JAKARTA WELCOMES NEW YEAR WITH JAKARTA NIGHT FESTIVAL

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) - White tents and entertainment stages bedeck the roadsides along Jalan Thamrin and Merdeka Selatan, in the central business district of Jakarta, on Tuesday, to hail in the New Year 2014.          This year, Jakarta will welcome the New Year by holding the 'Jakarta Night Festival' (JNF), which has been chalked out by Governor Joko Widodo as the annual event.          "We have made preparations and set up entertainment stages and tents," Head of Jakarta Tourism and Cultural Service Arie Budhiman stated at the City Hall.           He informed that the preparations for the festival, which included setting up the stages, required a lot of time, hence, the work had begun two days before the New Year's Eve.           "Of the total 12 stages planned for the JNF, three were set up on Monday. The main stage is located around the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle," Arie added.          The Jakarta administration has also installed 300 stands for street vendors along the Jalan Thamrin, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, and Dukuh Atas Trains Station area.

CENTRAL BANK HOPES RUPIAH TO APPRECIATE IN 2014

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 30 (Antara) - The Indonesian central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), hopes that the rupiah, which has depreciated over the past four months, will appreciate in the first semester or at the beginning of the second semester of 2014.          The rupiah has been weakening since September, this year, when it tumbled to Rp10 thousand per US$1, from below the Rp9.7 thousand level, in May and July.  This month, the rupiah has been hovering around Rp12 thousand per US dollar.          On Friday evening, the rupiah exchange rate against the Greenback, weakened 73 points at the interbank market, from Rp12,201 to Rp12,274.       "The dollar bounced back again following strong data that the US economy is recovering and strengthened its market perspective that the Federal Reserve will continue its tapering-off program," stated Monex Investindo Futures's Head of Research, Ariston Tjendra, on Friday.          According to Tjendra, the current US economy is strong enough to sustain the appreciated US dollar until the year-end, as well as to convince the investors that the Federal Reserve will continue its tapering off initiative.          "However, the currency market tends to flatten on presumptions that no major event will take place during the last week of 2013," he noted.          On Monday (Dec.30), the rupiah value was unchanged against the US dollar in the opening trade, analysts remarked.      The rupiah traded at 12,274 per US dollar in interbank transactions, during the first minute of trading on Monday, chief researcher of Trust Securities, Reza Priyambada, claimed.

TORAJA EXPECTED TO BECOME MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 30 (Antara) - Well-known for its burial caves and preserved cultures, Tanah Toraja District in the South Sulawesi Province is bracing itself to become the country's major tourist destination besides Bali Island.          To introduce Tanah Toraja as an international tourist resort, the local government has been holding the Lovely December event for the last six years. This year, the Sixth Lovely December was held along with a three-day Toraja International Festival 2013 (TIF 2013).          Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu inaugurated the Toraja International Festival (December 29-30) in Tanah Toraja district.          The word toraja comes from the Bugis language to riaja, meaning "people of the uplands".          The Dutch colonial government named the people Toraja in 1909. Torajans are renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, burial sites carved into rocky cliffs, massive peaked-roof traditional houses known as tongkonan, and colorful wood carvings.          Toraja funeral rites are important social events, usually attended by hundreds of people and lasting for several days, according to Wikipedia.          The TIF 2013 aims to further promote Tanah Toraja's preserved cultures, local traditions and tourism attractions, to make the 'Land of Torajans' into one of the country's major tourist resorts.          During the opening of the TIF 2013, Minister Mari Elka Pengestu stated that the government was committed to making Toraja the second major tourist destination in the country after the tourist resort province of Bali. It would serve as an international tourist destination attracting both domestic and foreign tourists.

RI PROMOTES USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR TRANSPORTATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 28 (Antara) - Indonesia has begun to develop and encourage the use of biofuel for transportation, including aviation, in an effort to promote renewable energy and reduce the impact of climate change and greenhouse gasses.          For the development and use of renewable energy in the transportation sector, two ministries have established cooperation to develop and use biodiesel for aircraft and for other types of transportation.          The two ministries involved in the utilization of renewable energy in the transportation sector are the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.          "The initiative to utilize biodiesel for aircraft and renewable energy use is part of the government efforts to carry out its commitment to maintain the environment," Transportation Minister Evert Erenst Mangindaan said on Friday.          The government, through Presidential Decree No. 61/2011 and Presidential Decree No. 71/2011, has provided a legal basis for ministries and institutions to participate in development in the energy sector.

