| Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - Many have expressed objections to Vice President Boediono's call for regulation of the use of loudspeakers at mosques during azan. "I object to the Vice President's statement. It is not appropriate for him to make a statement on that matter during a national congress of the Indonesian Council of Mosques (DMI)," Ali Muhtar Ngabalin of the Indonesian Mosque Youths Organization said. Boediono had asked the DMI on Friday to start discussing about a possible regulation on the use of loudspeakers at mosques. "We fully understand that azan is a holy call for Muslims to fulfil their obligation to pray," he said during the opening of the 6th congress of the council. Boediono added that soft calls to prayer were felt much stronger in the heart than loud and noisy sounds. He said that the holy Quran taught people to lower their voices while praying to God for guidance. Boediono noted that the Quran also taught Muslims to lower their voice and pride when praying for God's leadership and directives. He said it was God's order that mosques, as holy places for conducting prayers, must set an example in cleanliness. "We have all heard or read about the Prophet's well-known Hadith that cleanliness is part of faith. Every Muslim is required to maintain his or her cleanliness, as well as that of the environment," Boediono added. However, Ngabalin said that the Vice President should only discuss about such things in other forums. "That was no time for such talks. I do not agree with it and he should have done it personally if he was disturbed by the amplified azan sound through the loudspeakers," he added. Ngabalin, who is also a Golkar Party politician, said he was surprised with Boediono's speech but hoped that it would not create any serious problem. Anwar Sujana, a religious scholar of Jakarta's old Sunda Kelapa Mosque, said it was not appropriate for a leader to make such a controversial statement. "The Vice President's statement is more political in nature; it's not a statement regarding religion. Muslims should disregard it. Just consider it as an effort to avert a political issue," he was quoted by Republika.Co.Id website as saying. However, Anwar called on the media to not blow up the issue because he said it could make things worse and have a negative impact on the society. "The Indonesian Muslims have their own agenda in empowering the community. So, the Vice President has no right to make a joke like that," he stated. Mutawakkil Alallah, the chairman of Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) for East Java branch, said that Boediono's call for regulation of the use of loudspeakers at mosques could trigger conflict in society. He said that the Vice President made the statement as if he did not know about regulations on the establishment of worship houses in Indonesia. According to Alallah, the establishment of any worship house must first be approved by the relevant local community. If the nearby residents oppose the idea, a house of worship cannot be erected. If the house of worship is already established, residents around the place must show tolerance towards the religious activities conducted at the place. "The Vice President's remarks could provoke the outbreak of a horizontal conflict," he said. Boediono's controversial statement did not just elicit negative responses; there were some positive ones, too. "We should have mutual understanding. There is a communal prayer interest and the interest of residents living around. People have different interests," religious scholar Hasyim Muzadi, former general chairman of Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization, was quoted by Detiknews as saying. He said there was nothing wrong with Boediono's call for regulating the use of loudspeakers at mosques, adding that the interests of religion and the public must go hand in hand. "The prophet has said that loud voices during zikr [conveying praise to God] are not desirable. It should not disturb people who are sleeping. But for azan, a loud voice is recommended because it is aimed at calling Muslims, including those living afar, to say their prayers," Hasyim explained. He said that except during azan, the volume of loudspeakers must be turned down or be kept at a level that would not disturb residents. "What often becomes a problem is that sometimes it is too noisy and disturbing even if it is not azan," Hasyim added.***3*** |
Senin, 30 April 2012
VP'S REMARKS ON MOSQUE LOUDSPEAKERS DRAW CRITICISM
GOVT HOPES FOR PEACEFUL LABOUR RALLIES
