| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri on different days with the second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiayah observing the end of Ramadhan on Tuesday (Aug. 30) while the largest one, the Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) on Wednesday. The Idul Fitri festivities are to be preceded with prayers held on the first day of Syawal, succeeding month of the Ramadhan fasting month. However different methods used by the two largest Islamic organizations in deciding the first day of Syawal caused them to celebrate the Idul Fitri on different days. In the meantime, the government announced on Monday evening that the Ramadhan fasting month ended on August 30, thus the first day of Syawal would fall on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. The government's decision was announced by Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali during an Itsbat session held to determine the beginning of Syawal after hearing reports on the observations of the moon in different parts of the country and inputs from a number of Islamic mass organizations. Of the 90 observation points in Indonesia, about 30 have reported that they had not seen the new moon which would mark the first day of Syawal. Even though the new moon was not sighted during the observation, Muhammadiyah which based its method on calculation continued its decision to end fasting month on Monday and to hold Idul Fitri prayers on Tuesday. In Jakarta, Muhammadiyah has set at least 69 locations to say the Idul Fitri prayers. While in Bekasi, a buffer town of Jakarta in West Java, there would be 13 locations for Idul Fitri prayers, according to Muhammadiyah's official website on Monday. Of the 69 locations, 13 are located in Central Jakarta, fourteen locations in East Jakarta, 15 places in West Jakarta, In North Jakarta 13 locations and in South Jakarta 14 locations. In the meantime, the central executive board of Nahdhatul Ulama decided that the first day of Syawal fell on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 because its observation teams fail to see the new moon. "Based on reports from 90 locations none of NU's observers saw the new moon," its general chairman, KH Said Aqil Siroj, said. He said that because none of NU's observation teams sighted the new moon, its central board decided that Ramadhan fasting month must be completed into 30 days (istikmal). The first month of Ramadhan this year fell on August 1, 2011, so that it would be ended on August 30. Said Siroj asked NU executives to inform NU followers that they should say Idul Fitri prayers and celebrate it on Wednesday. "This decision is for all NU followers in all parts of Indonesia," Said Aqil said. Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Ma'ruf Amin has earlier predicted that Idul Fitri, Syawal 1, 1432 Hegira, was most likely to fall on August 31, 2011. "There are two ways to determine the first day of the Hegira calendar," he said. Ma'ruf said the first way was to see it through the lunar conjunction (Ijtima) that takes place before sunset, and then the moon set after sunset. So, in this case, the moment was to be the beginning of the Hegira month, without the need to see how high the angle of the moon was when the sun sets. Muhammadiyah which claims more than 25 million followers adopted this. The second way, Ma'ruf said, was through the sighting of the moon (rukyatul hilal), namely by directly observing the moon to determine the first day of a Hegira month. NU which is followed by some 30 million adopted this method. According to Director General of Islamic Mass Guidance Prof. Dr Nasaruddin Umar, it is difficult to unite the decision of the Islamic mass organizations which had different methods in deciding the first day of the Syawal month. Muhammadiyah has its 'wujudul hilal (position of the moon) criteria. Others have the 'Rukyatul Hilal' ( based on the sighting of the crescent/moon) method. "In the past Muhammadiyah decided that the moon is already at a hilal (seen) position when the moon based on the calculation is already at six degrees. But later it considered the six degrees position was too high, thus it lowered it to four degrees. Several years later, it lowered it again to two degrees and even now it is less than two degrees," Nasaruddin said. "Yet, he added, astronomy experts and astrologers said it was impossible for the moon to be seen (hilal) at the position of four degrees, let alone if it is less than two degrees. The hadists (Prophet sayings) oblige that the moon must be sighted or else the days of the fasting month must be completed into 30 days," he added. Up to now, he said, Arab countries still used the six degrees position while the Southeast Asian nations followed Indonesia's criteria. Besides Muhammadiyah and NU which had different days in observing the Idul Fitri festivities, there are also other small Muslim nominations who observe the festivities on different days. Around 200 followers of the Naqshabandiyah order in Pauh Padang sub-district in West Sumatra even have celebrated Idul Fitri on Monday. They held Idul Fitri prayers at Baitul Makmur mosque, 15 kilometers away from provincial capital Padang. "Today all followers of Naqshabandiyah in West Sumatra totaling around 8,000 people are celebrating Idul Fitri," Syafri Malin Mudo, the chief of Naqshbandiyah followers of Baitul Makmur, said. Yet, in Banyumas, Central Java, a small group of Muslims will celebrate the end of fasting month on Thursday, September 1. "Based on our calendar that we have followed since hundreds of years ago, the Lebaran (Idul Fitri) for followers of Islam Aboge will fall this year on Thursday, September 1," Sudiworo (60), one of the group's elders in Kracak village, said on Monday. With regard to the differences in observing the Idul Fitri festivities, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) called on Muslims to have respect, tolerance and sincerity in facing differences on the beginning of Idul Fitri this year. "Muslims have been accustomed to differences and thus in facing the differences (about the beginning of Idul Fitri), we have to pay mutual respect, tolerance and sincerity," MUI Chairman KH Ma'ruf Amin.***1*** |
Senin, 29 Agustus 2011
IDUL FITRI CELEBRATED ON DIFFERENT DAYS
Jumat, 26 Agustus 2011
LOCAL MUSLIMS HOLD RITUALS FOR LAYLAT AL-QADR
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 26 (ANTARA) - The last ten days of Ramadhan are the most cherished by Muslims as on one night during this period a divine event, the Laylat al-Qadr, will happen where God will give the faithful blessings of a magnitude equal to the blessings of more than one thousand months. All nights of Ramadhan are holy nights but Laylat al-Qadr, which is also known as 'The Night of Power' is the holiest night of this holy fasting month. It is the holiest night among all other holy nights throughout the entire year. In observance of Laylat al-Qadr, local Muslims in a number of regions hold different rituals or festivals, such as the 'Ela Ela' festival in North Maluku's Ternate city, Tumpengan (rice cone ritual) in Blitar, East Java, 'lampu colok' (small kerosene lamps festival) in Dumai, Riu and 'Selikuran' (ritual during 21st night of Ramadhan) in Lampung. In Ternate, North Maluku, the Culture and Tourism Office will organize the Ela Ela festival as part of the effort to perpetuate the local tradition in greeting the Night of Power. The Ela Ela is a local festival honoring the 27th Ramadhan in Ternate. All of the people light a fire in a candle made of banana trees. "The festival will be held on Saturday night (Aug.27). All villages in Ternate are expected to take part in the festival," Head of Ternate Culture and Tourism Office Husen Alting said on Friday. The Culture and Tourism Office would provide a trophy and cash awards for village who wins the festival. Assessment will be focused on