RI FALLS SHORT OF CPO PRODUCTION TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 27 (Antara) - Indonesia is expected to fall short of the CPO production target, set at  28 million tons this year, but the country's palm oil council predicts production will increase slightly to 29.5 million tons in 2014.          "This year, Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) production is forecast to reach only 26.2 million tons, thereby falling short of the target set between 28 and 28.5 million tons. We hope that next year, Indonesia's CPO production will show a slight rise and reach 29.5 million tons," the General Chairman of the Indonesia Palm Oil Board (DMSI) Derom Bangun stated in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday.           Thus, with a remainder of 2.1 million tons from 2013, the country is expected to have a stock of 31.6 million tons of CPO in 2014.           Indonesia, the world's largest crude palm oil producer, fell short of the target this year, as a result of extreme weather conditions that affected the harvest.       "Initially, the production in 2013 was estimated to be between 28 million tons and 28.5 million tons, but due to bad weather conditions, it is estimated to only reach around 26.2 million tons," noted Derom Bangun.

RI ACHIEVES 2013 FOREIGN TOURIST TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 26 (Antara) - The Indonesian government expresses optimism about achieving its moderate target of 8.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2013, and places yet another target for 2014 at 9.2 million.          The country's target to receive foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 will be achieved due to an annual growth in foreign tourist visits noted over the years, stated Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.          "Every year, the growth of international tourist arrivals reaches about seven to eight percent. So, we are optimistic that this year's target will also be achieved," the minister remarked during a year-end press conference, here on Tuesday.          Pangestu noted that based on her ministry's estimate, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 will reach about 8,637,275, or a growth of 7.37 percent from the previous year (2012), which reached 8.04 million tourists.

CENTRAL BANK TO HAND OVER BANK SUPERVISION TO OJK

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 23 (Antara) - Beginning January, the Indonesian central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI) will hand over the bank supervision task to the Financial Service Authority (OJK) based on Law No. 23 /2011.          "The transfer of the supervision authority from the central bank to the OJK will be implemented on December 31, 2013," stated Ari Lajiji, group supervision head of the OJK for Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua and West Papua (Sulampua), in Ambon, Maluku, on Thursday last week.          He noted that the OJK, which was set up in accordance with the Law No. 23/2011, has been operational since January 1, 2013. But, Bank Indonesia has not yet handed over the banking supervision task to the OJK.          However, the supervision of financial services, such as the capital market, insurance firms, and other financial services, has been handed over to the OJK.          The OJK aims to guide all activities in the financial services sector to ensure that they develop in a fair, orderly, stable, and accountable manner to protect the interests of consumers and the public, in general.          "Therefore, beginning January 1, 2014, the OJK will begin supervision of all financial service providers, including banks," Lajiji remarked.

RI SEES BETTER INVESTMENT PROSPECTS IN 2014

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has predicted that the country's investment target, set at Rp390 trillion this year, could be achieved, expressing optimism that interest by foreign investors in Indonesia will increase in 2014.          Deputy Finance Minister Mahendra Sirgar said he was optimistic that the 2013 investment target of Rp390 trillion will be achieved, regardless that the country's economic growth was slowing.          "If we look at the figure, we can achieve it. I can see that the investment target at Rp390 trillion for the entire year of 2013 can be realized," Mahendra said during a recent seminar.          In the meantime, head of the Finance Ministry's Macro Economic Study Center, Luky Alfirman, said on Thursday that interest by foreign businesses in investing capital in Indonesia would increase in 2014.          "Indonesia will remain a main target for investments by foreign investors," Luky Alfirman said.          He added that the strong interest by foreign investors to make investments in Indonesia was inseparable from the country's promising potential and domestic economic growth, which could exceed five percent.          "Besides that, Indonesia has investment opportunities which are better than those found in other countries," Alfirman said.

2013 STATE EXPENDITURE EXPECTED TO REACH 96 PCT

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - The government hopes that state expenditures through the end of 2013 will reach 96 percent of the allocation set in the Revised 2013 State Budget of Rp1,726.2 trillion.          "We expect that about 96 percent of the total state expenditure set for 2013 at Rp1,726.2 trillion will be absorbed up through the end of the year," Finance Minister Chatib Basri said, commenting on  the budget spending for 2013 late last month.          He added that the budget expenditure so far used was the amount that had been disbursed, not the values of the projects covered by the budget.  "The projects are ongoing, but we only calculate expenditure of budget that has been disbursed, not the project values," Basri said.          Data at the Ministry of Finance indicated that until November 29, 2013, state expenditures had only reached Rp1,224 trillion, or 80.3 percent of the allocation set in the Revised 2013 State Budget, amounting to Rp1,726.2 trillion.          In the meantime, the collecting of state revenues in the same period has also reached Rp1,224 trillion, or 81.5 percent of the Revised 2013 State Budget of Rp1,502 trillion.