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - The government hopes that the rallies which are to be held by about 170,000 workers throughout the country to observe International May Day on Tuesday will be conducted in a peace and orderly manner without any lawless or anarchic acts. "In principle, the government hails and supports the observance of the international workers' solidarity day (May Day). I hope the celebrations will be held in a conducive situation like that in previous years," said Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar. The minister called on workers and employers to work together so as to celebrate May Day through various positive activities. "Let's use the May Day celebrations as a momentum to increase prosperity and work productivity. The May Day spirit is expected to become a main driver so that the government, businessmen and workers would cooperate in increasing workers' prosperity," he added. According to the ministry¿s records, until the end of 2011, there were 6 confederations of workers' associations/labour unions (SP/SB); 91 SP/SB federations; 11,852 SP/SB in private companies and 170 SP/SB in state firms. In Indonesia, the total number of SP/SB members amounts to 3.4 million people. According to Media Indonesia, about 170,000 workers throughout Indonesia are expected to participate in street rallies to celebrate May Day on Tuesday. In Jakarta and its buffer zone areas, about 15,000 people from 8 labour federations are expected to hold rallies. The plan is to undertake a long march from the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle to the Proclamation Monument. During the rallies, the workers will present four-point demands outlining their rejection of the government workers' outsourcing system and demanding that the government eliminate corruption in bureaucracies, nip the labour-judiciary mafia in the bud and grant reasonable payment to workers. "The absence of these four points has, so far, clearly robbed workers of their rights," remarked Bambang Eka, the president of the Labour Working Group. He stated that the contract-work practices imposed on outsourced workers obviously robbed workers of their right to a livelihood. "There is no work certainty and no severance pay, which causes workers to become poorer and poorer," Bambang added. According to Sofjan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Businessmen Association (Apindo), labour conditions in Indonesia, particularly in the informal sector, are quite distressing. "The conditions of workers in the informal sector, which absorbs some 70 percent of workers, are quite saddening. Their fate must be improved," he stressed. After all, workers are a nation's assets. Their contribution to the national development is huge and has been proved to support national economic development. Nevertheless, the public perception still is that the workers' conditions in the country are bad and need to be improved. Daily Kompas pointed out in its poll that the public still views worker welfare and legal protection for workers as a matter of concern. Over three-fourths of the respondents believed that the payment granted to workers was not enough to meet their basic needs. In the meantime, employers, in the eyes of the public, are still reluctant to pay workers reasonably because they are more interested in accumulating profits. Though this is seen as a classical problem, there have been no significant efforts so far to improve worker conditions. According to the public perception, the government does little to provide legal protection to workers. Therefore, the poll revealed that the public would encourage the government to improve four aspects of the situation, namely, social insurance, worker status, labour disputes, and discrimination between local workers and expatriates. Regarding the legal issues, Rulita Wijayaningdyah of the Indonesian Forestry and Wood Workers Union (SP Kahutindo) was quoted by the Jakarta Globe as admitting that many cases were stalled in the court and remained unresolved because of appeals, in addition to the cases that "we have lost." "The regulations are positive, but there is a problem with implementing them," she pointed out. She declared that for May Day, SP Kahutindo intended to mobilize some 10,000 workers to participate in demonstrations across the country and join rallies demanding the full recognition of outsourced workers' rights, along with higher minimum wages. In anticipation of the demonstration on Tuesday, Jakarta police spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto stated that Jakarta would deploy some 16,000 security personnel to keep demonstrations under control. "We have received notifications from several unions and groups who intend to take part in the rallies. We estimate that there will be some 50,000 demonstrators coming from all over Jakarta," the Jakarta Globe quoted Rikwanto as saying. Meanwhile, the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration expressed hopes that workers as well as employers would observe the May Day rallies through positive activities such as participating in social service, seminars and sports activities. "Observe May Day this year through social service and other peaceful activities. If you want to stage demonstrations, you should do it in a peaceful and orderly manner," the minister added.***3*** |
Jumat, 27 April 2012
HEALTH PROGRAMMES MUST GO ON EVEN WITHOUT MINISTER
