AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS DEEMED SUCCESSFUL IN 2016

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) - One of the aims of the government's programs in 2016 was to advance the agricultural sector, in order to regain the country's self-sufficiency in rice, as in the past.         Due to its efforts to introduce mechanized agricultural technology, repair damaged agricultural infrastructure, and open new rice fields, the government has been able to change the country's rice planting season from one to two, and even three times, per year.         With its success in carrying out these programs in 2016, the government increased unhusked rice production to 79 million tons, exceeding its target of 76 million tons of unhusked rice, and stop importing rice in 2016.          "Indonesia will not need to import rice, and it could even export the commodity to other countries, " Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday in the village of Bhakti Rasa, Sragi subdistrict, South Lampung, on Thursday (Dec 29).           National production of unhulled rice rose to 79 million tons in 2016, from 74 million tons of unhulled rice  in 2015 and 70 million tons in 2014.

RI SHOULD CUT UNNECESSARY ELECTRICITY COSTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 30 (Antara) - The price of electricity in Indonesia is relatively high due to high investment and production costs, reducing the global competitiveness of the country's electricity board.         The investment and production costs are high because of the many unnecessary expenses involved. Electricity development projects are plagued with the problems of inadequate infrastructure, unstable land prices, bureaucratic procedures, and brokers or middlemen.         To improve competitiveness and efficiency in electricity production, these unnecessary expenses must be cut.          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) confirmed on Tuesday (Dec 27) that the price of electricity in Indonesia was higher than that of other countries because power companies were saddled with unnecessary costs.          "Our electricity is expensive because players are burdened by too many unnecessary costs," the president said when inaugurating a geothermal power plant (PLTP) in Tomposo, Minahasa, North Sulawesi.

INDONESIA NEEDS MORE EXPATRIATE WORKERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 30 (Antara) - Rumors about the influx of Chinese workers in Indonesia proved untrue, as the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) data shows only 3,718 Chinese expatriates were employed in the January - September 2016 period.          Moreover, in 2016, the total number of expatriates in Indonesia is recorded at only 74,000 people, or about 0.062 percent of the total workforce of 120 million workers.          Rumors circulating that there are 10 million to 20 million Chinese workers that sideline local workers in Indonesia are untrue.          According to Law and Human Right Minister Yasonna Laoly, the reports that 10 million Chinese workers have taken jobs away from Indonesians is a hoax.          Even with a ratio of 0.062 percent expatriates, Indonesia still needs foreign workers who can help in offering their knowledge, skills and technology.          "The point is, that with a ratio below 0.1 percent Indonesia actually needs more foreign workers, in order to spread the transfer of skills and knowledge," BKPM Head Thomas Lembong (Tom) said, in a press statement in Jakarta on Thursday (Dec 29).

GOVT COLLECTS RP105 TRILLION TAX REVENUE WITH TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 29 (Antara) - The government, through its nine-month tax amnesty program ending on March 31, 2017, has as of December 2016 collected Rp105 trillion in tax revenue, or 63.6 percent of its Rp165 trillion target.          In July 2016, the government launched the tax amnesty program to encourage taxpayers to repatriate all assets they had stashed abroad, estimated to amount to Rp4 quadrillion.          The government divided the program into three phases, with the first running from July 18 to September 30, followed by the second from October 1 to December 31, 2016, and the last from January 1 to March 31, 2017.       Under the program, Rp1 quadrillion is expected to flow into the country as repatriated funds, of which the g

GOVT NEEDS TO CLARIFY RUMORS ON ILLEGAL CHINESE WORKERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 27 (Antara) - The government needs to clarify and provide comprehensive data on Chinese expatriates in Indonesia to scotch rumors on the influx of millions of illegal Chinese workers into the country.          The public can just believe in those rumors because a broadcast on national television recently showed the arrest of illegal workers, mainly Chinese. The directorate general for work safety and manpower supervision, for example, recently arrested 41 illegal Chinese expatriates.          Hopefully, the police will be successful in tracing an account on the Internet that is suspected to have uploaded a hoax message saying that about 10-20 million illegal Chinese workers have flooded Indonesia.          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) himself has, at least, two times denied these rumors: first during his address to the 'declaration of national apprenticeship movement¿ in the Karawang International Industrial Estate in West Java on Friday (Dec 23), and later when he inaugurated a geothermal power plant (PLTP) in Minahasa, North Sulawesi on Tuesday (Dec 27).

STOCKS AND PRICES OF BASIC NECESSITIES STABLE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta Dec 26 (Antara) - As the nation gears up for Christmas and New Year holidays, the government has assured people that there are ample stocks of all basic necessities, including rice.     The stocks of rice, the country's staple food and its most important food commodity, are adequate to meet demand until May 2017. The state logistics board (Bulog) has a stock of 1.75 million tons of rice, and traders have another 15-18 million tons. Sugar stocks are also enough to meet demand for the next four months.         "We learn from our observation in the field that stocks and supplies of basic necessities from distributors are stable and smooth. It runs well as the process at ports is smooth," Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said in Jakarta on Friday (Dec 23).         According to the minister, price turmoil usually takes place as a result of three factors, namely transportation problems, speculation by traders, and bad weather.         Distribution is hampered if transportation is not smooth due to measures like imposition of close-open road policy during long holidays such as Christmas and New Year. Such disruptions in transportation cause supply imbalances.