the beauty and colorfulness of the torches and lanterns put around villagers' houses or in certain places. The people of Ternate hold the Ela Ela festival on every 21st night of Ramadhan because they believe that the night coincides with the Laylat al-Qadr. The Ela Ela festival procession would be centered at the palace of the Sultan of Ternate. At the palace sultanate officials, customary leaders and local people will perform a number of Ela Ela rituals. Arifin Djafar, a noted figure at the sultanate said that the torches and lanterns in the Ela Ela traditional festival symbolized the happiness of the people in greeting the Night of Power. After all, it was a chance for the people of Ternate to earn additional income by selling torches and lanterns. In Blitar, East Java, villagers in Krenceng village, Nglegok subdistrict held a 'tumpengan' (rice cone) ritual to welcome the arrival of Laylat al-Qadr. The ritual was held in the village's hall. Mustain, one of the villagers' noted religious leaders, said that the locals had regularly held rice cone rituals during the Ramadhan fasting month. He said that by offering tumpeng at the service they hoped they would attain blessings."In essence, this is part of alms offered during the odd night of Ramadhan. We only expect God's blessing," Mustain said. All villagers took part in the tumpengan ritual where they all brought with them their respective rice cone complete with its side dishes. All rice cones were collected and put in one place in the village hall. Mustain said that the activities were carried out in the last ten days of Ramadhan, particularly during the odd night, which is believed as a night better than one thousand months. "This festivity is held every year which also serves as a means of brotherhood gathering among villagers," he said. Mustain said that besides the rice cone service, villagers also held regular collective holy Koran reading, particularly at the odd night in the last ten days of Ramadhan and other non obligatory rituals such as sunnah prayers and other ritual deeds. In Dumai, Riau province, the local people held 'lampu colok' (kerosene lamps) festival. The oil lamps, similar to touches, were lit up and placed outside and around the houses. The Dumai Tourism and Culture Service even organized the lampu colok festival to welcome the ascension of Laylat al-Qadr on the 27th of Ramadhan. Head of Dumai's Tourism and Culture Service H Heldar Afinta said his office had opened registration for the lampu colok festival since August 19, 2011. Many individuals from the public and organizations of companies had registered, he said. Like in other regions, the lampu colok festival is a yearly agenda for welcoming the 27th night of Ramadhan and has been held regularly by villagers, according to Heldar. He called on participants to decorate their lamps in any forms but were attractive to the eyes. "Decorations can be made in any forms like the forms of proa, mosques, stars, crescents and other objects that portray greatness," he said. In the meantime, about 3,000 people have observed the Night of Power with holding 'malam selikuran.' Malam means night, selikuran means twenty third, malam selikuran refers to the twenty first night in Ramadhan which is believed to coincide the Laylat al-Qadr. "In observance of the advent of Laylat al-Qadr, we together with the Lampung people held malam selikuran," kata Lampung Governor Sjachroedin ZP, said. The governor said that the malam selikuran tradition had been held since in the past and the event could well enliven the night with additional devotional deeds. He said that the people should welcome the night which was better than one thousand nights with increasing faith and devotion to God. "If we count the blessings contained in the Laylat al-Qadr, the are comparable to the blessings of the entire nights of over 80 years," the governor said.***4*** |
Kamis, 25 Agustus 2011
THOUSANDS JOIN FREE 'MUDIK' TRAVEL PROGRAMS
| by Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 25 (ANTARA) - While the tickets of various modes of transpiration are now difficult to obtain for 'mudik' (home-bound trips), tens of thousands of Idul Fitri travelers have opted to join free mudik programs offered by a number of companies. Free mudik programs are among others offered by PT Jamu Sido Muncul, a major traditional herbal medicine (jamu) producer and cellular phone operator PT Telkomsel, as well as by a political party, National Mandate Party (PAN). On Thursday, at least 19,000 Idul Fitri travelers who joined PT Sido Muncul's free mudik's program were seen off by five ministers at the western parking lot of the Jakarta Fair Ground. Before they departed the travelers were entertained with music performance. The 'Wali' band music group appeared with its popular single songs on the stage during a function to see off 19,000 Idul Fitri travelers in a free 'mudik' (going home) program here on Thursday. The appearance of the Wali Band group was greeted with cheers and applause by the would-be travelers most of whom were herb traders, hawkers and their families from Jakarta and its buffer towns. Some of the travelers who were dominated by women and children also took part and sang songs with the artists on the stage. Organized under the sponsorship of herbal company PT Sido Muncul, the event was also enlivened by Piyu of 'Padi' band music group and Sofie Vavita, wife of Pongki Jikustik. Five ministers took part in bidding farewell to the departure of the 19,000 travelers, namely Chief Peoploe's Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Women Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi and Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar. Also present were Meutia Hatta (presidential adviser), Deputy Police Chief Com. Gen Nanan Soekarna, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and Director of PT Sido Muncul Irwan Hidayat. Some 300 buses were provided by PT Jamu Sido Muncul, a major traditional herbal medicine (jamu) producer, to take mostly jamu vendors and their families, to Yogyakarta, Cirebon, Kuningan (West Java), Tegal, Banjarnegara, Solo, and Wonogiri (Central Java), free of charge. The government appreciated private companies which organized free "mudik" and hoped more companies would follow the step next year. "Hopefully, in the future more companies will organize free 'mudik'," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono Minister Linda Gumelar meanwhile in her remarks urged PT Sido Muncul to provide health insurance and social security for jamu vendors and their families, in order to stimulate them to be more productive in marketing jamu. Free "mudik" program could help protect women and children in general vulnerable amidst big crowds of home-bound travelers. The same program was also offered by cellular phone operator PT Telkomsel which on Thursday also dispatched at least 1,000 Idul Fitri travelers for free using the train mode of transportation. The 1,000 Idul Fitri travelers went home towns through PT Telkomsel's Mudik for free program or 'Mudik TelkomselSiaga Gratis.' Vanusiana said the travelers were transported by 136 coaches OF the executive Agro Anggrek, Bima and Sembrani trains, with the farthest destination of Surabaya in East Java. The trains will pass on two main lanes, namely the northern lane (Agro Anggrek and Sembrani) passing by Pekalongan, Semarang and Surabya (final distination), and the southern lane (Agro Anggrek and Bima) passing by Cirebon, Purwokerto, Yogyakarta, Solo, Madiun, Kertosono, Jombang and Surabaya (final destination). She said that Telkomsel in its 'Mudik TelkomselSiaga for free' for 2011 dispatched 5,000 Idul Fitri customer travelers who were transported by five modes of transportation, namely trains, ships, buses, cars and airplanes. Through the sea, Telkomsel sent 2,000 travelers with the routes of Makassar-Tanjung Perak of Surabaya (Laboar ship, 600 travelers), Belawan-Batam (Kelud ship, 700 passengers, Ambon - Bau Bau South Sulawesi (Dobonsolo ship, 350) and Sampit - Palangkaraya - Tanjung Emas - Semarang (Lawit ship, 350). "Telkomsel is the only cellular operator which serves travelers with a telecommunication facility on 15 ships of the state-owned shipping lines PT Pelni," Venusiana said. Apart from that Telkomsel also facilitated the departure of 100 travelers using cars in cooperation with a Toyota, Daihatsu and Nissan sole agent (ATPM). The number of Telkom's mudik for free proram's participants using buses reached 1,000 customers while those departing in airplanes consisted of 600 Idul Fitri revelers with the routes of Jakarta-Padang, Jakarta-Surabaya and Jakarta ? Makassar. Apart from companies, a political party also had a free mudik program, namely PAN. General Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Hatta Rajasa bode farewell on Tuesday to 5,000 Idul Fitri travelers who left for Java and Sumatra. "On the birthday of PAN today, we want to share our happiness with the people, particularly the needy ones so that they will be able to observe the 1432 Indul Fitri festivities with their relatives in their home towns," the PAN chairman, who is also chief economic minister, said after bidding a farewell to them here on Tuesday. The 5,000 travelers were grouped in the "Going Home Towns for Free with PAN" program which was organized in connection with the observance of the 13th birthday of PAN on August 23, 2011. They were seen off at the East Parking Lot of Senayan Sports Complex. He said that most of the participants in the PAN's "Mudik Gratis Bareng PAN" (going home for free with PAN) program were daily laborers, workers in the informal sector as well as workers or employees at small businesses. They are the generators of the national economy, he said.***1*** |
Rabu, 24 Agustus 2011
GOVT TEMPORARILY STOPS RECRUITING CIVIL SERVANTS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 24 (ANTARA) - The government has decided to temporarily stop recruiting civil servants to streamline the bloated size of its 4.7 million employee corps as part of its efforts to improve its bureaucracy's efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. "The government wants to have a better control of the effectiveness of its personnel expenditure and increase the quality and productivity of civil servants in accordance with the criteria of bureaucratic reform," Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said. In order to temporarily stop civil workers recruitment, three ministers on Wednesday signed a Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) on the moratorium on civil servant recruitment at the Vice Presidential Office. The three ministers were Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, Minister of State Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform EE Mangindaan and Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi. The moratorium will be effective September 2011 to December 31, 2012 but there would still be exceptions for selected areas or positions. The number of civil servants in Indonesia at present is recorded at 4.7 million, or about 1.98 percent of the country's population. In 2011 a total of 107 thousand civil servants would enter retirement age while in 2012 the number of retirees would increase to 114 thousand. According to Minister of State Administrative Reform EE Mangindaan, the moratorium would be implemented in a flexible way as recruitment could still be done in certain areas. Examples of types of positions for which exceptions could be made were teachers, lecturers, prison wardens and workers in public services. "It should not happen that a penitentiary has no warden. The number of teachers and lecturers who are retiring is high so that their positions should be refilled," Mangindaan said. Mangindaan said exceptions could also be made in regional governments which had personnel expenditure below 50 percent of the regional budget, yet this also should be carried out selectively. "In essence, the moratorium is part of our bureaucratic reform program aimed at reforming the state institutional or organizational structure," the minister said. Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said the moratorium was expected to reduce the government's personnel expenditure burden. "We will continue to control and keep a watchful eye on personnel expenditure and focus on improving the quality of civil servants. If the required quality and the right corps size are achieved, the productivity of civil servants will automatically increase," Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said. He said the decision would be made so that ministries and institutions, including regional governments, would conduct organizational resizing or restructuring so that it would be able to respond to efforts to control personnel expenditure which increased every year. Data at the Budgetary Directorate General of the Ministry of Finance showed that expenditure for public servants set in the 2011 state budget amounted to Rp180.8 trillion. The figures for civil servants expenditures in the state budget continued to increase from year to year. "We are still in the second year of the bureaucratic reforms program. We are convinced resizing will be carried out and the quality and productivity of each of civil servants will increase," Agus said. The minister expressed hope that the efforts would reduce the swelling of personnel expenditure in the regions which indirectly reduce capital expenditure. After all, the capital expenditure was needed to build based infrastructural means in the regions. For this, the minister will require regional budgets (APBD) to include a 20 percent capital expenditure, if regional governments are willing to increase the allocation of personnel expenditure. "We will recommend a 20 percent capital expenditure of the regional budget. If they could not provide 20 percent, we will recommend them not to raise their personnel expenditure," the minister said. It was also mentioned in the decree that all government institutions and agencies were required to submit strategic plans on civil personnel formation for the coming five years. The strategic plans should have been submitted before December 31, 2011. "If they don't file a strategic plan, they will not be given budget next year," Vice Presidential Spokesman Yopie Hidayat he said following the signing of the joint ministerial decree at the vice presidential office. Earlier, Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said the moratorium which would be imposed beginning in September 2011, would save on regional personnel expenditure. "With the moratorium, more personnel expenditure in the region could be reduced," Hatta said. He said that by imposing the moratorium the government could increase productivity and reduce the potential burden of civil servants. Hatta said moratorium had no aim to personnel budget in the 2012 because the budget had been decided. Yet the budget would be used to pay non regular employees or workers, particularly health and educational workers. "Teachers' pay alone has reached Rp100 trillion because it continues to increase. So admittedly the burden is heavy because teachers' salary continues to increase. Besides imposing a moratorium on recruitment, the government is also considering streamlining the number of civil servants by among others offering an early retirement. "The number of Indonesian civil servants is fairly high and may burden the government's budget to provide salaries, pensions and insurances," Minister Agus said. "This is not only about cost cutting but it is more about increasing the productivity of civil servants," the minister said. The ministry also offered a chance to public servants aged between 50 and 55 years to retire voluntarily. ***3*** |