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 27 (ANTARA) - The resignation of ailing health minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih should not hamper the health ministry in implementing its programmes, including its plan to build hospitals for the poor under a social security provider scheme. "The health ministry's agenda must proceed with the system. Moreover, there is a deputy health minister who can take over the duties and there are director generals who are responsible for the implementation of priority programmes," said legislator Zuber Safawi of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission IX for health affairs. If the system is running well, the government's programmes at the ministry should not necessarily be hampered by the absence of a minister. "We acknowledge that the strategic leadership position at the ministry has been disturbed, yet the programmes must go on ¿ particularly the ones relating to management of health services, promotion of health, and prevention of diseases, which are now being intensified by the health ministry," he stated. Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih resigned on Thursday on health grounds in order to undergo a lung cancer treatment. The 57-year-old minister has undergone a variety of medical treatment, including radiotherapy and cryosurgery at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM). Appointed as the health minister in 2009, Endang was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer last October and was admitted to the RSCM last week. "The latest working meeting we had with the minister was last January, to discuss the progress in work and performance of the ministry of health. She looked healthy. We hope she recovers soon," Zuber said. RSCM President Director Akmal Taher said on Thursday that Endang was still fully conscious and was able to communicate well. "She is treated while being in a fully conscious condition. We are still conducting several examinations," Akmal told the press. He said Endang had been undergoing medical rehabilitation and physiotherapy for three weeks. "Her condition has not yet improved from last week, but it does not mean that she is getting worse. She can still communicate well," Akmal added. The team handling Endang's health comprises five to six doctors from RSCM, Dharmais Hospital, and the Army Hospital RSPAD. They are intensively monitoring her health, but for the sake of confidentiality, Akmal said, they would not reveal the stage of the disease. The team also coordinated with doctors who handled Endang's health in China sometime ago. The minister has no plans yet to go overseas for treatment. Earlier, Deputy Health Minister Ali Ghufron had stated that the minister was still undergoing treatment for cancer. "She is undergoing medical treatment. Sometimes [her condition] is stable, but sometimes it drops. I do not know her exact condition, but I heard she was suffering from a fourth-stage cancer. The matter is known to the public," Ali said. On Thursday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono, and two other ministers ¿ Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection Linda Amalia Sari and Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu ¿ visited Endang at Cipto Mangunkusomo hospital. After visited Endang at the hospital, the President revealed that she had tendered her resignation. He said that Endang expressed a desire to resign from her ministerial post because her health conditions hampered her ability to fulfil her duties as a minister. "She told me that she wanted to resign and I was moved to hear it," the President informed the press. According to media reports, President Yudhoyono has accepted the resignation. He stated that he respected the minister's wishes, but he was hopeful of her recovery. "I have to respect [her decision] and I approved her resignation," the President was quoted by the Jakarta Globe as saying. President Yudhoyono said that Endang decided to resign so she could concentrate on treating her illness and allow the ministry to function without the distraction of an absent minister. The President added that Endang had fulfilled her duties well so far, and when he visited places with her, the health minister always worked hard. "She worked well days and nights," he added. President Yudhoyono has appointed Ali to temporarily fill the vacant post. "For the time being, the duties of the minister will be carried out by the deputy health minister and by the relevant officials," he said. |
Senin, 23 April 2012
RI RACING AGAINST TIME TO MEET MDG TARGETS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 23 (ANTARA) - Indonesia, one of the 189 countries that declared in 2000 their commitment to achieving eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015, is still falling behind its targets in certain areas. "Achieving the MDG by 2015 concerns the nation's dignity in the international arena," Vice President Boediono told the National Consolidation of Indonesian Parliament's Women's Caucus over the weekend. Along with Indonesia, 189 nations made a promise to free people from extreme poverty and multiple deprivations. This pledge comprised the eight MDG to be achieved by 2015. The aim of the MDG is to encourage development by improving social and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries and to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce children mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other disease; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership in development. However, the country has fallen behind in finishing three targets of the MDG 2015, including maternal mortality rates, HIV/AIDS eradication programmes, and access to drinking water and basic sanitation. Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said recently that Indonesia had to catch up on its MDG targets in the coming three years. She noted that of the eight goals, five were in the health sector. "We have to work hard to achieve the targets in the coming three years. We should not work as if it were business as usual. Innovation, breakthrough, and focus must be made on priority activities," Endang was quoted on the official website of the Health Services of the East Kalimantan Province. She acknowledged that Indonesia still had to work hard to lower the mortality rate of mothers during labour to 120 per 100,000 live births. The Indonesian Basic Health Survey (SDKI) 2007 results showed that mothers' mortality rate reached 228 per 100,000 per live births, higher than the MDG target of 161 per live births in 2015. The same case is also true for the mortality rate of children less than five years old (Balita). Last year, the mortality rate of infants aged 0-11 months was about 34 per 1,000 live births, higher than the MDG target of 23 per 1,000 live births. But Endang stated that Indonesia's efforts to reduce the mortality rate of Balita to two-thirds from the 1990 conditions were on track. "The death rates of infants and Balitas have continued to decline," she argued. However, the minister said that neonatal mortality rate needed attention. "Neonatal mortality rate tends to be stagnant. Nutritional intake and infection are two significant factors affecting the life of infants. Research showed in 2007 that 36 percent of infant deaths were caused by neonatal problems, 17.2 percent by diarrhoea, and 13.2 percent by pneumonia," she added. With regard to other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, the country still faces hurdles to stopping their spread and reducing the number of cases. Particularly with respect to HIV/AIDS, the government is very concerned because the number of carriers is still high, reaching 200,000 in 2011. World leaders have been committed to halt this killer disease by 2015 and to begin reversing its spread. Yet, the number of cases worldwide has continued to increase. In 2009, for example, 33.3 million people were living with HIV. The same year, some 2.6 million people became newly infected and 1.8 million died of AIDS, including 260,000 children. According to Endang, HIV/AIDS has spread further in the country because people in the high-risk group still lack knowledge about the virus. She said that they must increase their knowledge about HIV/AIDS, adding that people in risk group, such as sex workers, should be well-informed about the use of condoms. Therefore, the government has to provide accurate information on how to overcome the spread of HIV/AIDS disease, give treatment to HIV/AIDS carriers, and reduce narcotics abuse which could have impact on the spread of the disease. For this, Vice President Boediono, on the occasion of World HIV/AIDS Day last November, expressed hope that all parties, including businesses, non-governmental organizations, workers, and the people in general, must take active part in the fight to eliminate the disease. He said that the government was now active in fighting HIV/AIDS, which was one of the main MDG goals in the health sector. "Let us safeguard the MDG goals in the health sector in our country and renew our commitment to the achievement," he added. ***3*** |
Jumat, 20 April 2012
BUFFER STOCK FOR RAW RATTAN NEEDED
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 20 (ANTARA) - A buffer stock, such as the state logistics board (Bulog) which collects rice, is needed to accommodate farmers' raw rattan and to ensure stocks for rattan-based manufacturing industries. Rattan stocks have become a problem that has 'pit' rattan farmers and rattan-based industries against each other over the past few years. When the government allowed the exporting of raw rattan based upon a trade minister's decree in 2009, rattan-based manufacturing industries complained of shortages of raw materials. An executive of the Indonesian Association of Handicraft and Furniture Industry, Asmindo, said last year that before the regulation was introduced in 2009, rattan-based product exports could reach 3,000 containers per month. But following the decree it dropped to 700 containers. So last year the government banned the exporting of raw rattan. Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said the reason for the export ban was to maintain the country's rattan industry and forest resources, increase exports of rattan-made products, as well as to prevent raw rattan smuggling. After the imposition of the ban, however, rattan farmers complained that local rattan furniture industries could not absorb all of their raw rattan products. Thus, rattan farmers collected rattan only based on demand at home. This often cause shortage of supplies. The Indonesian Association of Handicraft and Furniture Industry has asked the government to create a rattan buffer stock to overcome raw material problems. A buffer stock could help farmers by accommodating their rattan, while industries could be ensured raw material supplies from the stocks. "Rattan furniture industries in the region are facing difficulties in finding raw materials. Raw rattan exports are not allowed, so rattan collectors only gather rattan based on demand at home. This causes the industry to lack raw rattan," Asmindo Chairman Ambar Tjahyono noted. Tjahjono said he hoped the government would set up a buffer stock agency, such as the logistics board, or 'bulog', to collect rattan from farmers and sell it to local industries. But, instead of creating a buffer stock, the trade ministry opted to ask farmers to store their raw rattan in warehouses where they could receive warehouse receipts to assist them with their financing problems. "The government has the instrument to help farmers and collectors obtain funds through providing warehouse receipts, but newly cut rattan could not be put in the warehouse before it was first processed to have its quality improved," Mardjoko, the director general of external trade affairs of the ministry of trade, said on Friday. The director general responded to a proposal by the Indonesian Handicraft and Furniture Industry Association (Asmindo) that a buffer stock should be formed to accommodate the farmers' rattan. Asmindo asked for the establishment of buffer stocks in an effort to overcome the problem of shortages of raw rattan material. Observers noted that they should not merely provide warehouses where farmers could store their raw rattan and obtain warehouse receipts. Mardjoko said that the establishment of a buffer stock would need a large amount of funds. "The government will need a large fund to establish a buffer stock. We cannot immediately have funds to form a buffer stock because we should first propose it through the state budget. Deliberations of a state budget draft at the ministry of trade, the ministry of finance and the House of Representatives (DPR) will take a long time," Mardjoko explained. Regarding the funds for establishing a buffer stock, Ambar Tjahoyono said it was not a significant problem. "The budget needed to set up a buffer stock is only about Rp75 billion, and that amount is not something big. We are ready to bear some of such a fund. The important thing is that industry would not face difficulties in obtaining raw materials," Ambar said. He noted that the government should provide concrete action for upstream industries, so that downstream industries would also develop well. "Actually, Asmindo supported the ban of raw rattan, but the government must apply a new strategy so that industries would not run short of raw materials," he asserted. Asmindo has proposed to the DPR's Commission VI on industry and trade affairs the establishment of the buffer stock. It should be set up in Java because downstream industries are mostly operating in Java, he noted. It seems, however, that the government is offering the warehouse scheme, or even setting up cooperatives. For this, the trade ministry is planning to form cooperatives in the regions that would function as a collecting agency and provide financing for farmers. Head of Goods and Services Market of the Future Commodity Trade Supervision of the Trade Ministry, Ismadjaja Toengkagie, said cooperatives in the regions would be established to purchase farmers' raw rattan. Rattan will have its quality upgraded at the cooperatives before it is stored at warehouses. Ismadjaja Toengkagie said commodities that deserve warehouse receipts were those that met five requirements. "First, durable commodities that could be stored for at least three months; second, their prices fluctuate, which fall during harvest times and rise during famine; third, commodities with quality matching the Indonesian Quality Standard (SNI); fourth, regular information on their prices is always available; and fifth, they are strategic commodities for home consumption or for exports," Ismadjaja said. Indonesia's rattan furniture exports in 2009 stood at 37.1 million dollars and dropped to 26.3 million dollars in 2010, but rose to 31 million dollars in 2011.***2*** |
Kamis, 19 April 2012
MILITARY TO HELP HANDLE MOTORCYCLIST THUGS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 19 (ANTARA) - The military is ready to follow up police investigation into violence cases involving motorcyclist thugs who have caused unrest in the capital city and other regions lately. "The military will take follow-up steps if there is evidence that requires us to take them," Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) commander Admiral Agus Suhartono said on Thursday. Agus stated that the military would continue to coordinate with the National Police in handling the issue. Police are now investigating a number of cases of violence involving gangs of motorists that have created unrest in the capital city and other regions. Early this month, for example, around 200 motorcycle thugs assaulted and robbed people in seven different spots in North and Central Jakarta during the early hours, leaving eight people injured and one dead. Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri expressed concern about the behavior of motorist gangs that have caused unrest in several regions and have resorted to violence that led to a victim's death. "I don't deny that our youths like racing in the streets, but what raises our concern is the fact that their actions have hurt others, caused the loss of life, and robbery. This is a dangerous situation," the minister said. The actions of the gangs of motorists have led to violence and could create conflict. This is categorized as a social problem, which cannot be handled and settled only by the social affairs ministry or other relevant agencies, but by all parties. According to Salim Segaf Al Jufri, the actions of the motorist gangs that have caused unrest must be acted upon firmly. The law must be upheld indiscriminately. "If they just like racing I think it is reasonable, and what needs to be done is to find a location for them so that they would not disturb others. But if they have intended to hurt or to cause the loss of life, a firm action must be taken," he said. Based on the data released by the Commission of Missing People and Victims of Violence (KontraS), during the early hours of Friday on April 13, 2012, there were shooting incidents against private Sugeng Riadi of the Navy's Pharmaceutical Institution and private Akbar Fidi Aldian of the Airborne Battalion Infantry 503 of the Army's Strategic Command. Sugeng was shot in the right ear, while Akbar was shot in the chest. Now they are being treated at the RSPAD army hospital. On the same day, a civilian named Anggi Darmawan (19) died after being badly beaten up by about 200 motorists in Jalan Pramuka, East Jakarta. These motorists had a crew cut hairstyle. The Jakarta Post quoted Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto as saying that police believed that the marines eventually became involved in the assault. Following the incident, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Joko Suyanto said that police should cooperate with the military police in uncovering the perpetrators of the criminal actions believed to be committed by motorist gangs. Agus refused to make comment on the allegation that military members had been involved. National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo said police were still investigating the case. The police also were carrying out various prevention efforts and upholding the law to fight violence. State Intelligence Agency chief Let Gen Marciano Norman said police must find the links of the actions by motorist gangs in various regions. "I have said that the links of actions of the gangs of motorists from one city to another should be investigated, because their actions always came up simultaneously," Marciano said, believing that the motives behind the actions are crimes. Crimes and violence must not be left unresolved, he said. Agus said the TNI was waiting for the results of police investigation. "We are still waiting for the results of police investigation to assure whether the gangs of motorist thugs must also be handled by TNI," he explained on Wednesday. The investigation results would be used to sort out which ones the TNI will handle. "We do not want to be overlapping in the handling of the case," Agus said. Regarding the allegation of the involvement of military individuals, Agus only said that the TNI was committed to taking actions against all those who were involved. "The TNI and police will cooperate to investigate this case and have common commitment to taking actions against those involved no matter who they are," he added. ***1*** |
Rabu, 18 April 2012
RI, NZ BOOST ECONOMIC TIES
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 18 (ANTARA) - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's visit to Indonesia this week fostered the commitment of both countries to increase cooperation in a number of economic sectors, such as animal husbandry, energy, manpower, and trade. According to trade minister Gita Wirjawan, New Zealand is particularly interested in animal husbandry and geothermal energy. "For investments, there are two sectors that New Zealand is interested in: animal husbandry and geothermal plants," he said during a seminar on business and investments, held by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the New Zealand government here on Monday. New Zealand's interest in animal husbandry and geothermal sector was also pointed out by Indonesian National Economic Committee (KEN) chairman Chairul Tanjung, who made the remarks after meeting with Key. "We discussed today cooperation in several sectors, among others, animal husbandry, agriculture, energy, geothermal energy, education, and health," Chairul said. Chairul said Indonesia was still lacking in goat and cow meat supplies. "We hope this cooperation would continue at the investment level and technological guidance as well as guidance for Indonesian breeders. So, we hope cooperation would not be limited to importing meat only," he added. Gita said New Zealand was a potential cattle