YEAR-END MONEY SUPPLIES ESTIMATED AT RP630 TRILLION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 26 (Antara) - Public spending during the Christmas and New Year Holidays is high, with the central bank, or Bank Indonesia (BI), estimating money in circulation during the period amounts to Rp630 trillion.          The value of cash supply at the end of this year rose by 6-7.5 percent compared to 2015, which was valued at Rp586.7 trillion.          According to BI Deputy Director for Money Management Yudi Harymukti in Jakarta on December 21, the money in circulation during Christmas and New Year holidays is relatively lower than during the Muslim-Ied Fitr post-fasting month, or Lebaran, festivities.          BI's estimate suggests the amount of money in circulation during the year-end period is some 2 to 3 percent lower than during Muslim Lebaran festivities.          During Lebaran holidays last July, the amount of money in circulation was recorded at Rp642 trillion, up 6.4 percent from figures recorded during Lebaran in 2015, which stood at Rp603.5 trillion.          The estimate on the increase in cash requirements is based on the BI's assessment of the country's good economic condition and strong growth.

GOVT EXPEDITING PLAN TO BUILD HIGH-SPEED TRAIN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 24 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is increasing its lobbying with Japan to expedite its plans to build  a semi-high speed train that will cover a distance of some 700 kilometers from Jakarta to Surabaya in East Java.           As the government has decided to complete the plan soon and move quickly on construction of the Jakarta-Surabaya semi-high speed train, ministers held a coordination meeting last month.          Those at the coordination meeting, which was attended by Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs; Bambang Brodjonegoro, National Development Planning Minister/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Head; and Sri Mulyani, Finance Minister,  decided to speed up construction of the project.          For this purpose, Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan visited Japan on December 20-21 this week to discuss the medium fast train project with the Japanese.          The project has long been discussed, and since the beginning Japan has been offered to build the system. Nevertheless, if there is a better opportunity, the government would consider it.

2016 OIL PRODUCTION EXCEEDS TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 24 (Antara) - Indonesia's oil and gas production this year exceeded the target set in the 2016 revised state budget (APBNP 2016) at 820,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 6,438 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD).         The Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator (SKK Migas) recorded that Indonesia's oil production, as of November 2016, reached 822,000 bpd, while its gas production during the same period stood at 6,643 MMSCFD.          Further, state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina set a 2017 net profit target of US$3.04 billion, or Rp40.95 trillion, up six percent from US$2.88 billion in 2016.           Pertamina's net profit growth next year will be supported by a planned income of US$42.59 billion, up 15.01 percent from an estimated US$37.03 billion in 2016.          According to SKK Migas Public Relations Head Taslim Z Yunus,  the oil and oil production target in 2016 could be exceeded, thanks to full operations since January 2016 of Cepu Block's Train B in the Banyu Urip oil field along the border areas of Central and East Java, which has produced 185,000 bpd since January this year.

INDONESIAN MEME "OM TELOLET OM" GOES VIRAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 23 (Antara) - The Indonesian meme "Om Telolet Om" has unexpectedly gone viral on social media, becoming a trending topic on Twitter, as youth trying to get bus drivers to blow their horn, tweeted it recently.          At first glance, even Indonesians might be confused by the meaning of "Om Telolet Om," let alone foreigners.          As of Wednesday afternoon, Om Telolet Om was the top worldwide trending topic on Twitter, having received 715,000 tweets.          As the meme goes international, it continues to confound its foreign audience. International dance-music artists, such as Zedd, Martin Garrix, and DJ Snake, on Tuesday night (Dec 20) tweeted their confusion over the meme.          US DJ Chainsmoker asked on Twitter: "What does 'om telolet om' mean?"     Musician and retired German footballer Michael Ballack also tweeted about the meme: "I keep seeing #omteloletom comments. Can someone explain the #telolet trend? That's all I find on reviews of simple websites in #indonesia."     Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens also commented on the meme, suggesting it may be about omelets.          "What is 'Om Telolet Om'? When I read it, I think of omelets/eggs," @OlivierHeldens tweeted.

POLICE TO CONTINUE CRACKING DOWN ON TERRORIST CELLS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 22 (Antara) - Indonesian police have been successful in thwarting terrorists' plans to bomb a number of targets during Christmas and New Year festivities.         Since December 10, the National Police's anti-terrorist squad Densus 88 has uncovered various plans to launch bomb attacks. Police shot dead three terror suspects, arresting at least 17 others in a number of regions.         "Densus 88 members thwarted plans hatched by three different groups to carry out planned acts of terror. I praise them because terror poses a threat to us all," Indonesian Police chief General Tito Karnavian said in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday.          Anti-terror police arrested one terror suspect identified as Adam in and killed three others in South Tangerang (Tangsel) District, Banten Province, on Wednesday morning.          The police attempted to arrest Adam's friends at Curug Village in Tangsel, but they resisted and were shot dead in the ensuing struggle.          The deceased suspects were identified as Omen, Helmi and Irwan. During the initial interrogation, Adam admitted they had planned a suicide bomb attack at a police station near the BSD Eka Hospital in Tangsel.

LOCAL FARMERS CAN NOW CULTIVATE FORESTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - Indonesia's forests, which served as wealth engines for conglomerates and forest tycoons in the past, are being cultivated to improve farmers' prosperity and regain the glory of its timber industry.          Forests are now cultivated differently from the forest management concept in the past when concessions were given to large companies or corporations.          The concept of forest is now based on a social forestry scheme where the people, the locals and the farmers become the main subject, and they are given the concessions to cultivate forests so that they can improve their welfare and support timber industries, which are oriented to exports.          According to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the management of forests in the social forestry scheme is different from the previous management system.          "In the past, concessions were given to large companies, foreign firms and corporations but now they are given to the people, the farmers, and the associations of farmers," the president said in his address when handing over permits of social forestry concessions to farmers in Pulau Pisang District, Central Kalimantan, on Tuesday (Dec. 20).