GOVT ANTICIPATES PASSENGER INFLUX DURING X'MAS, NEW YEAR

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 20 (Antara) - The government is taking necessary steps to handle the anticipated surge in the number of air and sea passengers during the 2013 Christmas and New Year 2014 celebrations.          This year, the flow of air passengers is forecast to increase by 10 percent, while the number of passengers taking the sea route is forecast to increase by 20 percent from 2012.          A total of 93,364 additional seats will be available on flights operational from 27 airports spread across the country. A total of 23 airports operate domestic flights, while four operate international flights.      Since early this year, 403 flights by 18 airlines are in operation.          The Ministry of Transportation will also monitor the flow of passengers at 52 seaports in various parts of Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, which are expected to last from December 23, 2013 to January 6, 2014.         "We will monitor the flow of passengers at 52 seaports. We forecast the passenger flow will peak on December 23, 2013 and the return flow will peak on January 6, 2014," Director General for Sea Transportation Bobby S Mamahit remarked on Monday.         He stated that his side will install closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitors at 25 out of the 52 seaports to monitor the movement of passengers during the year-end festivities. This is because the number of passengers using sea transport increases every year.

RI'S ECONOMIC GROWTH PREDICTED AT 5.5 - 6.0 PCT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 18 (Antara) - Indonesia's economy this year is forecast to grow below targets previously set at 6.3 percent as a result of the current account deficit, the central bank's increased benchmark rate and postponement of investments by investors.          The National Economic Committee (KEN) predicted that the Indonesian economy would grow 5.7 percent this year, slightly higher than the World Bank's forecast of 5.6 percent.         "What happens in 2013 is worse than the worst scenario we made in the economic outlook 2013. It turns out that it is difficult to predict what is to come, even for only a year," KEN Chairman Chirul Tanjung said at a seminar recently.          In the third quarter of this year, the country's economy grew only 5.6 percent.  He said imports have grown faster than exports because of the relatively strong growth of the country's economy amid the global slump.          "As a result, Indonesia suffered a trade deficit followed by the current account deficit," he said.          He added that Bank Indonesia¿s (BI/the central bank) policy of raising the benchmark interest rate had both advantages and disadvantages. BI raised its benchmark rate to a four-year high of 7.5 percent in November to prop up the weakening rupiah and reduce the persistently high current account deficit.

POLICE RAMP UP SECURITY AHEAD OF X'MAS, NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (Antara) - The Indonesia National Police has said it will launch a Candle Light Operation and deploy 92,000 officers across the country to maintain security ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.          "The operation will involve more than 92,000 personnel throughout the country. The security officers will come from the Police Headquarters and Regional Police Commands," Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar, the Head of the Public Information Bureau at the National Police's Public Relations Division, said on Monday.           Security must be tightened to ensure that public safety and order is maintained during Christmas and New Year celebrations, especially given that 2014 will be a politically crucial year as the Indonesian public will go to the polls in a legislative and presidential election.           President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday had urged security officials to be on their guard against certain parties, who would probably take advantage of the festive mood during Christmas and the New Year to disturb the security situation.          "It is a political year and we are sensing the escalating political climate in our country. Therefore, I urge all political elite and politicians to exercise self-restraint," he noted.          To anticipate any unwanted happenings, the head of state also encouraged security and law enforcement officials to work extra hard to ensure security. "I have received a report from the National Police Chief about the plans of certain elements to disturb security and order at certain places," the President stated.          Brigadier General Boy pointed out that as a result, a Candle Light Operation will take place from December 23, 2013 to January 1, 2014, wherein the police will divide operation areas into two priority regions, namely Priority I and Priority II.          He revealed that the Priority I region would cover 14 regional police commands overlooking the provinces of North Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, Papua, Yogyakarta, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku and Central Kalimantan.          "The regional police commands in other provinces will launch a Candle Light Operation in the Priority II category," Boy said.

IDEAS EMERGING TO REVIVE INDONESIA'S PAST STATE POLICY GUIDELINES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 16 (Antara) - Some quarters have come up with the idea of reviving the obsolete State Policy Guidelines (GBHN) amidst concerns that the country in the current reforms era has no clear developmental goals.          But others pointed out that the reintroduction of the GBHN, which was earlier used by the President during the New Order Government for over three decades to direct national development, was difficult to implement and even described it as a setback to the Constitution, an amendment for which has been made.          "The targets and direction of development of the current government over the past decade are still unclear. As a result, some quarters raised the idea to revive the GBHN," Member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission II on Home Affairs Jazuli Juwaini stated on Thursday.          "The directions should be made clear so that the people can evaluate the government's performance after five or ten years," the legislator added. Jazuli said that people will not raise the idea of reviving the GBHN if they can clearly see the direction and targets of development.          The idea to return to the GBHN was raised during a Nationhood Congress carrying the theme "The Nation's Directions In the Run-Up To 100 Years Of Its Independence," which was organized by the Media Editors' Forum on Tuesday, last week.