Selasa, 23 Agustus 2011
IDUL FITRI EXODUS HAS BEGUN
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 23 (ANTARA) - This year's exodus of about 15.5 million post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran travelers bagan this week with its peak expected to take place at the weekend or three days before the Idul Fitri D-Day. The beginning of the exodus was seen on Tuesday at a number of main land routes and points of departure such as Java's northern highway, trans-Sumatra highway, Jakarta's railway station and seaport, the Marak-Bakauheni and Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry ports. The ministry of transportation has predicted that the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 15.5 million people, up 4.17 percent compared with last year's 14.9 million. The number of those coming from Jakarta alone is predicted to reach 7.129 million, up 12.98 percent from last year's. In view of the needs of the home-bound Lebaran trevelers, the government said it had made preparations to ensure that their trips would be comfortable and safe. "Generally all elements are ready to support and smooth the flow of Idul Fitri travelers with adequate infrastructure and transportation means. In fact, it is predicted that the capacity of vehicles will exceed the number of travelers," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said on Tuesday. He said the government had anticipated an increase in the number of travelers this year. For example, the National Police provided a ship to carry passengers using motorcycles. It was expected to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents. Hatta said fuel and gas stock was enough to fulfill vehicles' demand. "Fuel stock is enough to meet national demand for the commodities for 20 to 22 days ahead," said the minister. The minister in his capacity of the general chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) also on Tuesday bode farewell to about 5,000 home-coming Lebaran travelers. The program was organized by PAN. "On the birthday of PAN today, we want to share our happiness with the people, particularly the needy ones so that they will be able to observe the 1432 Indul Fitri festivities with their relatives in their home towns," the PAN Chairman said after bidding a farewell to them here on Tuesday. The 5,000 travelers were grouped in the "Going Home Towns for Free with PAN" program which was organized in connection with the observance of the 13th birthday of PAN on August 23, 2011. Leaving for Java and Sumatra, the travelers were seen off by Hatta at the East Parking Lot of Senayan Sports Complex. Most of the participants in the PAN's "Mudik Gratis Bareng PAN" (going home for free with PAN) program were daily laborers, workers in the informal sector as well as workers or employees at small businesses. The departure of 5,000 travelers on Tuesday just marked the beginning of this week's Idul Fitri exodus. At Gambir Railway Station in Central Jakarta, Lebaran travelers were already seen on Tuesday, though their flow was still normal. The number of passengers leaving Jakarta on the D-Day minus 8 at the railway station totaled 12,900, up from 11,014 on the same day last year. "The number of passengers will surge significantly three days before the Idul Fitri or Lebaran D-Day," Head of Gambir Railway Station Edy Kuswoyo said. Edy said that in order to ease passenger congestion, the Indonesian Railway company (PT KAI) will add five more trains to be operated as August 25, 2011. The additional trains are expected to transport 5,000 to 6,000 additional passengers, he said. He said that the flow of passengers at the Gambir Railway Stations on Monday and Tuesday (D-day minus 10 and minus 8) was still normal. In the meantime, harbor authorities at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta also predicted a surge in the flow passengers. Thus, they will tighten security in anticipation of crimes during the flow of Idul Fitri travelers. Manager of Tanjung Priok Port's Passenger Terminal, Suswibowo, said here on Tuesday that his side had coordinated with security agencies to protect post-fasting Lebaran travelers from crimes at the port. "We will tighten security in the face of Lebaran travelers. Yet we have not maximized the pacification program, because usually, passenger flow peaks on the seven days before the D-Day," he said. While deploying hundreds of security personnel, the port authorities will also provide security means and facilities such as 70 CCTVs, 4 patrol cars, 8 mirror detectors, 4 metal detectors and 4 fire trucks. In the northern Java highways, busy traffic of Lebran travelers was already seen on Tuesday with motorcycles and private cars, including intercity and inter-province bus caravans from Jakarta to Cirebon and Central Java lining up several highway sections. Idul Fitri travelers were also seen on Tuesday at Merak ferry port in the western tip of Java which is linked with Bakauheni port in the eastern part of Sumatra. Merak port's group commandant Fathur said that Idul Fitri passengers who wanted to cross to Sumatra from Java were already seen. "The number of travelers is still normal, no surge was observed today," Fathur said. In the meantime, Bali Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen Totoy Irawan inspected Gilimanuk port which linked Bali Island with Java through Ketapang ferry port in Banyuwangi, East Java. Totoy was briefed at a Lebaran post command with Gilimanuk Police Precinct Chief Adj. Commissioner Eko Kurniawan that Gilimanuk port was ready to serve passengers. Many of police personnel will be deployed at the port gate. "In previous years, vehicles accumulated at the port gate," Eko said. From Gilimanuk, the Bali police chief continued his trip on a ferry to Kepang port in Banyuwangi, East Java. On Tuesday, Idul Fitri travelers in Ketapang were still quiet. Yet, police and officials of the relevant agencies continued to make preparations. Travelers from Kalimantan who want to cross to Java meanwhile will be transported by navy warships if regular ships are overwhelmed with the surge of passengers. In this case, two navy warships have been made ready at Sampit port in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, to anticipate a sharp hike in transport demand ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday. The port administrator, Edi Sumarsono, said here on Tuesday the two navy warships - the KRI Teluk Sampit and KRI Teluk Mandar - would be operated in case of an emergency, namely when the available civilian ships could not accommodate all passengers. The peak of departures from the port is expected to occur four days and one day after the Idul Fitri which falls on August 29.***4*** |
Senin, 22 Agustus 2011
RIOT ON TIAKA ISLAND CLAIMS ONE LIFE