GOVT TO OPERATE SIX NEW TOLL ROADS IN 2017

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 20 (Antara) - To smooth traffic flows in Java and Sumatra, state-owned toll road construction company PT Jasa Marga is developing toll roads that will connect trans-Java and trans Sumatra highways.          PT Jasa Marga aims to finish all toll road projects that have secured concessions by 2019. Some sections, particularly those in Java, are already operational. In 2017, the company plans to operate six new toll roads, with a total length of 235 kilometers (km), in Java and Sumatra.          "The toll roads are developed to reduce traffic gridlocks on the main roads. Moreover, the number of private vehicles virtually exceed the limits," AVP Corporate Communications of PT Jasa Marga Dwimawan Heru said in Bekasi, West Java, on Sunday (Dec 18).          Road users are increasingly facing congestion but their coverage time is expected to be reduced with the construction of the turnpikes.     For this purpose, PT Jasa Marga will open six new toll road sections in 2017. Five in Java and one in Sumatra.

2016 MARKED CRACK-DOWN ON ILLEGAL LEVIES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 19 (Antara) - Corruption and illegal levies committed to stealing state money that could be used for funding national development have been a common practice in Indonesia since time immemorial.          Corruption is rampant among officials in the upper levels, while illegal levies are mostly issued at lower levels, or even in the grass roots, particularly in the public service sector.          In response to corruption, the government of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri set up the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2002 to fight corruption throughout the country.           Since then, the KPK has sent many corrupt high ranking officials, politicians, law enforcement officials, and others to jails.           However, while corruption still continues to take place, illegal levies, which are imposed upon those in the public service sector, remain rampant across the country.           Therefore, the government last October began staging a war against illegal fees and formed what is call 'Satgas Saber Pungli' or illegal levies eradication task force.           President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) set up the Stagas Saber Pungli on October 28, 2016 to fight illegal levies at the lower levels, in tandem with the fight against corruption by the KPK at the upper levels.

INDONESIA'S AGRICULTURE HAS BETTER PROSPECTS IN 2017

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (Antara) - The El Nino weather phenomenon that struck Indonesia in 2015, bringing droughts and wide-spread forest and land fires, caused a reduction in the country's agriculture production.          Yet, the other weather phenomenon, the La Nina, took its turn in 2016 by bringing fortunes, as Indonesian agricultural production increased again, compared to 2015. This upward trend in agricultural products is expected to continue, and increase further, in 2017.          "In 2017, the agricultural subsystem and agribusiness will be better than in 2016, regardless of questions on who will be enjoying the benefits," said Bungaran Saragih, a former minister of agriculture during the administration of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, speaking during a seminar on the outlook for agribusiness in 2017 in Jakarta on Thursday.         Over the past several months, there have been signs of a global economic revival.         According to many experts, who are also supported by Bungaran, world economic growth will increase again in 2017, though the rise has yet to reach its peak. In 2017, the world economy is expected to begin escaping the worsening economic conditions.

INDONESIA NEEDS TO BRACE FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 15 (Antara) - Indonesia is expected to have a relatively improved economic performance in 2017, while still needing to prepare itself in the face of global and domestic challenges.          Global economic uncertainties will continue to be felt next year and affect the Indonesian economy. The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has predicted that global challenges and internal conditions could affect Indonesia's national economic performance in 2017.          The global economic dynamism in 2017 could have an impact on Indonesian economic conditions. There will be uncertainties in Europe after the Brexit, and uncertainties in the direction of United States polices after the election of Donald Trump as US president.          Trump's protectionist policies, if implemented, would have a negative impact on market confidence, not only among business people and investors in the United States, but throughout the world.

RI CONCERNED OVER ISIS PLAN FOR BASE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 14 (Antara) - Indonesian lawmakers, intelligence analysts and government have expressed concern over the alleged plan of ISIS to develop a base in Southeast Asia by creating a new caliphate in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.          The bomb blasts that killed eight people, including two terrorists, at Sarinah, Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta, last January, are linked to the ISIS movement. The latest ISIS-linked incident is the arrests on Saturday and Sunday of suspected terrorists who planned to detonate explosives at the State Palace.          The incidents are indications of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (ISIS') plan to build a base and create a caliphate in the region, according to Lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo.         Even Indonesian security authorities and the people should be alert about the infiltration by ISIS of mass organizations in the country, according to legislator Charles Honoris.         "I would not name the organization, but they have openly expressed support for the ISIS," Charles Honoris, a member of the Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) said here Friday.

INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TO REFORM ITS COOPERATIVES

By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, Dec 9 (Antara) - Cooperatives are not yet able to benefit people in an equitable manner, prompting the government to consider bringing in reforms and empowering them so that members benefit and the poverty rate comes down.
        Indonesia's Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Anak Agung Gede Ngurah (AAGN) Puspayoga, has announced plans to totally reform the cooperatives to ensure equitable economic benefits and cut down unemployment and poverty rates.
        The move will have a positive impact on the regional and national economic growth.
        The cooperatives reform program will be carried out through rehabilitation and database update. The government is also drafting a new cooperatives law which will serve as an effective legal basis for the development of cooperatives in the future.
        The draft law of cooperatives will replace Law No. 17 of 2012 which was scrapped by the Constitutional Court.    
   Law No. 17/ 2012 was issued to replace Law No.25 of 1992 which was seen as incapable of accommodating the interests of developing cooperatives.
         Deputy for Institutional Development of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Meliadi Sembiring, added that the draft law on cooperatives will accommodate all inputs from various quarters, including cooperatives stakeholders.

