observer of the Indonesian Political Investment Study Center, said.
He however suggested that Yudhoyono should not hesitate in naming ministers of his choice for his next cabinet lineup. "The president should not hesitate to select his aides," he said.
Ruslan Ismail Mage, who is the author of the book 'Industri Politik' (Political Industry), said that if the president took side with the people he would name professionals to reinforce the economic team of his cabinet. Professionals in this sense must have two abilities namely the abilities to formulate effective policies and to prevent misuse of state money.
The president should not be deceived by the industrial-type concept of professionalism because professional in politics means that the ministers should master their respective fields and be able to protect all economic resources so that they would not be annexed by foreigners.
Therefore, Mage suggested that political party cadres should be given ministerial portfolios outside the economic team.
The same voice was also raised by Sociologist Prof Dr Badaruddin of the North Sumatra University (USU). He said that Yudhoyono's next cabinet ministers should be truly professionals so that they would be able to carry out their tasks based on the people's aspirations.
"Prospective ministers must be people who have high dedication and are free from corruption," Badaruddin said in response to new faces who were likely to be given a ministerial post.
The USU governor said that naming qualified ministers who had greatest responsibility would help the president to accomplish well all programs that had been made. They can even continue programs made during the term of the 2004-2009 cabinet ministers. The people wanted ministers who were able to continue Yudhoyono's program in his second term.
"The ministers should also sign a political contract with the president. If they fail in carrying out their tasks, they should be prepared to resign and be replaced," he said.
He said that actually, it was up to President Yudhoyono whether to name ministers from professional, political party, or from academician circles but they should master their respective fields. In this case, the president should not make a wrong choice.
"If he makes a wrong choice, he will be disadvantaged. So, he should select those who are experts in their respective fields. He should not consider other factors such as political interest," he said.
Prof Dr Tonny Pariela of the Pattimura University of Ambon in Maluku concurred with Badaruddin.
He said that the next cabinet could well be filled in with political party cadres as long as they were professional in their respective fields. "There will be no problem if the president picks up political party cadres to fill his cabinet ministerial portfolios, as long as they are professionals in their fields," he said.
However, Tonny also suggested that the president should also pay attention to pluralism issue in naming his ministers. "If the president uses the professionalism and pluralism approaches in appointing his ministers, his next cabinet will certainly perform better than the previous one," he said.
Tonny, who is a lecturer at Pattimura University's school for social and political affairs said the government ahead would face an increased complexity of development and social services so that it would need professional figures to manage governmental departments.
"Therefore, the next cabinet should not reflect the interest of political parties only but also pluralism with professional figures who could support President Yudhoyono in realizing his promises during the campaign," Tonny said.
In the meantime, House member-elect Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not stick to the choice of the need for professionals.
"The ministerial post is a political position. So, Yudhoyono should not merely consider the aspect of professionalism," Soesatyo said. The important thing is that a minister should be able to formulate and take a decision, or a policy with its political dimension and interest.
"The qualification of such a minister is badly needed if we look at the present problem that is being faced by the Indonesian people," he said.
He said that in the coming five years, the government needed to take a number of political measures to serve, protect and safeguard the people's interest.
"In taking a political decision, the government should include its political wisdom. Professionals would always think about profit or losses," Soesatyo said.
A professional, he said, only think of how to gain a profit and avoid potentials of losses. He cited as an example a decision on fuel oil subsidy or import duty borne by the government and on the small-holder's credit scheme (KUR). Direct cash assistance (BLT) or fuel oil subsidy is a political decision.
"A decision of this kind is typically not of a professional one," he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/15:03/A/O001)
(T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 08-09-2009 15:08:13
RI MAY PURCHASE KILO OR CHANGBOGO CLASS SUBMARINES
by Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has yet to decide the prospective supplier country for its plan to purchase two submarines to reinforce its navy in 2011 or 2012.
So far, Indonesia has four optional prospective countries from which it expects to purchase the strategic military equipment, namely Germany (U-209), South Korea (Changbogo), Russia (Kilo class) and France (Scorpen).
But an ANTARA source said Indonesia had reduced the number of optional countries to two, namely Russia and South Korea.
"The optional countries have now been reduced to only two, namely Russia and South Korea. But while the plan is still in progress we have not yet decided any exporter countries, whether Russia or South Korea", Director General for Defense Facility Affairs at the Defense Ministry, Rear Marshal Eris Heryanto, said on Monday.
If South Korea becomes the last option for the importation of the submarines, it means that the Indonesia navy will have two Changbogo class submarines. It is likely that this type will be the SS-209 Changbogo class submarines.
The 209 submarine class is designed to destroy hostile submarines, surface ships, protect friendly naval bases, sea shores communications, and carry out reconnaissance missions.
Type 1200 as a member of the Class 209 ensures reliable early detection of hostile warships, including low-noise submarines, owing to a high effective sonar system and low noise feature of the submarines.
The Changbogo class submarines are diesel/electric propulsion submarines, built under license in South Korea, based on German Type 209-1200.
The other option supplier is Russia. In September 2007, it was announced that Indonesia had placed an order for two Kilo Type 636 submarines, plus options to purchase up to eight more. But due to budget constraints, the Indonesian defense ministry will purchase only two submarines in 2011 or in 2012.
The Russian Kilo Class submarines first entered service in the early 1980s. They were first designed by the Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau, St Petersburg.
Subsequent developments have led to the current production versions, the Type 877EKM and the Type 636. A successor, the Lada (Project 677) was launched in November 2004.
Director General for Defense Facilities Eris Heryanto said the defense ministry was still processing the plan to purchase the two submarines for the navy. The Indonesian government had previously called a tender for the purchase of the two submarines through 2004-2009 export credit facilities.
Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said that as a user his side had asked that the two new submarines that would be imported should have the same battle capability as that of submarines owned by other countries.
"So, we hope that the two submarines that would be imported would have deterrent capability for our country. Submarines are not a mere means of war but also a strategic equipment that could strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position against other countries," he said.
According to military observer of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, it is urgent for the government to procure submarines soon considering its geographic conditions and its regional defense strength a present.
"The high deterrent effect is expected to reduce threat potentials. So, the government should not delay its purchase," he said.
Besides for defense, the procurement of the two submarines worth US$7 million is also important to strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position.
"We need submarines not only to win battles but also to boost our bargaining position toward other countries because submarines as a strategic means of war have great deterrent potentials ," Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said.
Purdijatno said the submarines Indonesia needed in the future should at least have the same combat effectiveness and specifications as those owned by other countries. "In that way, our bargaining position will be equal to those of other countries. People will no longer underestimate us," he said.
At present, the Indonesian navy had two German-made submarines but they were of very old vintage, he said, adding one of them some time ago underwent an overhaul, and the other now would follow suit soon.
The navy had yet to determine the specifications of the two yet-to-be-purchased submarines but it was clear that they must have capabilities on a par with or, if possible exceeding, those of submarines owned by neighboring countries, he said.