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 22 (ANTARA) - Police shot dead a rioter, injured three and arrested 19 others when an angry mob vandalized the office building, facilities and oil well of an oil consortium on Tiaka Island, Mamosalato, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Monday. The rioting was triggered by the failure of the oil company, a consortium between state-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina and PT Medco E&P Tomori to build public facilities and electricity networks for the locals based on its promise years ago. "The company has promised locals in the past to build public facilities and electricity networks but it has not yet realized it until now," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said. Because the promise was not kept, the local people gathered and vented their discontent by visiting Tiaka Island, one of the company's assets. They were disappointed after they failed to meet the management of the company. "They wanted to negotiate with the boss of the firm but they failed because the boss was still in Jakarta," Dewa said. The angry mob then vandalized the office building and facilities of the company and pelted its oil well with Molotov cocktails that caused it to catch fire. They also took hostage three policemen and a soldier. The angry mob's indiscriminate action forced the apparatuses in the field to fire warning shots before aiming their fire at the rioters, he said. "Thank God, we were able to arrest 19 rioters," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said on the sidelines of a fast-breaking dinner here on Monday evening. He said the 19 rioters were arrested because they acted unlawfully, conducted vandalism and held hostage a number of employees of Pertamina's JOB. The 19 rioters are now being held at the Morowali police headquarters for further questioning and investigation, he said. Police planned to take the 19 rioters to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police Headquarters in Palu city for examinations and investigations. "They are still in Morowali now, but I have ordered my subordinates to take them to Palu so that we can examine and investigate the incident safely and smoothly," the Central Sulawesi police chief said. Suhirman only said that the incident began on Sunday but on Monday afternoon all of a sudden hundreds of people from mainland Mamosalato entered the island by motor boats and began vandalizing the joint oil companies' facilities. "They were armed with machetes, spears, sickles and Molotov cocktails. They then vandalized the company's offices and facilities," he said. In order to protect residents, police evacuated residents from Tiaka Island following the rioting in which angry mobs tried to destroy the oil well. The situation was still tense and Suhirman said he still did not know whether there were casualties in the incident. "Angry mobs pelted the oil well which has a high H2S content with molotov cocktails. If the oil well explodes it will release dangerous poison. Therefore we decided to evacuate local residents who are all employees of the Pertamina-Medco consortium," Suhirman said. Tiaka Island is located in Mamosalato subdistrict, Morowali district, Central Sulawesi province. Suhirman could not provide more details yet because police were still busy evacuating residents. They were evacuated using motor boats with a capacity of about 60 passengers each. In the meantime, ANTARA correspondent reported from neighboring district of Luwuk that the Luwuk General Hospital was alerted to receive patients who had become victims in the rioting in Tiaka. "We have received information that one victim died on his way to the hospital but the body will still be taken to Luwuk for an autopsy," a source who refused to be named said. By 9.30 pm local time, one victim had been admitted to the Luwuk General Hospital. The victim, named Andre M Sondeng (25), was in critical condition and was receiving intensive medical treatment at the hospital, according to the victim's uncle, Rahman. Andre is a resident of Kolo Bawah village, Mamosalato subdistrict. He arrived at the hospital at 21.30 local time after a trip for 4 hours from Mamosalato, Morowali district. Rahman said that the demonstration actually began on Sunday. About 100 residents visited to Tiaka Island by two motorboats. They wanted to meet with the Pertamina-Medco E&P Tomiro Joint Operating Body (JOB) but they failed to meet the company?s management on that day. Therefore, on Monday they came again on two motorboats. They wanted to convey their demand that the firm realize its promise it had made years ago. "I don't know how clashes came about with police who opened fires at the demonstrators," Rahman said. Central Sulawesi Police Chief Dewa Parsana said that his side had dispatched 100 personnel from the mobile brigade police to Morowali district to maintain security in Tiaka Island after the riot. "We have sent 100 Mobile Brigade police from the Luwuk company," Dewa Parsana said.***3*** |
RIOT ON TIAKA ISLAND CLAIMS ONE LIFE
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 22 (ANTARA) - Police shot dead a rioter, injured three and arrested 19 others when an angry mob vandalized the office building, facilities and oil well of an oil consortium on Tiaka Island, Mamosalato, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Monday. The rioting was triggered by the failure of the oil company, a consortium between state-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina and PT Medco E&P Tomori to build public facilities and electricity networks for the locals based on its promise years ago. "The company has promised locals in the past to build public facilities and electricity networks but it has not yet realized it until now," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said. Because the promise was not kept, the local people gathered and vented their discontent by visiting Tiaka Island, one of the company's assets. They were disappointed after they failed to meet the management of the company. "They wanted to negotiate with the boss of the firm but they failed because the boss was still in Jakarta," Dewa said. The angry mob then vandalized the office building and facilities of the company and pelted its oil well with Molotov cocktails that caused it to catch fire. They also took hostage three policemen and a soldier. The angry mob's indiscriminate action forced the apparatuses in the field to fire warning shots before aiming their fire at the rioters, he said. "Thank God, we were able to arrest 19 rioters," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said on the sidelines of a fast-breaking dinner here on Monday evening. He said the 19 rioters were arrested because they acted unlawfully, conducted vandalism and held hostage a number of employees of Pertamina's JOB. The 19 rioters are now being held at the Morowali police headquarters for further questioning and investigation, he said. Police planned to take the 19 rioters to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police Headquarters in Palu city for examinations and investigations. "They are still in Morowali now, but I have ordered my subordinates to take them to Palu so that we can examine and investigate the incident safely and smoothly," the Central Sulawesi police chief said. Suhirman only said that the incident began on Sunday but on Monday afternoon all of a sudden hundreds of people from mainland Mamosalato entered the island by motor boats and began vandalizing the joint oil companies' facilities. "They were armed with machetes, spears, sickles and Molotov cocktails. They then vandalized the company's offices and facilities," he said. In order to protect residents, police evacuated residents from Tiaka Island following the rioting in which angry mobs tried to destroy the oil well. The situation was still tense and Suhirman said he still did not know whether there were casualties in the incident. "Angry mobs pelted the oil well which has a high H2S content with molotov cocktails. If the oil well explodes it will release dangerous poison. Therefore we decided to evacuate local residents who are all employees of the Pertamina-Medco consortium," Suhirman said. Tiaka Island is located in Mamosalato subdistrict, Morowali district, Central Sulawesi province. Suhirman could not provide more details yet because police were still busy evacuating residents. They were evacuated using motor boats with a capacity of about 60 passengers each. In the meantime, ANTARA correspondent reported from neighboring district of Luwuk that the Luwuk General Hospital was alerted to receive patients who had become victims in the rioting in Tiaka. "We have received information that one victim died on his way to the hospital but the body will still be taken to Luwuk for an autopsy," a source who refused to be named said. By 9.30 pm local time, one victim had been admitted to the Luwuk General Hospital. The victim, named Andre M Sondeng (25), was in critical condition and was receiving intensive medical treatment at the hospital, according to the victim's uncle, Rahman. Andre is a resident of Kolo Bawah village, Mamosalato subdistrict. He arrived at the hospital at 21.30 local time after a trip for 4 hours from Mamosalato, Morowali district. Rahman said that the demonstration actually began on Sunday. About 100 residents visited to Tiaka Island by two motorboats. They wanted to meet with the Pertamina-Medco E&P Tomiro Joint Operating Body (JOB) but they failed to meet the company?s management on that day. Therefore, on Monday they came again on two motorboats. They wanted to convey their demand that the firm realize its promise it had made years ago. "I don't know how clashes came about with police who opened fires at the demonstrators," Rahman said. Central Sulawesi Police Chief Dewa Parsana said that his side had dispatched 100 personnel from the mobile brigade police to Morowali district to maintain security in Tiaka Island after the riot. "We have sent 100 Mobile Brigade police from the Luwuk company," Dewa Parsana said.***3*** |