GOVT SETS GRADUAL INCREASES TO ATTRACT 20 MILLION TOURISTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 9 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) administration has set a target of attracting 20 million foreign tourist arrivals in the country by 2019, that is, by the end of his term in office.          To meet this target, since the beginning of his administration in October 2014, he has established policies that led to a progressive increase in foreign tourist arrivals while continuing to promote the country's tourism attractions both at home and abroad.          The government aggressively develops the country's tourism by promoting different activities such as Sail Indonesia, sports tourism, and cultural events, and by developing 10 major tourist destinations in addition to the already popular tourist resorts such as Bali and the Buddhist Temple of Borobudur in Java.          Based on the success of its efforts to intensively develop Indonesia's tourism potential, the government is convinced it will achieve its target of 20 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2019.          Starting its tourism program in 2015, Jokowi's government set a tourist arrival target of 10 million in 2015, up from the 9.4 million arrivals of foreign tourists recorded in 2014.

ASSISTANCE FLOWING TO QUAKE-HIT ACEH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 7 (Antara) - Aid is flowing into Aceh Province, particularly Pidie Jaya District, which was hit by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday that killed 92 people and injured more than 200.          The key agencies involved in relief work are the Ministry of Social Affairs, the PMI Bogor Hospital, the Air Force, the House of Representatives and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Bazarnas).          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will also visit the quake-rocked region of Pidie Jaya but his schedule will be determined later as he does not want his visit to impede relief and evacuation work; the priority is to allow rescue workers to carry out their jobs.          According to the chief of the Iskandar Muda Military Command, Major General Tatang Suherman, who quoted sources from military and police personnel in the field, at least 92 people have lost their lives and 213 have been injured.          The earthquake, which destroyed several houses and places of worship, occurred at 5:03 am local time on Wednesday, with its epicenter at 5.19 degrees northern latitude and 96.36 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 10 kilometers, some 18 km northeast of Pidie Jaya.

RI'S ECONOMY STRONG IN FACE OF UNCERTAINTIES IN 2017

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 8 (Antara) - This year's global economic uncertainties are expected to continue in 2017 and to affect the Indonesian economy, yet analysts have said Indonesia's economy is relatively strong in facing global challenges next year.         According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Wednesday, global conditions greatly affected Indonesia's economy this year, and the trend will continue in 2017. Therefore, in setting its economic assumptions for 2017, the government has adopted moderate steps.        In assuming its economic growth next year, the government has set itself a target of 5.1 percent, relatively lower than the rates estimated by many other institutions. However, Minister Mulyani argues that the 5.1 percent figure does not reflect any pessimism but optimism combined with prudence.         Several institutions have predicted higher growth. The World Bank, for example, has predicted Indonesia's economic growth at 5.3 percent for next year. Other institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Bloomberg Consensus Forecast, S&P, Fitch, and Moody's have set their predictions at 5.1 percent, 5.3 percent, 5.2 percent, 5.5 percent, and 5.2 percent, respectively.

'TOUR DE TIMOR' TO COMBINE SPORTS AND TOURISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 26 (Antara) - One of the sectors that contribute to a country's economic development is tourism, which is now being combined with working out as a lifestyle exercised to maintain health.          Tourism has included sports events to attract tourists. These two things are important for tourism development in any countries, including Indonesia and Timor Leste, in what is called sports tourism. Sports tourism, among others, covers running or marathon, biking and rock climbing events at specific tourism destinations.           As part of its efforts to promote and advance its tourism sector, Indonesia is now active in developing its sports tourism through the launch of various sports events such as running, cycling and rock climbing in its tourism destinations.          Especially in the cycling events, it has organized several cycling races in various regions such as the Tour de Singkarak in West Sumatra, Tour de Makassar in South Sulawesi, Tour de Siak in Riau, Tour de Borobudur in Central Java and even Tour de Indonesia, which was halted for five years and is now back again.          At the end of this month, Indonesia is planning to organize a cycling race to promote its tourism sector.          East Nusa Tenggara Province, which shares borders with Timor Leste, will be hosting the 2016 Tour de Timor cycling race championship from November 30 to December 4.

EAT MORE FISH, REDUCE BEEF IMPORTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 25 (Antara) - As Indonesia is rich in fish, it expects the people to become less dependent on imported beef and rather increase their fish consumption.          Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Mahyudin called on the government to encourage fish consumption, as it would reduce the dependence on meat imports.          The Industry Ministry also advocated encouraging  fish consumption in various regions. "We will boost fish consumption, apart from exporting fish, by developing the traditional fish industry," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said recently.          The government continues to encourage people to consume more fish and has set a target to increase the country's per capita fish consumption to about 43.88 kilogram (kg) per annum from 30.47 kg recorded in 2010 and 41.11 kg in 2015.         Indonesia still imports about 40 percent of its beef needs for domestic consumption. Its domestic need for meat has reached about 600 thousand tons per annum or about 4 million heads of cattle.

GOVT TO LIFT SUBSIDY FOR 900 VA ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) will effect a 32 percent electricity tariff increase every two months from January to May 2017 for 900 Volt Ampere (VA) power customers.        The increased electricity tariff will take effect after the government scrapped the subsidy for better-off customers of 900 VA power in three phases by raising the tariff  from Rp585/kWh to Rp747/kWh next January,   to Rp1,032/kWh next March and to Rp1,352/kWh next May.        Thus, with effect from May 2017, there will be no longer subsidy for economically capable 900 VA electricity customers while the remaining 4.1 million poor household customers will still enjoy one.      So far, the government has subsidized the electricity consumption of 23 million 900VA power costomers. Of the number, 18.9 million customers will no longer receive subsidy while the remaining 4.1 million poor household customers will still enjoy one.         The decision to abolish the subsidy for 900 VA household customers was reached in a working meeting between the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Commission VII on energy affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) on September 22, 2016.        Head of the Communication and Knowledge Management Unit of the National Poverty Elimination Acceleration Team (TNP2K) Ruddy Gobel had said last week (Nov 18) that the subsidy was actually being enjoyed predominantly by a relatively rich group of people.         So far, the government had been providing subsidy for 450 VA and 900 VA electricity customers. According to Gobel, the number of 450 VA power customers reached 22.8 million while 900 VA customers numbered 22.3 million. Thus, the total number of electricity subsidies' recipients was 45.1 million.