It was hoped the additional submarines would enable the navy to guard Indonesia's vast maritime territory in a more effective way, the navy chief said.
Virtually, the government has earlier planed to import the two submarines in 2010, it postponed it later due to budget constraint. Previously Indonesia has put out to tender the plan procurement of two submarines in 2010.
"Although the government will increase the fund allocation by 20 percent in the 2010 state budget, the increase is not yet enough to purchase main weapon system such as submarines and new jet-fighters. The increase in the budget will be prioritized on maintenance services," Director General for Defense Facilities of the Defense Ministry Rear Marshal Eris Herryanto said.***4*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 08-09-2009 10:48:15
Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has yet to decide the prospective supplier country for its plan to purchase two submarines to reinforce its navy in 2011 or 2012.
So far, Indonesia has four optional prospective countries from which it expects to purchase the strategic military equipment, namely Germany (U-209), South Korea (Changbogo), Russia (Kilo class) and France (Scorpen).
But an ANTARA source said Indonesia had reduced the number of optional countries to two, namely Russia and South Korea.
"The optional countries have now been reduced to only two, namely Russia and South Korea. But while the plan is still in progress we have not yet decided any exporter countries, whether Russia or South Korea", Director General for Defense Facility Affairs at the Defense Ministry, Rear Marshal Eris Heryanto, said on Monday.
If South Korea becomes the last option for the importation of the submarines, it means that the Indonesia navy will have two Changbogo class submarines. It is likely that this type will be the SS-209 Changbogo class submarines.
The 209 submarine class is designed to destroy hostile submarines, surface ships, protect friendly naval bases, sea shores communications, and carry out reconnaissance missions.
Type 1200 as a member of the Class 209 ensures reliable early detection of hostile warships, including low-noise submarines, owing to a high effective sonar system and low noise feature of the submarines.
The Changbogo class submarines are diesel/electric propulsion submarines, built under license in South Korea, based on German Type 209-1200.
The other option supplier is Russia. In September 2007, it was announced that Indonesia had placed an order for two Kilo Type 636 submarines, plus options to purchase up to eight more. But due to budget constraints, the Indonesian defense ministry will purchase only two submarines in 2011 or in 2012.
The Russian Kilo Class submarines first entered service in the early 1980s. They were first designed by the Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau, St Petersburg.
Subsequent developments have led to the current production versions, the Type 877EKM and the Type 636. A successor, the Lada (Project 677) was launched in November 2004.
Director General for Defense Facilities Eris Heryanto said the defense ministry was still processing the plan to purchase the two submarines for the navy. The Indonesian government had previously called a tender for the purchase of the two submarines through 2004-2009 export credit facilities.
Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said that as a user his side had asked that the two new submarines that would be imported should have the same battle capability as that of submarines owned by other countries.
"So, we hope that the two submarines that would be imported would have deterrent capability for our country. Submarines are not a mere means of war but also a strategic equipment that could strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position against other countries," he said.
According to military observer of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, it is urgent for the government to procure submarines soon considering its geographic conditions and its regional defense strength a present.
"The high deterrent effect is expected to reduce threat potentials. So, the government should not delay its purchase," he said.
Besides for defense, the procurement of the two submarines worth US$7 million is also important to strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position.
"We need submarines not only to win battles but also to boost our bargaining position toward other countries because submarines as a strategic means of war have great deterrent potentials ," Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said.
Purdijatno said the submarines Indonesia needed in the future should at least have the same combat effectiveness and specifications as those owned by other countries. "In that way, our bargaining position will be equal to those of other countries. People will no longer underestimate us," he said.
At present, the Indonesian navy had two German-made submarines but they were of very old vintage, he said, adding one of them some time ago underwent an overhaul, and the other now would follow suit soon.
The navy had yet to determine the specifications of the two yet-to-be-purchased submarines but it was clear that they must have capabilities on a par with or, if possible exceeding, those of submarines owned by neighboring countries, he said.
It was hoped the additional submarines would enable the navy to guard Indonesia's vast maritime territory in a more effective way, the navy chief said.
Virtually, the government has earlier planed to import the two submarines in 2010, it postponed it later due to budget constraint. Previously Indonesia has put out to tender the plan procurement of two submarines in 2010.
"Although the government will increase the fund allocation by 20 percent in the 2010 state budget, the increase is not yet enough to purchase main weapon system such as submarines and new jet-fighters. The increase in the budget will be prioritized on maintenance services," Director General for Defense Facilities of the Defense Ministry Rear Marshal Eris Herryanto said.***4*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 08-09-2009 10:48:15
RECENT QUAKE POSSES NO HARM TO TOURISTS
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 7 (ANTARA) - Last week's magnitude-7.3 earthquake which rocked several parts of West Java and killed at least 74 people has prompted tourists to question whether it is now still safe to visit tourism objects in the region.
Moreover, there are irrational rumors that are circulating in regions which were affected by the powerful earthquake, saying that aftershocks will soon occur and trigger tsunami. "Thesa are irrational rumors. There will be no tsunami," Head of Tourism Service of Sukabumi, one of the districts affected by last Wednesday's earthquake, Iyos Sumantri, said.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale with its epicenter located 142 km southwest of Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Wednesday (September 2) damaged many buildings and killed about 74 people in Tasikmalaya, Cianjur, and other areas in West Java.
The earthquake whose epicenter was at 8.24 degrees southern latitude, and 107.32 degrees eastern longitude near Tasikmalaya in West Java was also felt as far away as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and the resort island of Bali.
Rumors that aftershocks of the recent earthquake would create tsunami have prompted the regional government of Sukabumi district, West Java, to guarantee that the region's Pelabuhanratu beach is safe.
Rumors about tsunami are believed to affect tourists intending to visit Pelabuhanratu beach during this year's holidays. Therefore, the regional government of Sukabumi called on the people and tourists wishing to visit Pelabuhanratu to ignore the rumors. "The Pelabuhanratu beach is safe for tourists," Head of Tourism Service of Sukabumi Iyos Sumantri said here on Monday.
He said that the rumors saying there would be aftershocks that could create tsunami were irrational predictions. The Pelabuhanratu beach is safe from tsunami.
"There is no need for tourists to be concerned about the earthquake that had happened last Wednesday," he said.
However, tourists, particularly foreign ones, have questioned the condition whether it would be safe for them to visit the country.
"Indonesia has to explain the conditions after the earthquake whether it is still safe and could be visited," Managing Director of Triways Travel Network, Akil Yusof, said in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
Yusof, who is a former marketing representative of Indonesian tourism in Malaysia said that it was urgent for Indonesia to explain the conditions because Indonesia still constituted the main destination of Malaysian tourists.
However, according to the tourism and culture ministry's observation, the recent powerful earthquake centered in West Java has so far not had any negative impact on Indonesia's tourism sector.
Sapta Nirwandar, director general of marketing affairs at the tourism and culture ministry, said the recent earthquake in West Java was a natural disaster which could have happened anywhere. Therefore, he said, its effect on the tourism sector would not be as negative as terror bombings.