RI NEEDS 30 YEARS TO BECOME ADVANCED NATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 14 (Antara) - Having been classified as a middle-income country since the early 1990s, Indonesia needs about 30 years to come out of what is called the 'middle-income trap' and move into the high-income group of countries.          Indonesia, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts, is expected to shift from a middle-income nation to a high-income, or advanced country, by 2042.          "That is much slower than Malaysia, which is expected to make that transition by 2020, China (by 2026) and Thailand (by 2031)," the Head of the Asia Desk, OECD Development Centre, Kensuke Tanaka, told participants at a seminar last week.          The middle income trap refers to a situation in which a country that has become a middle-income nation fails to become a high-income country and experiences stagnation.          Based on international standards, a country is said to have fallen into a middle-income trap if it stays at the middle income level for 42 years.          Indonesia, Tanaka said, is only leading the Philippines, which is forecast to shift to an advanced nation by 2051, Vietnam by 2058 and India by 2059, because of being late in carrying out institutional developments and in anticipating changes.

RI'S UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE PLAN TO TAKE OFF NEXT MONTH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 12, (Antara) - About 140 million people will have medical insurance coverage next month when Indonesia's Law No 24/2011 on Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) in the health sector becomes effective in January.          The 140 million covered under the scheme will include 86.4 million poor, who were earlier covered by the Jamkesmas community health insurance.           Also included in the 140 million are those who were earlier covered by various other health insurance firms, such as PT Askes (state-owned health insurance company), PT Jamsostek (workers insurance company) and the military/police institutions.          Based on Law No. 24 / 2011 related to BPJS, the social security management agency will consist of two administrations, namely the BPJS-Health on health security (to be administered by PT Askes) and BPJS-Manpower on social security schemes for workers (to be administered by PT Jamsostek).          As Law No. 24/2011 will become effective as of January 2014, the government hopes that the PBJS health scheme will cover 140 million people beginning next month and Indonesia's entire population (about 250 million) by 2019.          Vice President Boediono visited the headquarters of the state-owned medical insurance company PT Askes on Wednesday to inspect preparations for the implementation of social health insurance.

FISHERIES MINISTRY TO CHAMPION BLUE ECONOMY APPROACH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 11 (Antara) - After achieving most of the targets set out in its development programs, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) plans to emphasize on the blue economy approach during its fishery industrialization program in 2014.          The Ministry is placing an emphasis on the blue economic approach, owing to the fact that it has been successful in implementing most of its programs based on the blue economy direction provided by the government.          "Most of the performance indicators based on the Ministry's Strategic Plans have been achieved," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo said on Tuesday.          The Ministry has even exceeded its targets in a number of sectors. Fisheries production in 2012 was recorded at 15.3 million tons and fisheries exports reached US$4 billion.          The Ministry had set a fish production target for 2011 at 12.26 million tons - an increase of 13 percent from 2009's production of 10.85 million tons.          According to data from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Indonesia's fishery exports in 2010 stood at US$2.86 billion. These jumped to US$3.52 billion in 2011 and US$3.85 billion in 2012.          Minister Sutardjo revealed recently that the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country's fishery sector in 2012 had risen by 6.48 percent or Rp57.69 trillion to Rp255.3 trillion.          This is the first time that Indonesia is said to have become self-sufficient in salt production, which has reached two million tons. Its per capita fish consumption has reached 34 kilograms a year.

RI MUST ACCELERATE MINERAL SMELTERS' DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 7 (Antara) - Indonesia must quicken the development of its mineral smelters so that reduced revenues from mineral ore exports will not be ongoing following the ban on exports of raw minerals, which begins next month.          "The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) hopes that the development of smelters in the country will be accelerated for the interest of the nation," Kadin Deputy Chairman for Regional Empowerment Natsir Mansur said.          The Indonesian government will implement Law No.4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Development, which will ban the export of raw minerals beginning January 12, 2014. Under the law, mining companies are required to process minerals inside the country before exporting them.          "Based on the law, we are no longer allowed to export (raw minerals) as of January 12, 2014. We should consistently abide by it," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said on Thursday.