GOVT MIXES OPTIMISM WITH PRUDENCE ON ISSUE OF GROWTH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - The government is mixing optimism with prudence in forecasting and assuming the rate of economic growth in the state budget for 2017, which is lower than what many institutions predicted.         According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, as quoted on the Finance Ministry's website http://www.kemenkeu.go.id, on Wednesday, the government has assumed the economic growth for 2017 at 5.1 percent.         The government's prediction of 5.1 percent growth reflects a balance between optimism and pragmatic understanding. "There is optimism because we are convinced we will be able to maintain the momentum. We balanced it with some prudence because there are external or even internal challenges that we would have to face," Finance Minister Sri Mulayani Indrawati said while addressing a seminar on Indonesia Economic Outlook 2017 in Jakarta on Wednesday.        Moreover, household consumption is expected to grow by 5 percent while government expenditure is predicted to remain stable around 4.8 percent. Besides, investment by the private sector and the capital market is forecast to be better than last year.

PEOPLE ADVISED NOT TO HEED RUMORS OF MONEY RUSH

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - The people are advised not to heed or be influenced by rumors about a money rush, being spread by instigators who want to destabilize the country's economy and create chaos.          According to National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, such rumors were being spread via the social media, and termed these as a hoax. Those spreading such rumors want to destabilize the country's economy to create chaos, he added.          Now, the security situation in the country is stable and people should not react on the basis of rumors about any money rush.          The Financial Service Authority (OJK) and the Indonesian central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), also gave similar calls. The OJK advised the public not to be influenced by rumors about massive withdrawals of deposits from banks or money rush on November 25, 2016.          The OJK assured that the financial condition of national banks will remain good and will be monitored continuously. "We always monitor the banking conditions from time to time," OJK Director for Banking Supervision, Jasmi, noted in Jambi on Monday.

'TOUR DE INDONESIA' IS COMING BACK

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - The Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Sports Cycling Association (PB ISSI) will revive Indonesia's prestigious cycling race 'Tour de Indonesia' (TdI), by organizing it again next year, after five years of hiatus.          Scheduled to be held in July 2017, the TdI, which usually starts from Jakarta to Bali, will cover a route of seven stages from Banten in the western part of Java to Banyuwangi in the easternmost region of the island.         "The TdI is designed to become an archipelagic cycling race series and serve as a benchmark for other regions which have cycling tour programs in Indonesia such as the 'Tour de Singkarak', 'Tour de Siak' and others," PB ISSI General Chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari said after the soft launch of the TdI last week (Nov 9).          The TdI will be the biggest cycling event in Indonesia. Its soft launching was held first to ensure that it would be organized after five years. It will be held in July 2017 to coincide with the National Championship schedule of the Union Cycliste Internationale/International Cycling Union (UCI).

INDONESIA TO FOCUS ON SPORTS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 21 (Antara) - Indonesia is developing its sports tourism through the launch of running, biking and rock climbing events in tourism destinations, as part of its efforts to promote and advance its tourism sector.         According to Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, all of the 34 provinces in Indonesia are encouraged to organize sports events in tourism resorts for the development of sports tourism destinations.         The Youth and Sports Ministry will encourage all provinces in the country, apart from the 10 provinces being designed as primary tourist destinations, to organize sports events such as biking in tourism destinations from next year.          "In 2017, we will encourage all provinces to develop sports tourism. The sports tourism in the country has shown good development from year to year," Nahrawi said on Sunday (Nov 20).          For example, the provincial government of Central Java continues to organize the Borobudur Marathon event around areas of the Borobudur Buddhist Temple, which is also a main tourist destination in the country.         The minister appreciated the Central Java provincial government for its success in organizing the Bororbudur Marathon every year. This year, the marathon was attended by an extraordinary number of runners.

PEOPLE URGED TO EAT MORE FISH

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - The people are advised to eat more fish, as part of the efforts to increase their nutritional and protein intake, improve their health, bring progress to the fisheries sector and reduce beef imports.          The Industry Ministry encouraged increased consumption of fish in various regions to raise domestic demand for fish, in an effort to boost the maritime and fisheries sector.       "We will boost fish consumption, apart from exports, through developing the traditional fish industry, which would increase the demand in the country's fisheries sector," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said last week.          Besides that, consuming fish could also reduce dependence on beef imports. Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Mahyudin called on the government to encourage fish consumption through various policies by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP). Raising fish consumption would reduce dependence on meat imports.         "The price of beef during the recent Eid Adha festivities was recorded at Rp150 thousand per kilogram, while the price of tongkol (a kind of tuna) fish was only Rp20 thousand per kilogram. But, people still prefer beef because they are too much dependent on it," Mahyudin said on Thursday (Nov 17).

INDONESIA HAS TO RAISE MILK PRODUCTION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 18 (Antara) - Indonesia has to increase its fresh milk production to meet its domestic consumption needs, which reach some 7 million liters daily, and to reduce its imports that account for about 80 percent of the needs.         Besides that, it also needs to increase its consumption, as the Indonesian people still consume low amount of milk, accounting for about 12.1 liters per capita per annum.         "Based on the data from the Agriculture Ministry, the per capita milk consumption in 2015 was only 12.1 liters per annum," Legislator Dwita Ria Gunadi said in a written statement in Jakarta last week (Nov 10).          Dwita, of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) said that the government should increase milk production and consumption, because the per capita milk consumption in the country is still lower than other Asian countries.         As of now, Indonesia produces only about 20 percent of the 7 million liters required daily. According to Cooperatives, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SME) Minister Puspayoga, Indonesia must not allow this situation to continue.