"Up till now, we haven't received any report on cancellations of tourist visits or travel plans ," Nirwandar said here on Monday.
He also denied rumors that an exodus of foreign tourists happened shortly after the West Java earthquake but said everything possible should be done to prevent such an exodus from happening.
"We must give tourists clear information about the earthquake's epicenter and its effect. We also must give them a safety guarantee for travel in Indonesia," he said.
Akil Yusof said that he was afraid that many Malaysian tourists would cancel their plan to visit Indonesia, even if they have planned it sometime in the past.
"They raised concern and questioned their safety if they visit Indonesia," Yusof said. He said that so far Malaysian tourists saw Indonesia as a favorite destination for holidaying.
For them, Indonesia as a destination has the value for money with its different kinds of cultures, culinary, and languages of the same stock as that of Malaysia.
"But after seeing news reports in the media that a powerful quake had struck Indonesia with a big number of victims, they became afraid to visit the country," Yusof said. After all, there are certain ethnicity in Malaysia saw Bandung as their favorite destination.
According to data at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Malaysia is the second biggest country which sent tourists to Indonesia in 2008, after Singapore. The number of Malaysian tourists visiting Indonesia in 2008 reached 864,000 while in 2009 the Indonesian government targeted to net 930,000 Malaysian tourists.
So, in spite of the twin bombings of two international hotels in Jakarta last July, Director General Sapta Nirwandar was convinced Indonesia would be able to achieve its foreign tourist arrivals target for this year.
"The present conducive conditions make us optimistic we will achieve the 2009 target of 6.4 million tourist arrivals," he said.
For 2010, the tourism and culture ministry would raise the tourist arrival target to seven million, he said.
In the first semester of 2009, Indonesia was one of the Asia-Pacific countries that saw positive growth in the tourism sector. In the January-July period in 2009, Indonesia's tourism grew 2.56 percent. This put Indonesia in third place after South Korea and Malaysia. ***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:10) (T.A014/A/A014/H-AJM) 07-09-2009 21:29:12
Jakarta, Sept 7 (ANTARA) - Last week's magnitude-7.3 earthquake which rocked several parts of West Java and killed at least 74 people has prompted tourists to question whether it is now still safe to visit tourism objects in the region.
Moreover, there are irrational rumors that are circulating in regions which were affected by the powerful earthquake, saying that aftershocks will soon occur and trigger tsunami. "Thesa are irrational rumors. There will be no tsunami," Head of Tourism Service of Sukabumi, one of the districts affected by last Wednesday's earthquake, Iyos Sumantri, said.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale with its epicenter located 142 km southwest of Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Wednesday (September 2) damaged many buildings and killed about 74 people in Tasikmalaya, Cianjur, and other areas in West Java.
The earthquake whose epicenter was at 8.24 degrees southern latitude, and 107.32 degrees eastern longitude near Tasikmalaya in West Java was also felt as far away as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and the resort island of Bali.
Rumors that aftershocks of the recent earthquake would create tsunami have prompted the regional government of Sukabumi district, West Java, to guarantee that the region's Pelabuhanratu beach is safe.
Rumors about tsunami are believed to affect tourists intending to visit Pelabuhanratu beach during this year's holidays. Therefore, the regional government of Sukabumi called on the people and tourists wishing to visit Pelabuhanratu to ignore the rumors. "The Pelabuhanratu beach is safe for tourists," Head of Tourism Service of Sukabumi Iyos Sumantri said here on Monday.
He said that the rumors saying there would be aftershocks that could create tsunami were irrational predictions. The Pelabuhanratu beach is safe from tsunami.
"There is no need for tourists to be concerned about the earthquake that had happened last Wednesday," he said.
However, tourists, particularly foreign ones, have questioned the condition whether it would be safe for them to visit the country.
"Indonesia has to explain the conditions after the earthquake whether it is still safe and could be visited," Managing Director of Triways Travel Network, Akil Yusof, said in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
Yusof, who is a former marketing representative of Indonesian tourism in Malaysia said that it was urgent for Indonesia to explain the conditions because Indonesia still constituted the main destination of Malaysian tourists.
However, according to the tourism and culture ministry's observation, the recent powerful earthquake centered in West Java has so far not had any negative impact on Indonesia's tourism sector.
Sapta Nirwandar, director general of marketing affairs at the tourism and culture ministry, said the recent earthquake in West Java was a natural disaster which could have happened anywhere. Therefore, he said, its effect on the tourism sector would not be as negative as terror bombings.
"Up till now, we haven't received any report on cancellations of tourist visits or travel plans ," Nirwandar said here on Monday.
He also denied rumors that an exodus of foreign tourists happened shortly after the West Java earthquake but said everything possible should be done to prevent such an exodus from happening.
"We must give tourists clear information about the earthquake's epicenter and its effect. We also must give them a safety guarantee for travel in Indonesia," he said.
Akil Yusof said that he was afraid that many Malaysian tourists would cancel their plan to visit Indonesia, even if they have planned it sometime in the past.
"They raised concern and questioned their safety if they visit Indonesia," Yusof said. He said that so far Malaysian tourists saw Indonesia as a favorite destination for holidaying.
For them, Indonesia as a destination has the value for money with its different kinds of cultures, culinary, and languages of the same stock as that of Malaysia.
"But after seeing news reports in the media that a powerful quake had struck Indonesia with a big number of victims, they became afraid to visit the country," Yusof said. After all, there are certain ethnicity in Malaysia saw Bandung as their favorite destination.
According to data at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Malaysia is the second biggest country which sent tourists to Indonesia in 2008, after Singapore. The number of Malaysian tourists visiting Indonesia in 2008 reached 864,000 while in 2009 the Indonesian government targeted to net 930,000 Malaysian tourists.
So, in spite of the twin bombings of two international hotels in Jakarta last July, Director General Sapta Nirwandar was convinced Indonesia would be able to achieve its foreign tourist arrivals target for this year.
"The present conducive conditions make us optimistic we will achieve the 2009 target of 6.4 million tourist arrivals," he said.
For 2010, the tourism and culture ministry would raise the tourist arrival target to seven million, he said.
In the first semester of 2009, Indonesia was one of the Asia-Pacific countries that saw positive growth in the tourism sector. In the January-July period in 2009, Indonesia's tourism grew 2.56 percent. This put Indonesia in third place after South Korea and Malaysia. ***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:10) (T.A014/A/A014/H-AJM) 07-09-2009 21:29:12
ASSISTANCE FOR WEST JAVA QUAKE VICTIMS FLOWING
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 3 (ANTARA) - Relief aid has begun to flow for the victims of Wednesday's 7.3 magnitude earthquake which rocked several parts of Java and killed at least 57 people up to Thursday and prompting over 5,000 others to evacuate to emergency tents.
"The Ministry of Health has sent medicines, three tons of baby milk, electric generators, 75 body sacks and operational funds amounting to Rp150 million to help the disaster victims," Rustam S Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry's Crisis Management Center (PPK), said here on Thursday.