BROADCASTING FIRMS WARNED ABOUT COVERT ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 6 (Antara) - Four months before the start of Indonesia's general elections in 2014, covert campaigns to promote the election candidates have appeared in broadcasting media and billboards, which have forced the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to reprimand TV news stations.          At least six TV stations are believed to have broadcast programs containing subtle campaign messages by legislative candidates or political parties that plan to contest the general elections on April 9, 2014.          The KPI has reprimanded the TV stations for their disproportionate coverage of political news, talk-shows and advertisements.          "The six broadcasting stations reprimanded by the commission are RCTI, MNC TV, Global TV, ANTV, TV One and Metro TV," KPI chairman Judhariksawan told the media here on Thursday.          Judhariksawan said the KPI had reprimanded the six television stations and urged them to change their broadcasting coverage, since campaigning for the upcoming general elections could not be carried out before March 16, 2014.          "We are of the view that several broadcasters have given disproportionate coverage to political news, including advertisements containing political messages, which, according to the KPI, contain elements of campaigning," the KPI chairman noted.          Bawaslu has also reprimanded three national TV stations -- the MNC Group, Metro TV and TV One  -- because they are believed to have engaged in covert political campaigns through their programs.          "We find that there are potential violations of election campaign rules. We remind the MNC Group, Metro TV and TV One that they should not broadcast programs that could violate the rules," Bawaslu chairman Muhammad had said earlier.

PUBLIC CALLED ON TO REMAIN CALM OVER RUPIAH DEPRECIATION

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 30 (Antara) - The public has been called upon to remain calm following downward fluctuations of the rupiah, which has been depreciating against the US dollar, falling from Rp11,335 earlier this month to Rp12,017 on Friday morning.         "We must remain calm and continue our activities as before. The rupiah's depreciation to 12 thousand against the US dollar is mainly due to global conditions," Bank Indonesia (central bank) governor Agus Martowardojo said here on Friday.          The rupiah weakened by 133 points to Rp12,017 on Thursday evening from the previous day's position. It weakened further to Rp12,018 on Friday morning, though it strengthened again to Rp11,965 in the evening.          Finance Minister Chatib Basri said the rupiah¿s value against the Greenback was improved at the closing on Friday evening at Rp11,965 against the US dollar.          "The development of the rupiah today is relatively good, but we must remain on alert," the minister said Friday night.          He noted that the rupiah has continued to depreciate in the past few days, but the government and the central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), increased coordination in the face of developments in the rupiah.

GOVT TO GO AHEAD WITH NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 30 (Antara) - The government has reiterated its determination to build a nuclear power plant (PLTN) to provide inexpensive electricity for its fast growing population, now reaching about 250 million people.          Yet, it is still undecided where the plant will be located, after the initial plan to build in the Muria Peninsula, Central Java, was scrapped following persistent opposition from local residents, non-governmental organizations and environmentalists.          Over the years, groups have expressed opposition to the plan. The government was advised to develop, instead, environmentally friendly sources for power, such as water, solar energy and harnessing sea currents.          Indonesian Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said on Friday that the government is resolved to continue its plan to build a nuclear power plant, arguing that over 76 percent of the people have agreed to the development of a PLTN.          "We will build a nuclear reactor for generating power," Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said. However, the location of the nuclear power plant, which will have a capacity of approximately 30 MW, has not yet been decided.

INDONESIA TO BAN MINERAL ORE EXPORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - Indonesia plans to ban exports of raw minerals early next year and develop smelters of its own to increase the production of higher-value products from its minerals and metals industry.          But metal and mining companies have warned the government of potential losses if it bans mineral ore exports while the development of smelters at home is still ongoing.         "In principle, it will be difficult to stop exporting minerals as of January 2014 as the smelters under construction will not be operational until next year," Executive Director of the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) Syahrir Abubakar said at the 13th ASEAN Senior Official Meeting (ASSOM) in Bali on Tuesday.          He noted that the government should be cautious about issuing a ban on mineral ore exports next year because it could lose billions of US dollars in state revenues. The ban will severely affect several regions across the country, he added.          According to IMA data, the government could lose nearly 45 percent of state revenues arising from taxes and royalties paid by two foreign mining companies, Freeport and Newmont.          Under Law No. 4 /2009 on Mineral and Coal Development, mining companies are required to process minerals in the country before exporting them. The law, which comes into effect next year, bans the export of raw minerals from January.          Producers, therefore, have to either build their own smelters or process the minerals at smelters owned by other companies.