GOVT TAKING STEPS TO TACKLE GROWTH OF E-COMMERCE INDUSTRY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 11 (Antara) - The volume of e-commerce transactions in Indonesia is still relatively small but the government is taking anticipatory steps in the face of e-commerce industry growth as it is developing as a global trade model.         Indonesia's e-commerce transactions still account for about one to two percent of retailer transactions or much lower than the global average of eight percent. However, it is predicted that e-commerce transactions in Indonesia will increase drastically from US$12 billion in 2014 to about US$24.6 billion this year.         Therefore, the government sees that the e-commerce industry is one of the business sectors that has good prospects in the future, and for this it is issuing an e-commerce development roadmap through an economic policy package.         The roadmap is appearing in the 14th economic policy package announced by the government on Thursday, November 10, 2016.         "The policy package is aimed at encouraging people all over Indonesia to expand their economic activities efficiently and to connect them to the rest of the world. With this roadmap, they will be able to enhance their business in a better way," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said while announcing the package at the Presidential Office along with Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

LAKES BEING REHABILITATED TO SUPPORT TOURISM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 9 (Antara) - Indonesia has 840 reservoirs or lakes which have high economic and ecological value, and it is not only the locals who will benefit from these reservoirs but also foreign tourists who visit them.          However, some of these reservoirs are facing acute problems on account of pollution from domestic waste, floating fish cages, upstream erosion of land and degradation of their biodiversity. At many reservoirs, the water surface is covered by water hyacinth.         Therefore, the government is rehabilitating its lakes and developing infrastructure as part of the efforts to support its priority tourism development program. For the lake rehabilitation program this year the government has set aside a fund of Rp187.5 billion out of its total lake-related infrastructure development funding of  Rp735 billion.         "The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has allocated more than Rp735 billion for the development of infrastructure. In line with the function of the PUPR function, we are focusing on the development of infrastructure such as toll roads, bridges and lake rehabilitation around Lake Toba in North Sumatra," Lolly Martina Martief, the operation and maintenance affairs director of the Directorate General of Natural Resources of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, said in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday.

STOCKTAKING ON LAND ASSETS AND CERTIFICATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 5 (Antara) - The central government is carrying out land certification throughout the country and encouraging regional administrations to make inventory on land assets.         Data collected through land stocktaking is intended to serve as a basis or data bank, which provides information on land matters such as the need for housing development, including the need for the government's one-million housing development program.         In Indonesia, there are 178 million hectares of land plots, but only about 46 percent of them have been certified. About 90 percent of the certified land plots are in urban areas while the remaining 30 percent are in villages. Therefore, the government is launching the land certification program across the country hoping that by 2025, all land plots would be certified.         According to Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution, the land certification is the backbone of the government's financial inclusive strategy because it would enable the people to obtain credits through the government's micro credit scheme (KUR).         "Actually, the KUR credit can be obtained by low-income people without any collateral; yet with certificates, people can get the KUR credits easily," Darmin said on Thursday (Nov 3).

WB AID FOR TOURISM, LOGISTICS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 4 (Antara) - The World Bank (WB) has agreed to provide Indonesia with a loan to develop its tourism infrastructure and logistics reform programs respectively worth US$200 million and US$400 million.          The assistance is expected to advance Indonesia's tourist destination development and improve its logistics and connectivity systems.          Considering that tourism is one of the significant contributors to the nation's foreign exchange earnings, the government is focusing on the development of ten priority tourist destinations.          By developing these destinations, the government hopes that the number of foreign tourist arrivals would reach 20 million in 2019. Last year, a total of 10.4 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia.          In order to carry out tourism infrastructure development, particularly the ten main tourist destinations, the government involved the World Bank (WB). This is because Indonesia needs a huge fund to develop the ten priority tourist destinations.          However, the funds obtained from the WB is not adequate to develop the 10 tourist destinations. The WB agreed to provide only US$200 million for the development of three of the ten tourism destinations.

FIGHTING FOR FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 3 (Antara) - As an agriculture country, Indonesia was once self-sufficient in the production of rice, the staple food for its people of 250 million, but now it is importing some of the commodity and is struggling to regain its past glory in rice production.         Through the Ministry of Agriculture, the government has continued to improve regulations deemed to have been impeding Indonesia's efforts to regain its self-sufficiency in rice production.         "We are improving all regulations, which are seen to be hindering the pace towards achieving self-sufficiency in food production," Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on the sidelines of a function held to observe the 36th World Food Day in Boyolali, Central Java, on Friday last week.         So far, all procurements such as the procurement of high-bred seeds and fertilizers should be carried out through tenders so that efforts to increase food production are often made late.         According to the Agriculture Minister, Indonesia has been  hit by the El Nino and La Nina weather phenomenon for two consecutive years. The challenges faced in 2015 were extraordinary and the heaviest ones along the history of Indonesia with an intensity of 2.44 percent.

