Indonesia Morning News For May 20, 2019
State budget deficit reaches Rp 101 trillion in April The Finance Ministry announced that the state budget deficit had reached Rp 101 trillion (US$6.97 billion) as of April this year, compared to the deficit of Rp 54.9 trillion in the corresponding period, last year.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia on edge as Islamist group plans rally in capital
An Islamist group plans to hold a two-day rally from tomorrow in Jakarta to protest against what it claims are fraudulent election results that helped President Joko Widodo win a second term.
— The Straits Times
Unarmed Officers Best Bet to Foil Attackers in Election Protests: Police
The National Police have decided not to equip officers with firearms during Wednesday’s expected election protests in Jakarta, as they seek to minimize risks despite threats of terrorist attacks.
— Jakarta Globe
Nine more militants nabbed in Indonesia
Indonesian police have arrested nine more militants in connection with a plot to strike during the ongoing election period.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Ambassador affirms Indonesia, OIC members support Palestine
The Indonesian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Husnan Bey Fananie, has affirmed that Indonesia and the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) continue to support Palestinian independence.
— Antara News
Palm oil export volume up but price volatility sees value plummet The palm oil sector is taking a cautious stance toward its export outlook as a turbulent global economy and negative sentiment toward the commodity have taken a toll on palm oil prices.
— The Jakarta Post
Depok Council rejects draft bylaw to make residents more religious The Depok Council has rejected a proposed bylaw submitted by the city administration to make Depok a “religious city”, saying that religion is not something to be regulated by regional governments.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia has 171 million internet users: Study
The number of internet users in Indonesia increased by 10 percent last year, according to a recent study by Polling Indonesia conducted in cooperation with the Indonesian Internet Providers Association (APJII).
— The Jakarta Post
U.S. embassy issues Indonesia security alert ahead of election results
The U.S. embassy in Jakarta has issued a security alert ahead of election results due on Wednesday, as Indonesian authorities have arrested nearly 30 suspected militants, including some who police say are able to detonate bombs using Wi-Fi networks.
— Reuters
Lombok Expects Tourism Boost with 2021 MotoGP Deal
“We are confident that the MotoGP will be an amazing opportunity to lift up tourism in Lombok and Sumbawa,” Awanadhi Aswinabawa, chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Association’s (GIPI) NTB said.
— Indonesia Expat
Bogor terrorist plotted May-22 attack in front of KPU building
The terrorist detained on May 17, in Bogor, West Java, wanted to detonate a bomb in front of the General Election Commission (KPU) Building, Jakarta, on May 22, 2019, the election results’ announcement day.
— Antara News
Indonesia faces political stand-off as vote count nears finish
Prabowo firm on rejecting election results as current tally has him losing to Jokowi again Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto’s vehement insistence on rejecting the upcoming election resultson grounds of alleged vote-riggingcould thrust Indonesia into a tense …
— Intellasia
Lampung’s imports surge 171.26 percent in first months of 2019 Lampung province’s imports surged 171.26 percent to US$397.38 million during the first four months of 2019, compared to one month earlier.
— Antara News
Indonesia tells airlines to trim fares without compromising safety
Indonesia’s transport ministry has trimmed the maximum fares airlines can charge for domestic routes, effective later this week, as millions of Muslims prepare for homecoming trips at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The transport ministry, which regulates …
— Intellasia
50 undocumented Indonesian migrant workers in Jordan return home
Fifty undocumented Indonesian migrant workers in Jordan have returned home, after the Indonesian embassy in Amman took advantage of the Jordanian Government’s fourth amnesty period for troubled foreign workers, a government …
— Antara News
Domestic car sales falls 17 percent in April
Domestic car sales in April 2019 fell 17.8 percent to 84,029 units, from 102,258 units in the same month last year, according to the Indonesian Association of Motor Vehicle Producers (Gaikiindo).
— Antara News
Lukita upbeat of Indonesia-Chile CEPA boosting nation’s trade surplus
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita is optimistic that the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC-CEPA) would aid in boosting the trade surplus posted by Indonesia.
— Antara News
1965 survivors choir ‘Dialita’ awarded Gwangju human rights award
The Dialita Choir, a group of survivors of the 1965 tragedy in Indonesia, has been honored with the 2019 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights for “showing the path to reconciliation and healing through music”.
— The Jakarta Post
Bad weather forces French carrier jets to land in Indonesia
Seven fighter jets from a French aircraft carrier made unscheduled landings in Indonesia on Saturday because of bad weather during training.
— BBC News
Chinese citizen arrested for smuggling baby lobsters: police
Indonesian police investigators have questioned Kong Huping, a Chinese citizen who was recently arrested for attempting to smuggle several hundred thousand baby lobsters from Jambi Province’s waters to Batam Island .
— Antara News
Monitoring hack shines a light on fishing boats operating under cover of dark
A new report shows that many of the fishing vessels that operate at night in Indonesian waters don’t broadcast their location, masking a potentially massive problem of illegal and undocumented fishing.