LEGAL EXPERT SEES NO MALPRACTICE IN DOCTOR AYU'S CASE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - Thousands of members of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) held rallies across the country on Wednesday to protest against the court sentencing three doctors to ten months of imprisonment for an alleged malpractice.         The Medical Practitioners' Association and a legal expert from the Denpasar-based Udayana University, Made Suwardana, believe Dr Dewa Ayu Sasiary Prawani and his colleagues Hendry Simanjuntak and Hendi Siagian had not committed any malpractice in conducting an emergency Caesarean section on a patient, Siska Makatey (26), at Kandouw Hospital in Manado, North Sulawesi. Makatey later died.          "Dr Ayu has followed the medical standard operational procedures (SOP)," IDI Chairman Dr Zaenal Abidin was quoted as saying by detikhealth online media last week.          Before deciding to perform the surgery, Dr Ayu had asked the hospital leadership and the patient's family for approval, he pointed out.          "Moreover, the designated doctor need not always wait beside the patient, observing her labor, but must swing into action if the fetus suddenly faces an emergency situation. This is already in accordance with the standing procedures," Dr Zaenal remarked.          Suwardana expressed the same opinion. He too opined that there was no malpractice in conducting the Caesarean section.          "Dr Ayu performed the surgery based on the standard emergency procedures of the hospital," Suwardana informed participants of a forum on Rejecting the Criminalization of Medical Doctors' Profession in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday.          Makatey died after undergoing a Caesarean section, according to the Indonesian Obstetrics and Gynecology Association data.

GOVT TO MANAGE HAJJ FUNDS WELL FOR IMPROVING SERVICE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is determined to improve the management of hajj funds amounting to Rp60 trillion  which are gathered from down payments of 1.5 million would-be hajj pilgrims now still on the pilgrimage waiting list.          The Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Finance signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday on the utilization of the hajj funds for investment in the state sharia-based bonds (sukuk).          The memorandum signed on Friday was the second MoU agreed by the two ministries after they agreed to cooperate in the management of hajj funds in 2009.  Friday's MoU is expected to reap benefits by placing the funds under a securer, more transparent and accountable management.          According to Finance Minister Chatib Basri, the down payments of would-be hajj pilgrims deposited in the form of hajj funds continued to increase. After all, the number of new would-be pilgrims also continues to increase every year which now has reached about 1.5 million people.          This means that, under the basis of Indonesia's annual hajj quota of 211,000, the government will need more than seven years to finish sending the would-be pilgrims to the Holy Land.

GOVT URGED TO STOP CATTLE IMPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been urged to end cattle imports from Australia, worth $12 billion annually, due to allegations that Australian intelligence agencies intercepted phone conversations of Indonesian officials.          "It is better for the government to stop its livestock imports from Australia as part of its protest against Australia's alleged wiretapping of phones of the Indonesian President and other senior state officials," Muhamad Azhari, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission VI on trade affairs, said here on Friday.           Tensions between Indonesia and Australia increased after media reports that Australian intelligence agencies had wiretapped the private phones of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other senior officials.           As part of Indonesia's response, the President has ordered a halt to joint military exercises by both nations. President Yudhoyono has also temporarily suspended cooperation with Australia in a number of other fields, such as intelligence exchanges and military operations in the area of human trafficking, until an explanation is offered about the wiretapping.          It has also been reported that the Ministry of Trade is considering reviewing trade cooperation with Australia.

SUMATRA NEEDS TO QUICKEN ITS TOLL ROAD PROJECT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - One of the government's development agendas in Sumatra, as included in its master plan, is the construction of toll roads for accelerating the connecting of production centers and boosting the region's economic growth.          Sumatra urgently needs toll roads to provide alternatives for transportation of goods and people. The Trans Sumatra Highway, which stretches about 2,000 km from Aceh province in the western tip of Sumatra to Lampung province in the eastern section, could no longer handle the area's fast growing transportation.          Additionally, the Trans-Sumatra highway has deteriorated, as many sections are often damaged and need to be repaired every year,  causing delays in the transporting of goods and passengers to Java, and vice versa.          Thus, the government has included a Trans Sumatra Toll Road project, apart from electricity and seaports development, in its  MP3EI (Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia's Economic Development) projects in Sumatra.          Based on the plan, the Trans Sumatra Toll Road, spanning 2,000 km long from Bakauheni in the eastern part of Sumatra to Aceh in the western tip of the island, will be built at a cost of US$31.25 billion.          Scheduled for completion by 2025, the project is expected to help improve the flow of goods and transportation of the public, as well as help generate economic development on the islands of Java and Sumatra.

RI'S POPULATION GROWTH THREATENS ITS FOOD RESILIENCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 16 (Antara) - An official has predicted that Indonesia's population will reach 400 million by 2030, posing a threat to the country's food resilience if the government fails to prepare programs to increase its crop production.          At present, Indonesia's population is estimated at 240 million. The growing population will boost demand for rice, which is the staple food of the Indonesian people. Based upon estimates from the Food Hope Pattern (PPH) concept, the current need for rice has reached 129 kg per capita per year.          With this calculation, the demand for rice for the Indonesian people currently stands at about 31 million tons per annum.      By 2030, Indonesia's population is expected to reach 400 million, so the need for rice and other food products will also increase. "By 2030, our population will increase by 160 million and our need for rice will increase by 66 percent, as compared to the current demand," Setyo Purwadi,  the head of North Sumatra's Food Resilience Agency (BKP), said on Saturday.          Setyo Purwadi noted that this population growth will threaten the country's food resilience, which is not being balanced by increases in food production.