PERTAMINA TO BEGIN INVESTMENT IN MAHAKAM BLOCK

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina will invest in the Mahakam Block in 2017, one year before it officially takes over management of the country's major gas field from PT Total E&P Indonesie.          Officially, Pertamina will take over in January 2018, after the contract of PT Total E&P Indonesie, which has operated the gas field for 50 years, ends on December 31, 2017.         By investing earlier in the gas field, Pertamina hopes to prevent a decline in gas production when it takes over the operation. For this purpose, the government has agreed to the amendment of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with Total E&P Indonesie.         Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ignasius Jonan hoped that the amendment of the PSC would have positive impact on the continuation of the Mahakam Block production. Up to the first semester of this year, the Mahakam Block's gas production was recorded at 1,747 million metric standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) and oil production of 69,186 barrels per day (bpd).         "President Joko Widodo provided directives that matters relating to the management transition should be prepared and completed as soon as possible. With the amendment of the PSC, Pertamina is now able to invest in the Mahakam Block during the transitional period. Later, this investment could be recognized by the Upstream Oil and Gas Operator (SKK Migas) as cost recovery," Minister Jonan said Tuesday.

CATTLE IMPORTS MUST INCLUDE HEIFERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 28 (Antara) - In its efforts to encourage cattle production at home and reduce imports which last year still reached 36 percent of domestic needs, the government requires importers to include heifers in their feedlot cow imports.        The Trade Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry will soon draft a technical guidance for the cattle importation scheme which requires the inclusion of mother cows. The government will audit the number of heifers included in the importation of feedlot cattle at the end of 2018.         "At the end of 2018, the number of heifers that companies have imported would be audited. It should reach 20 percent of their total imports. If importers are allowed to import 123,800 feedlot cows at the end of this year, there should be between 24,000 and 26,000 heifers at the end of 2018," Director General for Internal Trade of the Ministry of Trade Oke Nurwan, said in Jakarta Friday.         At home there are now 32 feedlot companies -- or about 75 percent of all feedlot firms which had the commitment to import cattle based on the Agriculture Minister's Regulation No.49/2016, Director General of External Trade of the Ministry of Trade Dody Edward said on the occasion.

ANTITERRORISM LAW REVISION MUST BE FINALIZED SOON

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) - The draft revision of Law No. 15/2003 on Antiterrorism, which is under the deliberation of the House of Representatives (DPR), must be finalized soon.         Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto called for the draft revision of Law No. 15/2003 to be finalized soon, as it constitutes a legal weapon for security officers in the fight against terrorism.        "If we do not have the weapon, which is the legal umbrella to fight terrorists, it means that we are fighting them with hands being tied," Wiranto said at his office in Jakarta recently.         The deliberation of the bill, which was submitted by the government to the House last January, has been slow as it is still in the stage of collecting inputs from the public. It was initially planned to be completed by June 2016. But, it is still in the stage of collecting public inputs for inclusion in the problem inventory list (DIM).         Inputs and suggestions are expected to come from the civil society, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the public in general.

GOVT GOES ALL OUT TO CURB ILLEGAL LEVIES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 24 (Antara) - Illegal levies have been a chronic problem afflicting various public services in many government agencies, including in the Ministry of Transportation.         It is not only the state that suffers losses as a result of such illegal gratification, but also businesses and people as a whole.         At the ports, such losses could be to the tune of Rp3 trillion per annum, according to an estimate arrived at by the Electronic Business Association (Gabel). Arnaldi Nasrum posted this information in the Kompasiana column in June last year.        The industry could be annually suffering a Rp12 trillion loss as a result of losing market share. This is based on the fact that the value of the electronic market has been calculated as Rp27.7 trillion.         Now, the government is going all out to curb such illegal levies in various institutions. Police arrested officials after they were caught red handed while collecting illegal levies at the Ministry of Transportation premises earlier this month.          "We discussed the operation mounted against illegal levies (OPP). We received a report from the National Police chief that some officials of the Ministry of Transportation were arrested on charges of illegal levies on shipment documents," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) confirmed after inspecting the search operation at the Ministry of Transportation's premises on October 11.

INDONESIA FACES AN INCREASING ELDERLY POPULATION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - Indonesia is facing the problem of a growing number of elderly people who are expected to reach over 32 million in the next two decades.           Indonesia's elderly in 2010 was 4.9 percent, or 11,878,236 people, and this number is projected to increase to 10.8 percent, or 32,112,361 people in 2035.           Accourding to senior researcher Sukamdi of the Center for Population and Policy Studies (PSKK) of the Gadjah Mada University  (UGM),the country is actually going to face a big problem.           "The same issue also occurs in other countries such as Japan. However, there is no awareness of the fact that we have a big problem with the elderly. In my view, Indonesia has not shown a sufficient response to the problem of the elderly," Sukamdi said at the UGM campus Saturday.           The data at the UGM's PSSK on Indonesia's Population projections from 2010 to 2035 indicate that the percentage of the elderly population will increase to 100 percent, he said.           In 2010, the percentage was 4.9 percent, or 11,878,236 people, and this number is projected to increase to 10.8 percent, or 32,112,361 people, in 2035.

GOVT TO ISSUE LOGISTICS POLICY PACKAGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 23 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has since September 2015 issued 13 economic policy packages which have improved the country's investment climate through simplifying regulations which so far impeded investment.         The economic policy packages have been able to improve not only the investment climate but also increase the competitive edge of the Indonesian economy by encouraging regional and national economic development as well.          The forming of new bonded logistics centers (PLBs) might be the most successful in the implementation among the series of economic policy packages, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution.         Therefore, the government is preparing a special economic policy on a logistics distribution system, especially to expedite the implementation of the blueprint on the logistics supply system of the country.          So far, the government has issued 13 economic policy packages over the past year, marked with massive deregulation, simplifying licensing procedure and cancelling thousands of regional regulation. "PLB has succeeded in cutting logistics cost and improving efficiency in domestic trade," Darmin said addressing a Jakarta International Logistic Summit and Expo (JILSE) in Jakarta on Wednesday (October 19).