Rustam said that the earthquake whose epicenter was about 30 km below the sea level had also injured at least 500 people (over 100 seriously injured).
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) began sending assistance on Thursday to the victims of Wednesday's quake which took place about 142 km southwest of West Java's Tasikmalaya district and rocked several other Java towns, destroying at least 11,000 building structures.
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter located at 8.24 degrees southern latitude, and 107.32 degrees eastern longitude near Tasikmalaya in West Java was also felt as far away as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and the resort island of Bali.
According to Tia Kurniawan of PMI's Natural Disaster Information Division, the red cross had sent 1,000 packets of tents, 2,000 tarpaulins, 4,000 blankets and 4,000 mats for West Java areas.
The various affected regions in the West Java which would receive the assistance included the districts of Ciamis, Cianjur, Bandung, Garut, Tasikmalaya, Bogor, Sukabumi, dan Purwakarta.
For the Central Java regions, the PMI sent assistance in the form of 500 family tents, 1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 blankets, 1,000 mats and 1,000 pieces of cleanliness equipment.
Tia said that the assistance was sent through land and air transportation.
In the meantime, Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah said his ministry has prepared logistics assistance to be dispatched to the victims. "Logistics assistance for the quake victims has been prepared and is ready for distribution," Bachtiar Chamsyah said.
But he added that data on material damage and the number of victims should be collected before distributing the assistance.
"We have to inspect the real conditions in the quake-affected areas before we distribute the logistics assistance to the victims," the minister said.
The minister and his entourage visited the areas of Cisayong and Cigalontang which were hardly hit by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday afternoon.
The National Alms Agency (BAZNAS) meanwhile has allocated a fund amounting to Rp1 billion to help alleviate the burden of the quake victims in Tasikmalaya and various other regions which were affected by the earthquake on Wednesday.
General Chairman of BAZNAS Prof. Didin Hafidhuddin said for the first phase his side would allocate Rp1 billion which would be provided in cash, in procurement of medicines and in food assistance.
Hafidhuddin said that the assistance was provided as part of his organization's care for the victims of the earthquake which hit the Indonesian people. "With the program, we call on the Muslims in the country to work hand-in-hand in gathering assistance for their brothers who were suffering from a disaster," he said.
"Good willing, the fund for assistance to the victims would be bigger in the second phase. We hope the number of Muslims who care for the victims would increase," he said.
Meanwhile, Tasikmalaya district administration has distributed at least five tons of rice and other logistic necessaries to the quake victims at 39 sub-districts.
Likewise, in Sukabumi, the district administration will provide financial assistance amounting to Rp2 million for each seriously damaged house and Rp1 million for each slightly damaged house. It has also provided 100 tons of rice to be distributed to the earthquake's victims.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday morning left the capital for Cianjur to observe conditions in one of the regions in West Java worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake.
The head of state and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono left their private residence in Puri Cikeas in the company of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, and Home Affairs Minister Mardiyanto.
Before proceeding to the earthquake-hit region, the President held a coordinating meeting on handling the earthquake's aftermath with West Java regional authorities at the presidential palace in Cipanas.
It was reported from New York that the United Nations through its various bodies was preparing itself to take part in an emergency response mission for the earthquake victims in West Java.
According to the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday local time, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that a team of inter-UN bodies would soon carry out an assessment on the situation of the quake in Indonesia.
To be led by Indonesia, the team will carry out the assessment supported by many UN bodies. They will begin working on Thursday, September 3, 2009 to decide a priority scale on the victims' need in the affected areas.
The UN bodies that would be involved included the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Food Program, OCHA, the World Bank, UN Safety and Security institutions, and the UNICEF.***3*** (T.A014/H-NG/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 03-09-2009 22:10:53
Jakarta, Sept 3 (ANTARA) - Relief aid has begun to flow for the victims of Wednesday's 7.3 magnitude earthquake which rocked several parts of Java and killed at least 57 people up to Thursday and prompting over 5,000 others to evacuate to emergency tents.
"The Ministry of Health has sent medicines, three tons of baby milk, electric generators, 75 body sacks and operational funds amounting to Rp150 million to help the disaster victims," Rustam S Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry's Crisis Management Center (PPK), said here on Thursday.
Rustam said that the earthquake whose epicenter was about 30 km below the sea level had also injured at least 500 people (over 100 seriously injured).
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) began sending assistance on Thursday to the victims of Wednesday's quake which took place about 142 km southwest of West Java's Tasikmalaya district and rocked several other Java towns, destroying at least 11,000 building structures.
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter located at 8.24 degrees southern latitude, and 107.32 degrees eastern longitude near Tasikmalaya in West Java was also felt as far away as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and the resort island of Bali.
According to Tia Kurniawan of PMI's Natural Disaster Information Division, the red cross had sent 1,000 packets of tents, 2,000 tarpaulins, 4,000 blankets and 4,000 mats for West Java areas.
The various affected regions in the West Java which would receive the assistance included the districts of Ciamis, Cianjur, Bandung, Garut, Tasikmalaya, Bogor, Sukabumi, dan Purwakarta.
For the Central Java regions, the PMI sent assistance in the form of 500 family tents, 1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 blankets, 1,000 mats and 1,000 pieces of cleanliness equipment.
Tia said that the assistance was sent through land and air transportation.
In the meantime, Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah said his ministry has prepared logistics assistance to be dispatched to the victims. "Logistics assistance for the quake victims has been prepared and is ready for distribution," Bachtiar Chamsyah said.
But he added that data on material damage and the number of victims should be collected before distributing the assistance.
"We have to inspect the real conditions in the quake-affected areas before we distribute the logistics assistance to the victims," the minister said.
The minister and his entourage visited the areas of Cisayong and Cigalontang which were hardly hit by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday afternoon.
The National Alms Agency (BAZNAS) meanwhile has allocated a fund amounting to Rp1 billion to help alleviate the burden of the quake victims in Tasikmalaya and various other regions which were affected by the earthquake on Wednesday.
General Chairman of BAZNAS Prof. Didin Hafidhuddin said for the first phase his side would allocate Rp1 billion which would be provided in cash, in procurement of medicines and in food assistance.
Hafidhuddin said that the assistance was provided as part of his organization's care for the victims of the earthquake which hit the Indonesian people. "With the program, we call on the Muslims in the country to work hand-in-hand in gathering assistance for their brothers who were suffering from a disaster," he said.
"Good willing, the fund for assistance to the victims would be bigger in the second phase. We hope the number of Muslims who care for the victims would increase," he said.
Meanwhile, Tasikmalaya district administration has distributed at least five tons of rice and other logistic necessaries to the quake victims at 39 sub-districts.
Likewise, in Sukabumi, the district administration will provide financial assistance amounting to Rp2 million for each seriously damaged house and Rp1 million for each slightly damaged house. It has also provided 100 tons of rice to be distributed to the earthquake's victims.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday morning left the capital for Cianjur to observe conditions in one of the regions in West Java worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake.