RI ENCOURAGING INVESTMENTS IN PROMISING SHRIMP AQUACULTURE BUSINESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 12 (Antara) - Many businesses are being encouraged to make investments in shrimp aquaculture, while the government carries out a revitalization program in the sector, which is seen as a promising business with good prospects for the future.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is encouraging its members to step up investment in shrimp cultivation to increase the country's shrimp production to meet overseas market demand.          Kadin Deputy Chairman Yugi Prayanto stated that Kadin was interested in developing a shrimp project because the price of shrimp was appreciating and because Indonesia was already using shrimp cultivation technology.          "Overseas demand for shrimp is showing an upward trend," Yugi Prayanto said on Monday, adding that Kadin was considering investing in the fishery cultivation sector, particularly in shrimp cultivation.          The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) had predicted that Thailand and China's demand for shrimps would remain high, and their domestic production was not enough to meet it. This would force the two countries to continue importing the commodity.

GOVT GIVING PROTECTION TO OVERSTAYING WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 8 (Antara) - The Indonesian government will continue to provide services and protection for Indonesian workers who have overstayed their residency permits in Saudi Arabia following the end of the amnesty provided by the Saudi government.          The assistance to workers will be provided by the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh and the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jidda.      The Saudi government has provided amnesty for workers without valid permits and gave them a chance to attend to their travel documents in lieu of passports (SPLP) until November 3, 2013.          "Many Indonesians overstaying without permits have not yet completed attending to their SPLP because of complicated procedures at the Saudi Immigration Office. They applied for  legalized documents to go home or to  continue their work in that country," Tatang B Razak, director for Indonesian Citizen Protection Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a written statement.          Tatang made the statement amid a move by the Saudi government to launch raids on Indonesians working without permits, following the end of the amnesty. According to detiknews online media, on the first day of the raids, about 7,500 Indonesian workers had been apprehended.

KPU URGED TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 7 (Antara) - The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced 186.6 million voters are eligible for next year's general elections, though some 10.4 million of them are still considered problematic.          On the KPU's eligible voters' list (DPT), some 10.4 million voters remain problematic because data which they need to become eligible for voting in the elections is still not complete, such as their citizenship identity numbers (NIK).          The KPU has decided to use the Home Affairs Ministry's List of Potential Voters (DP4) as the basis for deciding the DPT for next year's elections. It officially announced the DPT on Monday, even though some 10.4 million still have problems with the required data, such as the NIK.          Based on Law No. 8/2012, voters must have a NIK to be eligible for the 2014 general elections.          A researcher of the General Elections and Democracy Association (Perludem), a poll watchdog, said the General Election Commission should be transparent about the problem of 10.4 million voters included on the eligible voters' list.          "The KPU must be open and explain the 10.4 problematic voters. How many of them have no citizenship identity numbers (NIK), how many have double registrations and many other problems," Veri Junaidi of the Perludem said.

OVER 20,000 POLICE, SOLDIERS TO GUARD JAKARTA STRIKE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 30 (Antara) - More than 20,000 security personnel will be deployed to maintain peace in Jakarta in the face of the industrial workers' national strikes planned for Thursday and Friday.          Jakarta Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said on Wednesday that the Jakarta Police will field 17,276 police officers who will be assisted by 3,800 military personnel and 819 public order officials.          Thousands of Jakarta workers have held rallies since Monday, demanding wages be increased by 50 percent from Rp2.2 million to Rp3.7 million per month, the end of outsourcing and an increase in the decent living cost (KHL) from Rp1.9 million to Rp2.7 million.          Rikwanto said that the number of security personnel was not increased from that deployed since Monday in the face of the national strike, yet these personnel would be distributed to certain sensitive spots.          Strict security will also be in place at vital locations, such as the State Palace, the Parliamentary complex and the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle.      Industrial workers in Jakarta have been holding rallies since Monday, prior to their national strike scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

WORKERS THREATENING TO STAGE NATIONAL STRIKE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - Jakarta workers, rallying outside City Hall on Tuesday, threatened to call a two-day national strike if their demand for a 50-percent wage increase  was not met.          "We came here to meet Jokowi and Ahok (the Jakarta governor and deputy governor). We are demanding a raise in the provincial minimum wage (UMP) and inclusion of more items in the Decent Livelihood Components (KHL)," said Winarso, the chairman of the regional executive board of the Federation of Metal Workers Unions (FSPMI).          Thousands of Jakarta workers held a rally in Jakarta on Tuesday, demanding wages be increased by 50 percent from Rp2.2 million to Rp3.7 million per month, the end of outsourcing and an increase in the KHL from Rp1.9 million for 60 items to Rp2.7 million for 84 items.          Winarso said that workers in Jakarta should receive a monthly salary at a range between Rp3.4 million and Rp3.7 million.          "We also reject Presidential Instruction No. 9 / 2012 because it enables employers to pay workers a low wage. We opt for discussions between workers and employers to decide a decent KHL for items. We demand that the current 60 KHL items, as regulated, be revised," Winarso said.