Minggu, 21 Agustus 2011
GOVT READY TO FACE IDUL FITRI EXODUS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 21 (ANTARA) - The government has prepared different transportation means, services and security measures to facilitate the flow of an estimated 15.5 million post-fasting month Idul Fitri home-bound travelers this week. The exodus of home-bound travelers has been an annual event in Indonesia where Muslims flock to their home towns to have family reunions and celebrate the post-fasting month Idul Fitri or Lebaran festivities. As the number of this year's Idul Fitri travelers is estimated to increase 4.17 percent from that of last year's 14.9 million, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on related officials to increase services for the travelers. The president made the appeal as early as two days before the start of the fasting month. He ordered the provision of supporting facilities and infrastructures to smooth the journeys of home-bound travelers. "As of now, everything has to be prepared because traveling home is the community's annual tradition. The home-bound trips (locally known as "mudik") were very good because the people could meet friends and relatives," the president said. In the face of next week's exodus peak (the Ramadhan fasting month is expected to end on August 29 or 30), State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Mustafa Abubakar gathered on Sunday with directors of state-owned companies which were operating in the transportation sector to ascertain the readiness. Among SOEs whose directors were summoned by the minister included those of the national flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia (airlines), PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (inland waterways transportation service), shipping companies PT Pelni, railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia, airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, road construction company PT Jasa Marga and state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina. The directors of each of the state firms made an expose to the minister on their readiness to face the Idul Fitri travelers. "It seems that everything has been well prepared. The state-owned firms are now ready based on their respective fields," the minister said. According to the ministry of transportation, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year (2011) is estimated at 15.5 million people, up 4.17 percent compared with last year's 14.9 million. Travelers going home from Jakarta alone are predicted to reach 7.129 million, up 12.98 percent from last year's. Mustafa said all modes of land, air and sea transportation had now been made ready to provide their best services to the people, including their readiness to provide security measures and comfortable trips. This is in line with President Yudhoyono's instruction to all government institutions having links with transportation to provide better services for home-bound travelers to celebrate Idul Fitri. "PT Kreta Api (railway company) will increase the number of its train carriages to anticipate an increase in the number of passengers, ASDP has raised the number of its ferries at Merak-Bakauheni ports for travelers to cross the Sunda Strait from Java to Sumatra island or from Sumatra to Java, while Garuda will increase its seating capacity," Mustafa said. President Director of PT Kereta Api Ignasius Jonan said his firm would increase the number of coaches to anticipate the surge in the number of passengers, particularly during the peak of travelers' flow which was expected to take place three days before and two days after the Idul Fitri. However, the state-owned railway company was not expected to increase the number of its locomotives in the face of the 2011 Lebaran festivities. In the meantime, ASDP President Director Danang S Baskoro said his company was preparing 40 ferries, including 28 ships operated during last year's Lebaran. "ASDP will operate 10 ferries while private operators will deploy 30 ships," Danang said. The flow of Idul Fitri travelers at Merak port of Banten are expected to peak on August 26, 2011 four days before D-Day. "We have predicted the flow of Idul Fitri travelers at Merak ferry port will peak four days before D-Day," Irwansyah, head of the Merak Integrated Terminal (TTM), said. "The peak will happen four days before D-Day this year because government agencies and companies will begin to grant holiday leaves for their employees four days before D-Day," he said. In the meantime, President Director of the national flag carrier Garuda Emirsyah Satar predicted that the number of air passengers this year would increase by 25 percent compared with that on regular days. "We will add 99 extra flights beginning seven days before and seven days after D-Day," he said. To ensure the availability of fuel needed by vehicles, the Pertamina management assured that fuel oil stocks for supply such as premium gasoline, diesel oil and avtur (aircraft fuel) had exceeded the minimum requirement set for Lebaran to face the surge of passengers in all modes of transportation. In Java for example, stocks for supplies during the festivities are adequate. "Supplies will be secured. We have prepared the supplies startin three months ago," Pertamina General Affairs Manager for Refinery Unit (RU) IV in Cilacap, Central Java, Sutarno, said. For travelers' security, police have guaranteed the safety and security of this year's Lebaran holiday travelers because they become the priority of traffic police, the police chief said. "The security of holiday travelers is our priority and therefore we have made various anticipations of possible security disturbances against them," National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo Timur Pradopo said. In order to assure the readiness of all state-owned transportation firms, Minister Mustafa Abubakar pledged to conduct inspections on their services in critical areas during the Idul Fitri exodus. "I will observe it on the spots to see the services and facilities. Therefore I have not disclosed places where I will conduct on the spot inspections," he added.***5*** |
Sabtu, 20 Agustus 2011
