WORLD LEADERS CONDOLE WITH INDONESIAN TSUNAMI VICTIMS' FAMILIES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 25 (Antara) - Condolences from world leaders are pouring in for the families of the victims of the Indonesian tsunami that struck Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java, claiming at least 429 lives on Saturday.          Condolences poured in from home and abroad for the victims. From abroad, condolences were offered by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, among others.         A towering tsunami, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche of the slopes of Anak Krakatau due to the volcano's explosions in Sunda Strait, devastated several regions in the coastal areas of Banten Province in Java and Lampung Province in Sumatra on Saturday (Dec 22).         Anak Krakatau is a small volcanic island located in Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. It emerged from the ocean half a century after Mount Krakatau's deadly eruption in 1883. The volcano was put on the second-highest alert level in 2012. Anak Krakatau has seen small regular eruptions since June.

SAD DAYS AHEAD OF XMAS, NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 24 (Antara) - People around the globe are usually happy in the face of the year end as they are ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities, but Indonesian people had to bow their heads in sorrow.         A towering tsunami devastated several regions in the coastal areas of Banten province in Java and South Lampung District in Lampung Province on Saturday (Dec 22), killing at least 334 people.         The tsunami was believed to have been triggered by an avalanche of the slopes of Anak Krakatau volcano explosions in the Sunda Strait that separates the Islands of Java and Sumatra.         The Sunda Strait tsunami happened several months after an earthquake and its subsequent tsunami hit Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Sept 28, killing 2,102 people, and Lombok Island on Aug 5, claiming the lives of 555 residents.         Expressions of condolences are pouring from home and abroad for the victims. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have expressed their condolences.

PREPARATIONS ON FOR CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR TRAVELERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - Four days before Christmas, on Friday, an increase in the number of travelers was noticed, particularly at railway stations, and the number of holidaymakers is expected to reach its peak on Saturday.              "The peak will be reached tomorrow (December 22). I checked several places, especially the train station, and there was an around 20 percent surge in the number of passengers," Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi remarked after attending a limited meeting on the Christmas and New Year preparations on Friday.              Hence, the Indonesian Railway Company (KAI) has prepared 444 locomotives, one spare locomotive unit, 1,637 train units and 218 spare train units.              According to the minister, the number of train passengers on other days through the Pasar Senen Railway Station reaches as many as 14 thousand. On Friday, the number of passengers at the station increased to 24 thousand. It is estimated that 28 thousand people will use the trains on Saturday, December 22.               With regard to the number of trains, this year, KAI will undertake 346 regular train trips and 48 additional train trips to serve people who want to use railroad services during the year-end holiday period.

PESANTREN EXPECTED TO PRODUCE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 18 (Antara) - Indonesia, through its Indonesia Making 4.0 program, needs at least four million new entrepreneurs to help reinforce its economic structure in the face of the fourth industrial revolution, or industry 4.0.          Of the requirement, some one million are expected to be contributed by the Indonesian University's Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI PT).          To this end, the Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) institution is also expected to contribute some 20 thousand students (santris). Hence, the Ministry of Industry is providing assistance for pesantrens in an effort to facilitate education and increase the santris' knowledge and skills.          "Santris are expected to possess skills after graduation in carrying out economic activities considered to be important in daily life," Director General of Small- and Medium-Scale Industry Gati Wibawaningsih stated while attending an event designed to encourage the creation of new entrepreneurs within the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo) in Kediri, East Java, on Monday (Dec 17).

LOMBOK STRUGGLING TO REGAIN ITS SHINE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 15 (Antara) - The Lombok Island of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, which has been crowned to become a new Bali, the country's most popular tourist resort province, is now struggling to regain its tourism glimpse.          The government has been developing the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK) in Central Lombok District as an icon of NTB's economic and tourism development.          According to Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the total investment for the development of the Mandalika KEK reached more than Rp17 trillion. "We have a total investment of Rp17 trillion for the development of Mandalika," President Director of PT ITDC Abdulbar M Mansoer noted in Mandalika last month (Nov 18).           The investment is expected to boost the development of Lombok, especially Mandalika, so that the island would regain its tourism shine after it was struck by a series of earthquakes measuring between 6 to 7 on the Richter scale during the July and August period.

SEVERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2019

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 15 (Antara) - After conducting intensive infrastructure development in the country over the past four years, several projects have been completed and will be inaugurated in 2019.         Since the start of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) administration in October 2014, the government has been focusing on the development of the country's infrastructure in an effort to develop connectivity and open access to isolated areas for the smooth implementation of the nation's economic activities.         The government's next intensive program will prioritize the development of human resources after focusing on infrastructure. President Jokowi aims to inaugurate several completed infrastructure projects in the remaining year of his five-year term in 2019.          President Jokowi revealed that currently, the work on several infrastructure projects has been completed and awaiting inauguration.         "Many have lined up but because it is difficult to manage time, there are many that we cannot inaugurate yet," President Jokowi remarked while launching the 2018 National Infrastructure One-Map Policy and Geoportal Progress Book at the Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta, on Tuesday (Dec 11).

PLASTIC INDUSTRIES CALL FOR REVIEW OF PLASTIC BAG BAN

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 13 (Antara) - Plastic waste is difficult to decompose and poses a serious threat to the environment.          Therefore, the government hopes to find solutions to the problem of plastic waste, especially plastic bags that are widely used in shopping centers in Indonesia.         Now many cities in Indonesia are starting to implement regulations that prohibit or limit the use of plastic bags by the shopping centers.         However, the ban on the use of plastic bags will have a negative impact on the plastic industry business. Therefore, the Indonesian Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas) has asked regional governments to review the regulation.          Deputy Chairman of Inaplas, Suhat Miyarso, rejected the ban on plastic shopping bags introduced by several regional heads and requested for a review of the policy.          "Inaplas urged that the policy be replaced by efforts to improve the performance of waste management with all stakeholders," Miyarso stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (Dec 11).         Miyarso added that Inaplas appreciated the government's efforts to tackle the waste problem, as well as its concern about the behavior of the plastic users who were ignorant of the environment.