producer. "With regard to animal husbandry, New Zealand has 30 million head of cattle and 40 million sheep, while its population is only 4.5 million. So there is a lot of added value that they could give us," he said. After all, New Zealand is willing to expand its milk business in Indonesia by investing in packaging. Fonterra, a milk producer from New Zealand, announced that it would build a processing and packaging plant in Indonesia to meet increasing demand. "Indonesia's milk demand is predicted to grow by around 50 percent in the next eight years and, therefore, we wish to increase our processing and packaging capacity here to support our long-term business growth," the company's CEO, Theo Spierrings, said on the sidelines of Key's visit. "Global milk demand will increase by 100 billion litres in the next eight years and 60 percent of the growth demand will come from China, India, and Indonesia. Investment in local packaging and processing capacity will help ensure the fulfilment of fast-increasing milk demand in the region," Spierrings said. Every year Fonterra produces two million tonnes of milk and its derivative products and 80 percent of the products have been processed and packaged in various countries. Indonesia is Fonterra's tenth largest market in Asia and the Middle East, constituting about 28 percent of the company's export market. With regard to the energy sector, Chairul said Indonesia hoped to increase the utilization of geothermal energy in the country. "Indonesia has geothermal potential. But New Zealand has made the most of its geothermal potential. So, we hope we can have its assistance in the form of investment and technology transfer," Chairul noted. According to Gita, New Zealand is interested in cooperating with Indonesia in the energy sector. "New Zealand is also interested in geothermal development projects because that country is, like Indonesia, located in the ring of fire. So, they are interested in Indonesia, which has 40 percent of the world's geothermal total reserves," Gita said. Cooperation between the two countries in geothermal projects began in 1982, when New Zealand's then prime minister, Robert Muldoon, and president Soeharto started the first geothermal project in the country in Kamojang. In the meantime, both countries have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on manpower cooperation. New Zealand is in need of an Indonesia-trained workforce in the animal husbandry sector, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said after a meeting with Key. He called on all parties involved in labour issues in Indonesia to seize the opportunities of work in New Zealand, following the improvement of economic cooperation between the two countries. "An MoU on manpower has been signed to improve cooperation between Indonesia and New Zealand and we hope it will bring real benefits to both parties," President Yudhoyono said. "The government is making efforts to see that trade between the two countries reaches minimally one percent of the two countries' total gross domestic product. The two countries' GDPs total US$1.2 trillion and so one percent of that is US$12 billion. As it is now still recorded at US$1.1 billion, it means a lot of work still has to be done," Gita said. Indonesia¿s export products to New Zealand include textile, garments, and agricultural and animal husbandry materials. "Indonesia, meanwhile, imports a lot of processed milk, which is their [New Zealand¿s] main export. We now still suffer a deficit of between US$100 million and US$200 million in our trade with New Zealand, but hope with the ratification of the ASEAN-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement early this year that conditions would become more equal," he said. New Zealand's exports to Indonesia reached NZ$ 870 million, and imports from Indonesia total NZ$ 704 million. Total bilateral trade between the two countries has reached NZ$ 1.5 billion. New Zealand's main exports to Indonesia in 2011 were food and drink ¿ including milk, cream milk, cheese, and butter ¿ amounting to 60.9 percent of its total exports worth NZ$ 521.3 million.***2***(T.A014/INE/b003/B003) april 18, 2012 |
Sabtu, 07 April 2012
CONTROVERSY SWIRLS OVER WHETHER PKS WILL REMAIN IN GOVERNMENT
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 7 (ANTARA) - There was a strong sense that the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) would quit or be ousted from the ruling government coalition immediately after it opposed the coalition's policy to increase subsidized fuel oil prices last week. Secretary of the Joint Secretariat of the Coalition Parties, Syarif Hasan, said the PKS's decision to oppose the coalition's policy violated its contract with the coalition. Opposition to the fuel oil policy could cause the termination of its membership in the coalition. Following the coalition secretary's remarks, a PKS minister, Salim Segaf Al-Jufri, responded with a statement that PKS intended to quit the coalition. The polemics surfaced following a parliamentary plenary session in which the PKS explicitly opposed the coalition's policy. The government, after a House of Representatives (DPR)'s