MORE BUDGET EXPECTED TO REMOVE DEVELOPMENT BOTTLENECKS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 18 (ANTARA) - Increased budget on infrastructure is expected to be absorbed effectively to remove the bottlenecks in the infrastructure development and to enhance inter-regional connectivity so that the country's economy could grow well. "The capital expenditure allocation for infrastructure must be used effectively. The infrastructures that we build must have economic functions," economic observer Enny Sri Hartati of the Indef said. Enny made the statement in response to an increased budget of Rp168.1 trillion allocated for infrastructure development in the 2012 draft state budget President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono unveiled on Tuesday. The amounts of budget for infrastructure have continued to increase every year but the use of the funds for development and maintenance of infrastructures was still low. The absorption of the funds so far was not yet running effectively because the government tended to build and reconstruct physical facilities such as government buildings which had no economic functions. "Infrastructure expenditures must be used mainly to eliminate bottlenecks and improve connectivity between cities and villages, food resilience and people's prosperity," she said. In his state-of-the-nation address before the parliament on Tuesday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government had set Rp168.1 trillion capital expenditure in the 2012 Draft State Budget for the development of infrastructure, including energy, food resilience and communications infrastructure. "We design the increase in the capital expenditure for supporting infrastructure development, including energy, food resilience and communications infrastructure," the President said. He said that infrastructure expenditures must be increased in order to overcome bottleneck in infrastructure and develop domestic inter-connectivity, food resilience, energy resilience and people's prosperity. Infrastructure is one of the nine main targets of the state expenditures the president mentioned in his state address. For this, the president has promised to increase expenditure budget on infrastructure. "We will aim expenditures at achieving nine main targets namely expenditure on infrastructure," President Yudhoyono said. He said, in the 2012 Draft Stage Budget, the allocation of capital expenditure for infrastructure was set at Rp168.1 trillion, up Rp27.2 trillion or 19.3 percent from the 2011 revised state budget. Budget for infrastructure has continued to increase every year. In 2010, the budget for it was set at Rp108 trillion, and it was increased to Rp140.9 trillion in the 2011 revised state budget. According to President Yudhoyono the budget for infrastructure in 2012 amounting to Rp168.1 trillion will be used to develop various infrastructure projects such as railways, airports, roads and bridges. With that budget, the government is planning to increase the country's inter-regional connectivity so that the capital expenditure was planned among others to build railways networks with a total length of 150 km, rehabilitate 116 airports, build 14 new airports in various places in the country. "We will keep a balance in the development of even infrastructure in various parts of Indonesia," the president said. In order to overcome infrastructure's bottleneck and increase the inter-regional connectivity, the government is planning to use the capital expenditure budget to upgrade and construct new roads with a combined total length of 4,005 km. Besides, the government would repair, preserve and maintain 36,319 km of roads, build 7,682 meters of new bridges while maintaining 217,076 meters of bridges throughout the country. According to Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, investment in the infrastructural sector in the 2010 - 2014 period is estimated at Rp1,400 trillion. However, the government is only able to finance 30 percent of the needed investment. The government will accelerate the realization of as part of its efforts to integrate the country's six economic growth corridors, to offset inflation and boost finished goods exports. If the best scenario is implemented, the Indonesian economy could grow by 7.1 percent to 7.6 percent during the 2011 - 2014 periods. It even has the potential to reach 8 percent in accordance with expectation if infrastructure is improved. "If the participation of the private sector in the development of infrastructure could reach 50 percent of the needed investment, and the government increases its spending for transportation infrastructure to 20 percent, the matter (8 percent growth) could be reached," Fauzi Ichsan, senior economist of Standard Chartered Bank, said recently. He said that toll roads, electricity plants and ports were among the infrastructure facilities that needed to be improved. After all, the development of infrastructure in the last decade had run very slowly and depended on the government budget. In this case, the government hoped that the private sector is expected to take part in the development of infrastructure. According to Vice Minister for Financial Affairs Anny Ratnawati investment in the infrastructure sector would be carried out through a partnership program. "Investment in the infrastructure sector would be carried out through a government-private sector partnership program," the vice minister said once said.***5*** |
NAZARUDDIN WON'T 'SPEAK UP'
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 20 (ANTARA) - The public cannot expect too much in terms of disclosure of other corruption cases if graft suspect Nazaruddin remains silent and continues to claim he has forgotten all the statements he made when he was on the run overseas. Nazaruddin, who is a former treasurer of the ruling Democrat Party (PD), said on Thursday he had forgotten all things relating to his statements overseas and promised not to disclose anything that would smear the image of the PD if his wife and children were protected. According to House Speaker Marzuki Alie who is also former secretary general of the Democrat Party, Nazaruddin had the right to remain silent or speak up. "Nazaruddin, although he is a suspect, has rights. Whether he wants to speak up or remain silent, it's his right, and we should respect it," Marzuki Alie. During TV interviews while on the run abroad, Nazaruddin, who is a corruption suspect linked to the construction of an athlete village in South Sumatra, accused several PD leaders, including chairman Anas Urbanigrum, of involvement in corruption. He also mentioned that the tender winners of the Hambalang athlete training center project in Bogor, West Java, where a firm belonging to Anas was also involved, had been arranged even before the tenders were called for. Yet, his statements on Thursday that he had forgotten what he had said during his hiding abroad, would not eliminate public suspicions, even though he did not make any account of the other cases in court. Secretary General of the Indonesian Advocates Association (AAI) Jhonson Panjaitan said Nazaruddin, who is also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), would not disclose corruption cases other than that linked to the SEA Games athlete village project in Palembang, South Sumatra. "Nazaruddin stressed he would not reveal other cases," Jhonson said. Therefore, Jhonson suggested that the public should not hope too much that there would be many other cases which would be uncovered in connection with the arrest of Nazaruddin. Nazaruddin was arrested in Cartagena, Colombia, last week and was flown to Indonesia on Saturday after he was hiding in foreign countries for more than two months. He fled to Singapore a day before he was banned to travel abroad by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on May 23, 2011. The KPK has said that Nazaruddin allegedly played roles in different graft cases involving 35 government projects in several ministries, worth a total of Rp6.037 trillion. When he was on the run, Nazaruddin during the TV interviews was firm in stating the involvement of several figures in corruption cases but during his first examination by the KPK on Thursday he showed a very different attitude. Jhonson believed the change in the attitude of Nazaruddin was due to his concern on the safety of his wife, Neneng Sriwahyuni. "Nazaruddin was suffering from depression because his wife was trapped in the