The head of state and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono left their private residence in Puri Cikeas in the company of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, and Home Affairs Minister Mardiyanto.
Before proceeding to the earthquake-hit region, the President held a coordinating meeting on handling the earthquake's aftermath with West Java regional authorities at the presidential palace in Cipanas.
It was reported from New York that the United Nations through its various bodies was preparing itself to take part in an emergency response mission for the earthquake victims in West Java.
According to the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday local time, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that a team of inter-UN bodies would soon carry out an assessment on the situation of the quake in Indonesia.
To be led by Indonesia, the team will carry out the assessment supported by many UN bodies. They will begin working on Thursday, September 3, 2009 to decide a priority scale on the victims' need in the affected areas.
The UN bodies that would be involved included the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Food Program, OCHA, the World Bank, UN Safety and Security institutions, and the UNICEF.***3*** (T.A014/H-NG/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 03-09-2009 22:10:53
PINDAD TO BE INVESTIGATED OVER ARMS SALES
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 1 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of State Enterprises (BUMN) will investigate state-owned weapon factory PT Pindad in the wake of its arms sales now being confiscated in the Philippines. | |
BPK TO AUDIT BANK CENTURY
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 29 (ANTARA) - The State Audit Board (BPK) is soon to audit ailing Bank Century into which the government has injected fresh funds totaling Rp6.7 trillion or far in excess of the Rp1.3 trillion the government had previously mentioned to the House of Representatives (DPR).
"BPK will soon follow up a request for the auditing of the bank. We actually have began a preliminary investigation which is expected to be completed before the end of this fasting month. After the fasting month, we will carry out examinations on every details," BPK's chief auditor Syafri Adnan Baharuddin said.
The audit board will carry out an investigative audit in details of Bank Century after the fasting month (August 22 - September 20) based on the request of the House of Representatives (DPR).
House Commission XI on financial affairs has questioned the legal basis for the government to disburse an additional bailout fund of Rp5.4 trillion for Bank Century through the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS). The government has initially asked the approval of the House to bailout the ailing bank with Rp1.3 trillion.
"The figure we discussed in our latest hearing was Rp1.3 trillion. How could the Rp1.3 trillion all of sudden swell into Rp6.7 trillion. What we are questioning is its legal basis," Commission XI Chairman Ahmad Hafiz Zawasi said.
However, BPK is not questioning the injection of Rp6.7 trillion alone, but all matters that caused the bank to collapse. "We are not suddenly questioning the injection fund but we are going to see why it has collapsed and why Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) did not give a warning," chief auditor Baharuddin said.
He said that BPK examined BI and LPS's financial balance. The audit board is actually already able to draw a number of preliminary conclusions with regard to the Bank Century case.
BPK has also consulted BI and the LPS with regard to its preliminary findings, and promised to deepen its investigation into the bank case.
"We are trying to map out the data before moving forward to more detailed examinations. What was questioned by the House yesterday (at a hearing on Thursday) would strengthen BPK's auditing process of Century Bank," Baharuddin said.
He said that BPK was not in a position to decide which party had made the mistake in the Century Bank case. "We are not in a position to blame any party. But we would like to explain that our preliminary examination indicated that there is another aspect that has to be disclosed," Baharuddin said.
In the meantime, Baharuddin Aritonang, another BPK auditor, said that the House could soon made a request to BPK for the auditing of Century Bank. ?If the DPR makes the request, we have to audit it immediately,? he said.
Dradjad H Wibowo of Commission XI of the House of Representatives said meanwhile that LPS might suffer a loss of Rp5 trillion when Century Bank divested its shares later on. "In my estimate Bank Century's shares are worth only about Rp1.5 trillion to Rp2 trillion. LPS must divest the bank's shares in three years at the latest, namely in 2011. This means that with an equity now at rp500 billion, LPS will suffer a loss of about Rp4.5 trillion to Rp5 trillion if it is later sold at Rp1.5 trillion to Rp2 trillion," Dradjat Wibowo said at a hearing with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Thursday.
He said that with equity amounting to Rp500 billion, the value of Bank Century shares when it was sold in 2011 would only reach about Rp1.5 trillion to Rp2 trillion, and this proceed would not be comparable to the amount of funds injected to the bank at Rp6.7 trillion.
Therefore, he questioned the big amount of bailout funds injected into the bank. "We should examine whether there is a close relation between Century Bank officials and decision makers in the government," Wibowo said.
He said that initially the government and BI only asked the approval of the House to set Rp1.3 trillion in bailout funds through the LPS for the bank but in its realization the amount swelled to Rp6.7 trillion.
"We need clarifications on the details of matters that caused the swelling of the injected funds," he said.
At Thursday hearing, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati admitted that the injected funds came from the LPS, none of it came from the Emergency Funding Facility (FPD), "Up to now, BI has never used funds from FPD and funds which had implications with the state budget. All are made based on the consequence of LPS and based on the LPS legal corridor," the minister told the House hearing.
The House raised concern that the swelling of the bailout injection fund would deplete significantly the funds of LPS so that tighter control over the deposit insurance agency is needed.
The minister explained the chronology which led to the bailout of Bank Century amounting to Rp6.7 trillion. On November 21, 2008, the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) declared Bank Century a failed bank, which if not handled properly would create a systemic impact. On the occasion, the handling of the bank was also handed over to LPS.
"Up to now, BI has never used the FPD funds so that there is no implications with the state budget," the minister said. ***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:50/A014)
Jakarta, Aug 29 (ANTARA) - The State Audit Board (BPK) is soon to audit ailing Bank Century into which the government has injected fresh funds totaling Rp6.7 trillion or far in excess of the Rp1.3 trillion the government had previously mentioned to the House of Representatives (DPR).
"BPK will soon follow up a request for the auditing of the bank. We actually have began a preliminary investigation which is expected to be completed before the end of this fasting month. After the fasting month, we will carry out examinations on every details," BPK's chief auditor Syafri Adnan Baharuddin said.
The audit board will carry out an investigative audit in details of Bank Century after the fasting month (August 22 - September 20) based on the request of the House of Representatives (DPR).
House Commission XI on financial affairs has questioned the legal basis for the government to disburse an additional bailout fund of Rp5.4 trillion for Bank Century through the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS). The government has initially asked the approval of the House to bailout the ailing bank with Rp1.3 trillion.
"The figure we discussed in our latest hearing was Rp1.3 trillion. How could the Rp1.3 trillion all of sudden swell into Rp6.7 trillion. What we are questioning is its legal basis," Commission XI Chairman Ahmad Hafiz Zawasi said.
However, BPK is not questioning the injection of Rp6.7 trillion alone, but all matters that caused the bank to collapse. "We are not suddenly questioning the injection fund but we are going to see why it has collapsed and why Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) did not give a warning," chief auditor Baharuddin said.
He said that BPK examined BI and LPS's financial balance. The audit board is actually already able to draw a number of preliminary conclusions with regard to the Bank Century case.
BPK has also consulted BI and the LPS with regard to its preliminary findings, and promised to deepen its investigation into the bank case.