NEW POLICY PACKAGE TO DEAL WITH E-COMMERCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - The business of e-commerce in Indonesia, like in many other countries, is now developing, recording a total transactions of US$12 billion in 2014.           This year it is estimated to reach $24.6 billion.         The volume of e-commerce transactions in Indonesia is still relatively small, namely about one to two percent of the total retail transactions. It is smaller than the world's average eight percent, or the 16 percent in South Korea and 12 percent in the United States.         Yet the government is taking an anticipatory step to tackle the rapid growth of e-commerce transactions in the country. It will include it in its 14th economic policy package to be announced in the near future.         Now, various sides, including the relevant ministries/state agencies, are discussing matters on the inclusion of such transactions in the government's Economic Policy Package XIV.  One of the issues that is a focus of discussions is related to taxation. It is expected that imposition of taxes would not put too much burden on the businesses.         The government will issue the XIV economic policy package, probably in the next two weeks, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution.        "Perhaps in two weeks. It is still being discussed," Darmin said in Jakarta recently (October 5).

JOKOWI'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GETS GOOD RESPONSE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 21 (Antara) - The economic development in two years of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) government has gained positive responses from an economic analyst, financial authority and businesses.         The Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla (JK) government is considered to have made effective economic breakthroughs and given right responses to global and domestic economic turbulence.           Businesses also claimed to have gained benefit from the economic development in the past two years.          "We see that over the past two years, the economic development in the country has been relatively good," Hariyadi Sukamdani, the chairman of the Indonesian Business Employers Association (Apindo) , said in West Nusa Tenggara on Thursday.          Werry Darta Taifur, an economist specializing in analyzing economic development with the University of Andalas, West Sumatra,  said President Jokowi has been able to make effective economic breakthroughs in his two years at the helm.          "It was effective because people felt its impact. Of course, we still need one to two years to see the overall results."

INDONESIA POISED TO SERVE AS ASPAC'S LOGISTICS HUB

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 19 (Antara) - Indonesia, actively working to become a maritime axis nation and expanding its logistics transportation connectivity through a sea toll project, is poised to serve as a logistics center in the Asia Pacific Region.          With that in mind, the government is developing Bonded Logistics Centers (PLBs) in various parts of the country. So far, it has built 28 PLBs and is planning to build more.          Now, at least 124 companies wishing to run PLBs business in the country are consulting the government.          According to Heru Pamungkas, the director general of customs and excise, these 124 companies are currently having consultations on the establishment of Bonded Logistics Center (PLBs).      "A total of 124 companies are consulting the Customs and Excise Office. Every week, we have a consultation forum to give a chance to these companies to convey their interest. We assist and provide explanations to them so that they understand various technical matters, facilities and objectives of the PLB," the director general said on the sidelines of the Jakarta International Logistics Summit and Expo (JILSE) in Jakarta on Wednesday.          Heru noted that of these 124 companies, nine or ten can be asked to run PLB business in the near future.

EXPORTS DECLINE BUT SURPLUS AGAINST IMPORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 18 (Antara) - Indonesia's exports have been declining over the past three quarters of this year, but they still record a surplus when compared to the imports during the same period.          The values of Indonesia's exports in the January-September 2016 period were recorded at US$104.36 billion, while its imports in the same period stood at $98.69 billion, thus recording a surplus of $5.67 billion.          The values of Indonesia's exports over the past three quarters of 2016, which stood at $104.36 billion, declined by 9.41 percent when compared to its exports in the same period a year earlier.          Indonesia's imports in the January-September 2016 period, which totaled $98.69 billion, also dropped by 8.61 percent over the same period in 2015.          Based on the data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia's export performance in September 2016, which stood at $12.51 billion, declined when compared to that in August, which amounted to $12.74 billion.

TEI 2016 BOOSTS INDONESIAN EXPORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 17 (Antara) - Indonesia's exports, up to August this year, dropped 10.61 percent compared to the same period last year. However, Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2016's success is considered a turning point in its export performance.         The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) hailed the rise of Indonesian exports, as reflected in the increase in the transaction values of Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2016.          "This is a good opportunity to see a turning point in our exports. Our exports continued to drop since early this year. We are grateful, as TEI 2016 could create a momentum," Kadin Chairman for export development Handito Joewono said in Jakarta on Sunday.          The cumulative value of Indonesian exports from January to August 2016 reached 91.73 billion US dollars, down 10.61 percent over the same period in 2015.           However, the success of this year TEI is expected to become a turning point in Indonesia's export performance. The value of trade sanctions concluded in the TEI 2016 has reached US$974.76 million, up 7.2 percent from last year's TEI transaction value, which stood at US$909 million.

FARMERS REJECT PLANNED CLOSURE OF SUGAR MILLS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 15 (Antara) - Seeing rising sugar mill inefficiency from high costs, low productivity, decreasing sugarcane plantations and idle capacity, the state enterprises ministry is considering shutting down 10 sugar factories.         This idea contradicts Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman's plan when he said last April that he would build 10 new sugar mills to push up sugar production. The minister planned to build new factories as Indonesia so far still imported some 50 percent of its domestic needs which reached about five to six million tons per annum.          State-owned plantation companies (PTPNs) held a meeting with the deputy for agro-industry and pharmacies of the Ministry of State Enterprises, Wahyu Kuncoro, on October 6 and reportedly agreed to the closure.          However, the state enterprises ministry plan to close down the mills (PGs) has been rejected by sugarcane farmers.          Chief Patron of the Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association (APTRI), Arum Sabil firmly rejected the plan of the state enterprise ministry to close down nine mills in Java and another one outside Java.