mafia," Jhonson said. He said the matter was indicated in Nazaruddin's remarks at the KPK building. Nazaruddin expressed briefly his request that his family should be protected. Only several hours after he was grilled by the KPK, he pleaded guilty and asked that he be punished right away. Nazaruddin claimed he had already forgotten all things relating to the statements he had made during his travels as a fugitive abroad. "Don't harm my wife and children. I have forgotten all things. I admit I have made mistakes. If need be, I can be punished right away, no need to be investigated," he said. Bambang Soesatyo, a member of Law Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) said the public believed Nazaruddin was not alone in the corrupt acts he is accused of. "Therefore, we hope the KPK can uncover what has really happened in connection with Nazaruddin's decision to shut his mouth and his readiness to sacrifice himself in the case," the legislator from the Golkar Party said. Nazaruddin's lawyer, OC Kaligis, had said that Nazaruddin planned to keep silent during the investigation by KPK. "His lawyer has also said that he had expressed readiness to sacrifice himself in exchange for the safety of his wife and children," Soesatyo said. In view of the situation he said there was no reason for KPK for not unveiling a possible conspiracy behind Nazaruddin's case. "I reaffirm that the public hopes very much that the KPK will be able to unveil what has really happened," he said. OC Kaligis said his client had been under pressure and for this reason Nazaruddin had asked to be moved from the detention cell of the Mobile Police Headquarters (Mako) in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, to the Cipinang Penitentiary in east Jakarta. "The first questioning has been completed. He asked to be moved to Cipinang so that he could feel free for examinations," OC Kaligis said. Yet police said Nazaruddin was not under any pressure while at Mako's detention. "Prisoners at the Mobile Brigade Headquarters are not under pressure because we protect their human rights," National Police Headquarters' spokesman Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam said. Earlier, Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar also assured the public that graft suspect Nazaruddin was not under any kind of pressure because if he was, he would no doubt have spoken out about it.***3*** |
Selasa, 16 Agustus 2011
RI CAN SERVE AS WORLD HALAL CERTIFICATION CENTER
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Aug 15 (ANTARA) - Indonesia, as the world'a largest Muslim country with a population of about 237.6 million, can serve as a world certification center for halal goods in line with the increasing popularity of halal products among both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers. "Indonesia can become (a world center) because we have universities such as the Bogor-based Agriculture Institute (IPB) which have centers for halal (consumable under Islamic law) goods. Indonesia also has many experts in this field," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said over the weekend. According Lukmanul Hakim, Head of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)'s Food, Drug and Cosmetics Research Institute (LPPOM), at least 41 foreign food certification agencies have set their halal food standards based on inputs from the LPPOM. Among the 41 agencies were those of a number of ASEAN member countries, Canada, England, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Japan and the US, Lukmanul Hakim said recently. "We try to make Indonesian halal certification applicable internationally. Our concept has been submitted to a World Halal Council (WHC) meeting and received a positive response," said Lumanul who is also the WHC's secretary general at a workshop to mark LPPOM-MUI's 22nd anniversary. Thus, Indonesia can become a world certification center for halal products because non-Muslim consumers have also begun to like halal goods, Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said. At present, 20 percent of the world's food products have been included as halal goods while in the national scale demand for halal goods continues to increase from year to year, from 72 percent in 2009 to 92 percent in 2010. "We have to be serious to transform Indonesia as the world center for halal products, both as center for halal certification and as halal products. The government is providing its support for the MUI and LPPOM," said Hatta. He said that halal certification could also create assurances in the world that halal products had better quality. Hatta who visited a Halal Business and Food Expo said that Indonesia as the world's predominantly Muslim country could serve as the world's halal certification center. "One should not forget that halal goods are liked not only by Muslims but also by non-Muslims," the minister added. Halal labels would help consumers make correct choices of various good quality products such as food, drink and cosmetics and avoid doubted products. "Standards of excellence of halal goods must be in uniform. Standards should not vary which could be questioned by consumers," the minister said. Yet, Lukmanul Hakim expressed concern because the number of goods that had been certified in Indonesia was still small. Certified goods only account for 36.73 percent of the 113,515 registered goods, or only about 41,695 food, medicines and cosmetics products circulating in Indonesia have been certified. Lukmanul Hakim said Indonesia might need to change the voluntary principle to Mandatory one in the process of certifying products in the country. This one of the effort that could be made to increase the number of certified goods with halal labels in the country. After all, he said, the demand for halal goods in the country had increased significantly to 92.2 percent. "So, the figure of goods already certified is still small. The 36.73 percent can become smaller if the 2.5 million household industrial products are taken into account," Lukmanul Hakim. Meanwhile, MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said almost all food certification agencies in the world had adopted the practice or seeking LPPOM-MUI's endorsement of the halal status of food or beverage products intended for export to Islamic countries. Ma'ruf said MUI halal standards did not allow the presence of ingredients that were haram (forbidden) in food or beverage products , for example, pig body parts in gelatin, salts and other things, he said. "German institutions did not use the halal concept before, where salt pork is used to be considered as halal to be put in any food. But since they want to be approved by Indonesia, so they follow the standard of halal from MUI," he explained. A number of foreign halal experts had learned about halal food in Indonesia thus showing that LPPOM MUI had gone international, he said. Lukamanul Hakim said Indonesia as a country with a large number of Muslims was a potential market for food and cosmetic products. Therefore, halal certification was needed to protect Muslim consumers. Certification would also strengthen national products in facing the free trade era. Lukmanul said Indonesia was among the first countries in the world that had made a basic halal security system. He said so far Indonesia's halal standards, set by LPPOM MUI, had been acknowledged by 43 foreign institutions in 22 countries, including the US, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and the Netherlands. In order to promote certified and halal goods, the Cosmetic and Food Research Division of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) held a Halal Business and Food Expo here over the weekend. "The exhibition is designed to increase awareness among Indonesian Muslims about the importance of halal food certification," Director of LPPOM MUI Lukmanul Hakim said.***5*** |