GOVT URGED TO STEP UP SUPERVISION OF EXPATRIATES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 21 (Antara) - The government has been urged to step up supervision of illegal expatriates and improve its manpower skills to face stiff competition in the manpower sector so that seven million unemployed local workers can get jobs.         The All Indonesian Workers Organization (OPSI) said the Manpower Ministry should cooperate with workers and labor unions for supervising foreign workers. Supervision carried out by the ministry should be supported by all sides, including workers and their organizations.         "All manpower services at the provincial and district levels should support the supervision of expatriates," OPSI Secretary General Timboel Siregar said in Jakarta on Tuesday.         He suggested that in order to increase the supervision of foreign workers; the manpower ministry should provide a hotline as a means for conveying information on expatriates, particularly illegal workers.         The Manpower Ministry will also directly repatriate or deport any illegal foreign workers or those who violate Indonesian labor regulations, Manpower Minister M Hanif Dhakiri said on Tuesday.         "If the public knows anything about them (illegal workers), please report to us and we will immediately deport them. These illegal foreign workers will be directly deported from Indonesia if the government finds out about their existence," Hanif said.

MK EXPECTED TO END CONTROVERSIES OVER IMPORT OF MEAT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 20 (Antara) - A Constitutional Court's (MK's) verdict over the judicial review of a law on animal health is expected to overcome controversies arising from the government's plan to import meat from nations not free from animal diseases.          According to the Indonesian Buffalo and Cow Breeders Association (PPSKI), the MK's decision over the judicial review of Law No. 41 of 2014 on the amendment of Law No.18 of 2009 on animal husbandry and animal health will end the controversies.          The government is planning to import buffalo meat from India in an effort to encourage competition in meat sales and bring down the skyrocketing domestic beef prices.          However, several quarters are opposed to the government's plan as India is believed to be a nation that is not yet free from cattle foot-and-mouth disease, apart from the consumption culture of Indonesians, who are not accustomed to eating buffalo meat.         Hence, PPSKI Chairman Teguh Boediyana stated that his organization had called on the MK to soon issue a decision on the judicial review of Article 36 of Law No.41 of 2014 on the amendment of Law No.18 of 2009 on animal husbandry and animal health.     "The article to be reviewed concerns provisions allowing the importation of animals or animal products not based on a country but a zone," Teguh noted.

SANTOSO'S DEATH WILL HELP EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT

 By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 19 (Antara) - The gunfight between the Tinombala Task Force and the armed terrorist group in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday afternoon ended in the death of suspected leader of the group, Santoso alias Abu Wardah.          Deputy Regional Police Chief of Central Sulawesi, Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis, stated on Tuesday that the police has confirmed that one of the two radicals shot dead by the police-military joint task force was Santoso alias Abu Wardah, the leader of Poso's armed terror group in Central Sulawesi.          "Based on physical examination, the body is of Santoso. We are now awaiting the result of the DNA test," he remarked at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday.          Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo hoped that Poso would soon recover and stability will return after the armed terrorist group was crushed by the Tinombala Operation Task Force on Monday evening.          "Following Santoso's reported death, Central Sulawesi, particularly Poso, would soon attain stability and witness accelerated development," Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.          The success of the military-police joint team in decimating the terror group was lauded by many sides, including President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and legislators.

GOVT TO IMPORT BUFFALO MEAT FROM INDIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 18 (Antara) - The government is planning to import buffalo meat from India in an effort to bring down the price of beef at home which is still high at Rp120 thousand per kilogram (kg).          The head of the Quarantine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Banun Harpini, said his agency is preparing a quarantine protocol in coordination with the Indian government to facilitate Indonesia's plans to import buffalo meat. Indonesia will seek guarantee from India regarding the quality of meat so that it meets the country's requirements.           "We hope the imported product meets the import protocol of the director general of animal husbandry," Banun was quoted as saying by Tempo.com news portal on Tuesday (July 12).          The quarantine agency is, therefore, focusing on cooperation with India on buffalo meat import. The quarantine protocol is expected to be completed later this month.          The State Logistics Board (Bulog) has been assigned to  import the commodity.          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stressed that the plan to import buffalo meat is aimed at shoring up the meat supply at home and provide consumers with alternative meat. The government will import not only buffalo meat and innards but also frozen beef.

GOVT URGED TO POSTPONE BUFFALO IMPORT FROM INDIA

 by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 15 (Antara) - The Indonesian Buffalo and Cow Breeder Association (PPSKI) has asked the government to postpone its plan to import buffalo meat from India this month because that country is still not free from foot-and-mouth disease.          PPSKI Chairman Teguh Boediyana said in Jakarta on Tuesday that his organization has sent a letter to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution and to Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, asking them to postpone plans to import buffalo meat from India.     "We, the executive of the PPSKI, implore that the government should put off its plan to buy buffalo meat, or at least delay the distribution of such meat to the market," he added.          In the letter, a copy of which was also received by Antara, the PPSKI listed a number of reasons for its demand. It said importing animal and/or ruminant animal products from a country which is not yet free from foot-and-mouth disease, was fraught with risks.          "If such a dangerous animal disease was to enter the country, it will pose a threat to the buffalo and cow breeding sector at home. It will also threaten other even-toed animals such as goats, sheep and pigs," he warned.

PROJECTS BEING READIED TO ACCOMMODATE REPATRIATED FUNDS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 14 (Antara) - Following the endorsement by the House of Representatives (DPR) of the Tax Amnesty Law recently, the government is preparing projects to accommodate the repatriation of funds so far parked abroad.         Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro had previously forecast that taxpayers registering to avail the tax amnesty program would declare their overseas assets, estimated to be around Rp4 thousand trillion, while an amount to the tune of Rp1 thousand trillion is expected to flow in as repatriated funds.         The government hopes to mop up Rp165 trillion in taxes from tax redemptions and asset declarations prompted by the repatriated money.         To absorb the funds, the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs will soon decide upon certain priority projects backed by the government.         "We will hold a meeting with the State-owned Enterprises (SOE) to carefully formulate projects and set criteria to ensure that those placed best can receive these funds through sale of shares and the issuance of bonds or securities," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said in Jakarta on Thursday.

BIG CITIES ATTRACT MANY FROM HINTERLANDS AFTER LEBARAN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 12 (Antara) - Indonesia always faces a seasonal problem of massive crowds coming to its cities from the countryside after the post-fasting festivities or Lebaran when nearly a million people across the country migrate to big cities to try their luck.         Two years ago, for instance, the National Family Planning and Population Board (BKKBN) estimated that about one million people would migrate to cities across the country, accounting for about 5.5 percent of the 18.1 million home-bound Ied Fitr holiday-makers.          Urbanization will increase the population problem in densely populated big cities, such as Jakarta. Therefore, the government should take steps in this regard to preempt it.         Legislator Saleh Partaonan Daulay of Commission IX on population affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) said equitable development of villages is a solution to the problem of villagers coming to big cities to seek jobs.        The main problem with urbanization is uneven development. Almost all big projects are located in big cities. This prompts villagers to try their luck in cities, Saleh said on Monday.