"We are trying to map out the data before moving forward to more detailed examinations. What was questioned by the House yesterday (at a hearing on Thursday) would strengthen BPK's auditing process of Century Bank," Baharuddin said.
He said that BPK was not in a position to decide which party had made the mistake in the Century Bank case. "We are not in a position to blame any party. But we would like to explain that our preliminary examination indicated that there is another aspect that has to be disclosed," Baharuddin said.
In the meantime, Baharuddin Aritonang, another BPK auditor, said that the House could soon made a request to BPK for the auditing of Century Bank. ?If the DPR makes the request, we have to audit it immediately,? he said.
Dradjad H Wibowo of Commission XI of the House of Representatives said meanwhile that LPS might suffer a loss of Rp5 trillion when Century Bank divested its shares later on. "In my estimate Bank Century's shares are worth only about Rp1.5 trillion to Rp2 trillion. LPS must divest the bank's shares in three years at the latest, namely in 2011. This means that with an equity now at rp500 billion, LPS will suffer a loss of about Rp4.5 trillion to Rp5 trillion if it is later sold at Rp1.5 trillion to Rp2 trillion," Dradjat Wibowo said at a hearing with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Thursday.
He said that with equity amounting to Rp500 billion, the value of Bank Century shares when it was sold in 2011 would only reach about Rp1.5 trillion to Rp2 trillion, and this proceed would not be comparable to the amount of funds injected to the bank at Rp6.7 trillion.
Therefore, he questioned the big amount of bailout funds injected into the bank. "We should examine whether there is a close relation between Century Bank officials and decision makers in the government," Wibowo said.
He said that initially the government and BI only asked the approval of the House to set Rp1.3 trillion in bailout funds through the LPS for the bank but in its realization the amount swelled to Rp6.7 trillion.
"We need clarifications on the details of matters that caused the swelling of the injected funds," he said.
At Thursday hearing, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati admitted that the injected funds came from the LPS, none of it came from the Emergency Funding Facility (FPD), "Up to now, BI has never used funds from FPD and funds which had implications with the state budget. All are made based on the consequence of LPS and based on the LPS legal corridor," the minister told the House hearing.
The House raised concern that the swelling of the bailout injection fund would deplete significantly the funds of LPS so that tighter control over the deposit insurance agency is needed.
The minister explained the chronology which led to the bailout of Bank Century amounting to Rp6.7 trillion. On November 21, 2008, the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) declared Bank Century a failed bank, which if not handled properly would create a systemic impact. On the occasion, the handling of the bank was also handed over to LPS.
"Up to now, BI has never used the FPD funds so that there is no implications with the state budget," the minister said. ***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:50/A014)
PEOPLE NEED SUGAR MARKET OPERATION
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 26 (ANTARA) - Consumers are waiting for the government's decision to launch market operations to offset the upward trend of sugar prices where Muslim throughout the country badly need the commodity in the current fasting month. | |
MALAYSIA TO REPRIMAND PENDET DANCE CLIP PRODUCER
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 25 (ANTARA) - The Malaysian government has promised to reprimand a Singapore-based production house which produced an advertisement for its tourism promotion that led to strong protests in Indonesia because it used the Balinese pendet dance without official permit from the Indonesian government.
"They have promised to reprimand the production house which produced the advertisement," Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said on Tuesday.
A series of strong protests have been launched at home against the depiction of the pendet dance in the Malaysian tourism advertisement broadcast in the Discovery Channel program under the title "Enigmatic Malaysia".
The welcome dance performed by women in Balinese costume appeared in a "Visit Malaysia Year" advertisement and was broadcast many times.
On Monday, the minister summoned Malaysia's deputy ambassador to Indonesia, Amran Mohammad Zin with regard to the advertisement. During the meeting the Malaysian side explained that the ad was produced by a private production house.
The Malaysian side promised to reprimand the production house.
In the meantime, a Malaysian official said from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday said that the advertisement was not produced by Malaysia's culture and tourism ministry (KRU) but by the Singapore-based Discovery Channel.
"The ad which is part of a documentary film series of Enigmatic Malaysia program were not produced by us but by the Singapore-based Discovery Channel," President and Chief Executive Officer of KRU Group Norman Abdul Halim said.
Halim, who was accompanied by Ketut Wiryadinata of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Culture, was explaining the matter to the Indonesian press at the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
"We knew that the ad had sparked protests and anger in Indonesia only after we were contacted by Indonesian newsmen yesterday," Halim said.
He said that his side had contacted the Discovery Channel, which he said had also withdrawn the promotion ad and replaced it with a new one.
KRU has produced six documentary films on Enigmatic Malaysia which were broadcast by 23 countries throughout the world. The themes of the documentary films are "The Malakan Portuguese - Preserving Their Heritate," "Bajau Laut - Nomad of The Sea", "Keris - The Myth & the Magic," "Kellie's Castle - Myth & Mystery", "Batik" and "Wau".
"In the Batik (traditional Javanese cloth), the documentary film clearly explained that Malaysian batik originates from the Javanese batik," Halim, who claimed his parents are descendants from North Sumatra, said.
Ketut Wiryadinata admitted he had watched the documentary film on batik. He said that the documentary film produced revealed the fact that the Malaysian batik originated from Java.
"Our meeting today (with Halim) has cleared the point of misunderstanding on the issue where Malaysia allegedly has claimed Bali's pendet dance. This is not true at all because the promotional ad was made by the Singapore-based Discovery Channel for the promotion of a documentary film in the Enigmatic Malaysia program. We will report this to the minister," he said.
The Discovery Channel meanwhile admitted that it had made a mistake and promised to apologize directly to the Indonesian minister for culture and tourism, Jero Wacik.
In a letter sent through e-mail to the Indonesian director general for arts, culture and film affairs, the Discovery Channel explained that the promotional advertisement in the documentary film was not produced by KRU.
Discovery Channel's regional director for advertising sales, Angie Santa Maria admitted that the production of the ad which depicted the Balinese pendet dance was a mistake done by the Discovery Channel promotional staffs. Therefore, she promised to apologize directly to the Indonesian minister of culture and tourism.
The appearance of the pendet dance in the Malaysia Visit Year promotion program has in the past several days sparked protests in Indonesia and become the focus of attention of the media in the country.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik therefore thanked the country's press and artists for their concern and greatest attention. "I have to thank them for their greatest attention to the matter," the minister said .
He said that the press efforts to defend the nation was clearly seen when the pendet dance was used by Malaysia in its tourism promotion without permission from Indonesia. "It is reasonable for us to be upset but we should not take anarchic actions. We should show that we are a civilized nation. So, we should react in a respectable and civilized way," the minister said.
Indonesia has sent a letter to the Malaysian government to ask for explanations on the use of Balinese traditional pendet dance in promoting its tourism industry.
According to an Indonesian cultural official, Indonesia has sent a letter not to protest but to ask for an explanation or clarification from the Malaysian government.