plenary session on Friday last week, cancelled its plan to raise subsidized fuel oil prices. The DPR held a plenary session to consider its proposal to raise fuel oil prices on April 1, 2012. The House voted to give the government the authority to make price adjustments or price increases if the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) increased or fell by 15 percent during a six month period. Even though the government has canceled its planned increase, talk on whether PKS could remain in the coalition has reached the public spotlight. Syarif Hasan said the PKS's decision to oppose the coalition's policy regarding subsidized fuel oil violated its contract with the coalition. The PKS's opposition to the policy could cause the termination of its coalition membership. The same view was also expressed by Chairman of the United Development Party Suryadharma Ali, who said the agreement signed with the coalition was binding, thus no coalition member should oppose the alliance's policy. Further, Chairman of the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar supports the idea of punishing the PKS. "We hope the coalition chairman (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) would take firm action," Muhaimin Iskandar said. He suggested that strong sanctions should be taken against a coalition member that announced an opposing stand. "PKB will support any punishment given to a member that weakens the alliance's solidity," he noted. He added that PKB was of the view that the coalition should be unified and of one voice, and no member should be allowed to "stab" from behind. Also, Presidential Spokesman Julian A Pasha said the decision on whether PKS remained in the coalition would be announced officially. "An official statement regarding the presence of PKS in the alliance will be made later. Up until now, I am still not able to comment on its position in the coalition," Julian said on Wednesday. Regarding the presence of PKS ministers in the cabinet, Julian said it was President Yudhoyono's prerogative to appoint or discharge a minister. "So, I think we all know that it is the president who will decide whether or not he will revamp his cabinet," Julian added. In the meantime, PKS seems prepared for any decision taken by the government coalition. According to Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri, the PKS plans to quit the government coalition. "It intends to quit, but I think it is still under discussion," the minister asserted. He added that PKS members would permit the 'Majlis Syuro' (its highest law-making body) to decide whether to remain in the coalition. So far, he has not received any signal or summons from the president regarding the position of PKS. Further, PKS Deputy Secretary General Mahfudz Siddiq said his party was waiting for the official statement of the president regarding the presence of his party in the alliance. "PKS will feel relieved after the president has made a decision," he said. The government coalition, which is composed of the ruling Democrat Party (PD), the Golkar Party, PKS, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB), accounted for about 75.35 percent, or 422 seats, of the total 560 seats in the parliament. Further, almost 25 percent of the seats in the House are controlled by parties outside the coalition, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle/PDIP, Great Indonesia Movement/Gerindra and the People's Conscience Party/Hanura. With the PKS contributing nearly 14 percent of the coalition's seats in the DPR, its breakaway would increase the strength of parties outside the government to about 39 percent of the parliament. So if PKS pulls out from the coalition, the political alliance would be weakened when compared to the strength of those parties outside the government. Political analyst Fadjroel Rachman said he believed the president would not have the courage to oust PKS from his coalition. "I think, even if the coalition has controlled almost 75 percent of the House, its policy could still be shaken, let alone if it loses one party member," Fadjroel said on Friday. He pointed out several cases, such as the Bank Century bailout case, the tax mafia and the latest debate over the fuel oil price hikes, which shook the Yudhoyono government. "If PKS is ousted or if it pulls out from the government coalition, the support of the Yudhoyono government in the House would be reduced to only about 50 percent," he said. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, according to Fadjroel, will not let this happen because it will endanger the stability of his government. Presidential Spokesman on Information, Heru Lelono, has said President Yudhoyono is focusing more on development programs and the public's welfare, rather than on the PKS controversy. He was responding to accusations that President Yudhoyono's attention had been absorbed by coalition problems, rather than government business or the public's welfare. "These past few days, even right after the House of Representatives passed the 2012 revised budget bill last Saturday, SBY (President Yudhoyono) has been busy holding cabinet meetings," he said.***1*** |