RI UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE MEAT SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN 2014

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 26 (Antara) - With its cattle population dropping this year, Indonesia, which consumes about 550 thousand tons of meat per year, seems unlikely to meet its meat self-sufficient production target in 2014.          "Seeing its cattle population decline now, it seems that Indonesia will face difficulties in meeting its meat self-sufficiency target in the near future. The government still needs at least five more years to bring the target into reality," Bustanul Arifin, agriculture and animal husbandry observer, said on Thursday.          In the past several years, the government, through the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry, set a target that in 2014 Indonesia should have been able to produce meat that met its domestic needs.          However, Indonesia's cattle population this year is believed to be lower than in 2012, which stood at about 16.4 million. As of October this year, Indonesia's cattle population dropped to 14.2 million.

SOE MINISTRY TO TAKE OVER INALUM FROM JAPAN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 23 (Antara) - The House of Representatives agreed on Tuesday to hand over PT Inalum's management to the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry following the government's decision to acquire it after three years of negotiations with the Japanese government.          The House made the decision in its joint meeting with all parties, as the government decided not to extend the expired contract of PT Inalum, an aluminum joint venture between Indonesia and Japan in which Indonesia held 41.13 percent of the company's shares and Japan owned 58.87 percent.          "House Commission VI and the government agree to hand over the management of Inalum to the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry based on the law," Commission VI Chairman Airlangga Hartarto said when reading a statement at the conclusion of the joint meeting with Industry Minister MS Hidayat and SOE Minister Dahlan Iskan, at the Parliament building here on Tuesday night.          The meeting was also attended by Head of the Government Development and Finance Comptroller (BPKP) Mardiasmo and North Sumatra Governor Gatot Pujo Nogroho.          The House agreed to the results of negotiations carried out by The Asahan Project Negotiation Team, formed by the President in 2010.          "We hope the takeover process will be smooth so that the government will own 100 percent of PT Inalum's stake beginning November 1, 2013," Hartarto said, referring to the contract of the joint venture firm, which will expire on October 31, 2013.

PERPPU ISSUED TO IMPROVE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S IMAGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 19 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) in a bid to regain public trust in the Constitutional Court (MK) after chairman Akil Mochtar was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes.          "The new regulation (Perpu on MK) is aimed to produce higher quality MK judges," Deputy Minister of Justice and Human Rights Denny Indrayana said on Friday. He was referring to the Perpu signed by the President in Yoyakarta on Thursday evening.          The public confidence in the Constitutional Court (MK) has been seriously shaken since the arrest of the MK chief early this month.        The new government regulation in lieu of law calls for more stringent requirements to be met by candidates for MK judges.          President Yudhoyono said he had enough Constitutional reasons to issue the Perppu to help the MK regain the public's trust after the recent arrest.          The Perppu is mainly concerned with additional requirements and the mechanism for selecting MK judge candidates, as well as on the improvement in the system of controlling MK judges.

JAKARTA RESUMES CONSTRUCTION OF MONORAIL PROJECT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 17 (Antara) - After five years of inactivity, the 30-kilometre Jakarta monorail project has resumed construction following its launch by Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, on Wednesday.          The US$1.5 billion monorail project, which is expected to ease Jakarta's heavy traffic jams, came to a grinding halt five years ago due to financial problems, though monorail pillars had already been installed in several sections across the city.          "With thanks to God, today, we will resume construction on the project. There will be no pillars lying around idle and unused," Jokowi said while inaugurating the groundbreaking ceremony in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta on Wednesday.           "The 30-kilometre-long track comprises the 14.5-kilometre Green Lane (Kuningan, Dukuh Atas, Pejompongan, Senayan, Gatot Subroto, SCBD) and the 15.5-kilometre Blue Lane (Kampung Malayu, Tebet, Casablanca, Tanang Abang, Mall Taman Aggrek Mall)," PT Jakarta Monorail (JM) Technical Director Bovananto explained.           JM CEO Edward Soeryadjaya noted that the construction of this monorail is expected to cost US$1.5 billion, of which US$900 million will go towards the construction of the track and carriages and US$600 million will go toward the construction of stations.