"This is not a protest note but a letter requesting a clarification from the Malaysian government," Ketut Wiryadinata, a special emissary from Indonesia's culture and tourism ministry, said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.***5*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:05/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 25-08-2009 20:41:30
Jakarta, Aug 25 (ANTARA) - The Malaysian government has promised to reprimand a Singapore-based production house which produced an advertisement for its tourism promotion that led to strong protests in Indonesia because it used the Balinese pendet dance without official permit from the Indonesian government.
"They have promised to reprimand the production house which produced the advertisement," Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said on Tuesday.
A series of strong protests have been launched at home against the depiction of the pendet dance in the Malaysian tourism advertisement broadcast in the Discovery Channel program under the title "Enigmatic Malaysia".
The welcome dance performed by women in Balinese costume appeared in a "Visit Malaysia Year" advertisement and was broadcast many times.
On Monday, the minister summoned Malaysia's deputy ambassador to Indonesia, Amran Mohammad Zin with regard to the advertisement. During the meeting the Malaysian side explained that the ad was produced by a private production house.
The Malaysian side promised to reprimand the production house.
In the meantime, a Malaysian official said from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday said that the advertisement was not produced by Malaysia's culture and tourism ministry (KRU) but by the Singapore-based Discovery Channel.
"The ad which is part of a documentary film series of Enigmatic Malaysia program were not produced by us but by the Singapore-based Discovery Channel," President and Chief Executive Officer of KRU Group Norman Abdul Halim said.
Halim, who was accompanied by Ketut Wiryadinata of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Culture, was explaining the matter to the Indonesian press at the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
"We knew that the ad had sparked protests and anger in Indonesia only after we were contacted by Indonesian newsmen yesterday," Halim said.
He said that his side had contacted the Discovery Channel, which he said had also withdrawn the promotion ad and replaced it with a new one.
KRU has produced six documentary films on Enigmatic Malaysia which were broadcast by 23 countries throughout the world. The themes of the documentary films are "The Malakan Portuguese - Preserving Their Heritate," "Bajau Laut - Nomad of The Sea", "Keris - The Myth & the Magic," "Kellie's Castle - Myth & Mystery", "Batik" and "Wau".
"In the Batik (traditional Javanese cloth), the documentary film clearly explained that Malaysian batik originates from the Javanese batik," Halim, who claimed his parents are descendants from North Sumatra, said.
Ketut Wiryadinata admitted he had watched the documentary film on batik. He said that the documentary film produced revealed the fact that the Malaysian batik originated from Java.
"Our meeting today (with Halim) has cleared the point of misunderstanding on the issue where Malaysia allegedly has claimed Bali's pendet dance. This is not true at all because the promotional ad was made by the Singapore-based Discovery Channel for the promotion of a documentary film in the Enigmatic Malaysia program. We will report this to the minister," he said.
The Discovery Channel meanwhile admitted that it had made a mistake and promised to apologize directly to the Indonesian minister for culture and tourism, Jero Wacik.
In a letter sent through e-mail to the Indonesian director general for arts, culture and film affairs, the Discovery Channel explained that the promotional advertisement in the documentary film was not produced by KRU.
Discovery Channel's regional director for advertising sales, Angie Santa Maria admitted that the production of the ad which depicted the Balinese pendet dance was a mistake done by the Discovery Channel promotional staffs. Therefore, she promised to apologize directly to the Indonesian minister of culture and tourism.
The appearance of the pendet dance in the Malaysia Visit Year promotion program has in the past several days sparked protests in Indonesia and become the focus of attention of the media in the country.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik therefore thanked the country's press and artists for their concern and greatest attention. "I have to thank them for their greatest attention to the matter," the minister said .
He said that the press efforts to defend the nation was clearly seen when the pendet dance was used by Malaysia in its tourism promotion without permission from Indonesia. "It is reasonable for us to be upset but we should not take anarchic actions. We should show that we are a civilized nation. So, we should react in a respectable and civilized way," the minister said.
Indonesia has sent a letter to the Malaysian government to ask for explanations on the use of Balinese traditional pendet dance in promoting its tourism industry.
According to an Indonesian cultural official, Indonesia has sent a letter not to protest but to ask for an explanation or clarification from the Malaysian government.
"This is not a protest note but a letter requesting a clarification from the Malaysian government," Ketut Wiryadinata, a special emissary from Indonesia's culture and tourism ministry, said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.***5*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:05/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 25-08-2009 20:41:30
MALAYSIA'S PENDET DANCE AD SPARKS INDONESIAN PROTEST
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 25 (ANTARA) - After recently claiming the 'reog Ponorogo' dance of East Java as its own, Malaysia is once again under fire for allegedly using the Balinese 'pendet' dance as a promotional means in its tourism advertisement. | |
POLICE LAUNCH SWEEPS AGAINST VICE
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 22 (ANTARA) - Local authorities in different parts of the country are launching operations to clean social vice activities that could defile the on-going holy fasting month of Ramadhan.
Entering the fasting month which this year begins on Saturday, August 22, 2009, security police are launching sweeps against abuse of drugs, alcoholic drinks, prostitution and errant night spots.
Mass organizations were however officially reminded not to conduct vigilante sweeps of night spots during the holy month but report those violating operation hour rules to the authorities.
The Jakarta tourism and culture affairs office issued the warning one day before the start of Ramadhan on Saturday to stave off the vandalism certain mass organizations had committed in the past against night spots they considered to have defiled the holy month by staying open.
"The Jakarta police chief has made it quite clear that unauthorized mass organizations are not permitted to perform supervisory functions," head of the Jakarta tourism and culture office, Arie Budhiman, said Friday.
In various parts of the country, local authorities have launched operations to sweep social vice at hotels and night spots.
Local police in Bantul, Yogyakarta, for example, seized hundreds of bottles of alcoholic drinks.
"We swept through a number of locations and roads in Kasihan sub-district, as well as residential houses suspected to store illegal drinks," Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Bantul's Police, Adjunct Commissioner Edy Sugiharto said on Friday.
He said that police seized 343 bottles of alcoholic drinks of various types and trade marks in Tamantirto area on Thursday. Police have previously confiscated hundreds of bottles of hard drinks from the same location.
Edy Sugiharto said local police would continue to carry out sweeping against hard drinks in order to fight social vice and to maintain order in the region in the current fasting month.
In Gorontalo, Sualwesi, local police destroyed 6,000 bottles of alcoholic drinks to welcome the fasting month of Ramadhan. Lomboto district police chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner Budi Widjanarto said the alcoholic drinks were destroyed as part of the efforts to fight social vice in Gorontalo.
He said that the 6,000 bottles of alcoholic drinks were confiscated during police operations in a number of spots in Gorontalo this year.
The aim of the operation, he said, is to guarantee the stability of the people's security and orderliness in Gorontalo, particulary in the face of the fasting moth. "It is our responsibility to fight and eradicate social vice in this region," Budi Widjanarko said.
In the meantime, in Sidrap district, South Sulawesi, tens of cafe attendants were arrested by local police who launched illegal hard drink operations.
Several others were taken into custody when police found them holding an alcoholic drink party in a motel. Sidrap Police chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner Pondadi SIK said tens of cafe attendants and youth were caught-red handed holding a hard drink party. He said that they were nabbed in an operation to welcome the advent of the holy month of Ramadhan.
"We have previously held a meeting with a number of parties to discuss steps to be taken in the frame work of providing the people with security feeling in the fasting month. After all, a circular on the local authorities' appeal to night spots to close has been distributed," the Sirap district police chief said.
He said that the operation where a number of youths and cafe attendants were nabbed was only the beginning of a series of sweeps the Sirap police would carry out against hard drinks, firecrackers, narcotics and other social vice activities.
Previously, at least nine prostitutes were also arrested in an operation which was directly led by Sidrap district head Rusdi Masse in a number of hotels.
Head of Social Rehabilitation Service Zainal Abidin said the nine prostitutes were now being given guidance. "They are proven to be sex workers but the cafe attendants were not proven to be sex workers so that they were allowed to go home," Zainal Abidin said.
Sweeps at hotels to welcome the fasting month were also carried out by police in Madiun district, East Java. Adjunct Commissioner Sutrisno of the Madiun district police said that his side nabbed five couples suspected to practice cohabitation at a hotel during the operation.
Sutrisono said his side would be conducting operations from August 18, 2009 until September 6, 2008, in order to put in order social vice during the fasting month. The target of the operations included gambling, hard drinks, drug and other immorality deeds.
Meanwhile, tens of students in Malang district, East Java, also called on the regional government to intensify operations against night spots and entertain centers during the fasting month. The students are grouped in the All Malang Campus Proselytizing Council (LDK) organization.
LKD coordinator Muhzar said sweeps against entertainment centers such as cafe, discotheques, message parloers and red-light districts must continue to be made because many of them were still operating in the fasting month.
"I could not understand whey they still operate quietly despite the fact that there has been a decree sent to them to ban operation during the fasting month. That's why operations must continue," Muhzar said.
In Surabaya, hundreds of activists of the Islamic Unity Forum (Forpui) visited a number of red-light districts to warn organizers to close their business in the fasting month.
"It should not happen that the fasting month is defiled with immorality deeds," Muhzar, who was accompanied by Secretary General of the Islamic Liberation Front (FPI) M Choiruddin, said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/14:40/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 22-08-2009
Jakarta, Aug 22 (ANTARA) - Local authorities in different parts of the country are launching operations to clean social vice activities that could defile the on-going holy fasting month of Ramadhan.
Entering the fasting month which this year begins on Saturday, August 22, 2009, security police are launching sweeps against abuse of drugs, alcoholic drinks, prostitution and errant night spots.
Mass organizations were however officially reminded not to conduct vigilante sweeps of night spots during the holy month but report those violating operation hour rules to the authorities.
The Jakarta tourism and culture affairs office issued the warning one day before the start of Ramadhan on Saturday to stave off the vandalism certain mass organizations had committed in the past against night spots they considered to have defiled the holy month by staying open.
"The Jakarta police chief has made it quite clear that unauthorized mass organizations are not permitted to perform supervisory functions," head of the Jakarta tourism and culture office, Arie Budhiman, said Friday.
In various parts of the country, local authorities have launched operations to sweep social vice at hotels and night spots.
Local police in Bantul, Yogyakarta, for example, seized hundreds of bottles of alcoholic drinks.
"We swept through a number of locations and roads in Kasihan sub-district, as well as residential houses suspected to store illegal drinks," Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Bantul's Police, Adjunct Commissioner Edy Sugiharto said on Friday.
He said that police seized 343 bottles of alcoholic drinks of various types and trade marks in Tamantirto area on Thursday. Police have previously confiscated hundreds of bottles of hard drinks from the same location.
Edy Sugiharto said local police would continue to carry out sweeping against hard drinks in order to fight social vice and to maintain order in the region in the current fasting month.
In Gorontalo, Sualwesi, local police destroyed 6,000 bottles of alcoholic drinks to welcome the fasting month of Ramadhan. Lomboto district police chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner Budi Widjanarto said the alcoholic drinks were destroyed as part of the efforts to fight social vice in Gorontalo.
He said that the 6,000 bottles of alcoholic drinks were confiscated during police operations in a number of spots in Gorontalo this year.
The aim of the operation, he said, is to guarantee the stability of the people's security and orderliness in Gorontalo, particulary in the face of the fasting moth. "It is our responsibility to fight and eradicate social vice in this region," Budi Widjanarko said.
In the meantime, in Sidrap district, South Sulawesi, tens of cafe attendants were arrested by local police who launched illegal hard drink operations.
Several others were taken into custody when police found them holding an alcoholic drink party in a motel. Sidrap Police chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner Pondadi SIK said tens of cafe attendants and youth were caught-red handed holding a hard drink party. He said that they were nabbed in an operation to welcome the advent of the holy month of Ramadhan.
"We have previously held a meeting with a number of parties to discuss steps to be taken in the frame work of providing the people with security feeling in the fasting month. After all, a circular on the local authorities' appeal to night spots to close has been distributed," the Sirap district police chief said.
He said that the operation where a number of youths and cafe attendants were nabbed was only the beginning of a series of sweeps the Sirap police would carry out against hard drinks, firecrackers, narcotics and other social vice activities.
Previously, at least nine prostitutes were also arrested in an operation which was directly led by Sidrap district head Rusdi Masse in a number of hotels.
Head of Social Rehabilitation Service Zainal Abidin said the nine prostitutes were now being given guidance. "They are proven to be sex workers but the cafe attendants were not proven to be sex workers so that they were allowed to go home," Zainal Abidin said.
Sweeps at hotels to welcome the fasting month were also carried out by police in Madiun district, East Java. Adjunct Commissioner Sutrisno of the Madiun district police said that his side nabbed five couples suspected to practice cohabitation at a hotel during the operation.
Sutrisono said his side would be conducting operations from August 18, 2009 until September 6, 2008, in order to put in order social vice during the fasting month. The target of the operations included gambling, hard drinks, drug and other immorality deeds.
Meanwhile, tens of students in Malang district, East Java, also called on the regional government to intensify operations against night spots and entertain centers during the fasting month. The students are grouped in the All Malang Campus Proselytizing Council (LDK) organization.
LKD coordinator Muhzar said sweeps against entertainment centers such as cafe, discotheques, message parloers and red-light districts must continue to be made because many of them were still operating in the fasting month.
"I could not understand whey they still operate quietly despite the fact that there has been a decree sent to them to ban operation during the fasting month. That's why operations must continue," Muhzar said.
In Surabaya, hundreds of activists of the Islamic Unity Forum (Forpui) visited a number of red-light districts to warn organizers to close their business in the fasting month.
"It should not happen that the fasting month is defiled with immorality deeds," Muhzar, who was accompanied by Secretary General of the Islamic Liberation Front (FPI) M Choiruddin, said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/14:40/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 22-08-2009
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