— Mongabay
Prabowo supporters to hit streets on May 22 despite terrorism alert
Supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto are still planning to take to the streets to challenge the election results, despite a warning from security officials that the rally could become the target of a terrorist attack.
— The Jakarta Post
KPK`s Search of Fisheries Ministry Related to Ships Purchase
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) searched the offices of the Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Directorate General at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, in connection with the procurement of surveillance ships to combat illegal fishing.
— Tempo.co
Inalum looks for cooperation with China’s metal industry
State mining holding company Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) is looking to cooperate with the metal industry in China to accelerate downstream mining operations.
— The Jakarta Post
Adaro expects to install first renewable power plant in 2020
Indonesia’s second largest coal producer PT Adaro Energy, through its subsidiary PT Adaro Power, plans to complete its first commercial renewable energy power plant with a battery capacity of 6.5 megawatts (MW) to electrify two islands in Central Sulawesi, Paku and Umbele Morowali.
— The Jakarta Post
Coffee shots may get cheaper as supply from Sumatra swells
Coffee production in Indonesia, the world’s third-largest grower of robusta beans favored by instant drinks makers like Nestle SA, will probably climb to the largest in four years in 2019, boosting global supplies and potentially further reducing costs for caffeine addicts.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia Shows Seriousness in Hosting 2032 Summer Olympics
The Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Chairman Erick Thohir announced that the Indonesian government is serious in hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics after Vice President Jusuf Kalla briefly met with Thomas Bach at the International Olympic Commission (IOC) in Laussane.
— Tempo.co
Ciliwung Women School to Decrease Domestic Violence via Education
The Women School of Ciliwung in South Jakarta has embraced women in the area to decrease the number of domestic violence through education and women empowerment.
— Tempo.co
Indonesian warship visits outermost island
An Indonesian warship KRI Yos Sudarso 353 visited Fani Island which is one of Indonesia’s outermost islands located in the Pacific Ocean bordering Palau, a country situated north of Indonesia’s province of West …
— Antara News
KPK’s search related to purchase of surveillance ships
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) searched the offices of the Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Directorate General at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, in connection with the …
— Antara News
Subianto-Uno spokesman clarifies that Prabowo is still in Indonesia
Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno National Winning Body spokesman Andre Rosiade refuted media reports claiming that Prabowo had left Indonesia for Brunei Darussalam, clarifying that a photograph circulated by the media was …
— Antara News
Indonesia’s transgender Muslims find safe haven for prayer during Ramadan
A small Islamic school in Indonesia is providing a safe haven for the marginalised transgender community to pray during the holy month of Ramadan, its founder said on Thursday, calling for wider acceptance of LGBT+ people.
— Intellasia
Hacktivists, Bots, Elections: Indonesia Stepping Up Its Cybersecurity
The government should be thanked for their role in improving cybersecurity in Indonesia in the past five years, including during elections, an expert has said.
— Jakarta Globe
Indonesian Buddhists observe Waisak emphasizing religious tolerance
The Waisak celebration at the Tri Ratna temple in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, emphasized the importance of religious tolerance and national identity at a time when political controversy dominates public discourse following last month’s presidential election.
— The Jakarta Post
Miners look to S. Korea, China amid low investment
Indonesia’s second-largest coal producer, PT Adaro Energy, has started looking to China and South Korea for potential funding sources as countries in Europe have shifted away from investing in coal-related businesses such as power plants and mining due to climate concerns.
— The Jakarta Post
Man Arrested for Allegedly Posting Fake Video of People Power The North Sumatra Provincial Police have arrested a 30-year old man on charges of spreading a fake video promoting the people power movement in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan.
— Tempo.co
Police arrest man for allegedly posting fake video of people power The North Sumatra Provincial Police have arrested a 30-year old man on charges of spreading a fake video promoting the people power movement in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan.
— Antara News
Fake news still challenges Indonesia’s post-election atmosphere
The proliferation of fake news and hatred in social media platforms and online media did not end after the first simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections in modern Indonesian history.
— Antara News
Ex-Intelligence Chief Wants to Lend His Trained Dogs to Police
Former intelligence chief A.M. Hendropriyono said he will lend 150 of his best trained dogs to assist security forces at the General Elections Commission, or KPU, in anticipation of a massive protest against the election result on May 22.
— Jakarta Globe
Seven operators to start trans-Java bus service on May 27 Seven bus operators will take part in a trial run of a trans-Java bus service starting on May 27.
— The Jakarta Post
Tanah Abang residents clash with motorcyclists mistaken for gang members
viral video has been making the rounds on social media that shows people who live near the Jatibaru overpass in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, clashing with passing motorcyclists.
— The Jakarta Post
APEC to strengthen regional economic integration
Trade ministers from member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are convening in Chile, host of the APEC 2019, to strengthen regional economic integration, against a backdrop of slowing trade …
— Antara News
PT Inalum constructing alumina refinery plant in West Kalimantan
PT Indonesia Asahan Alumunium (Inalum) is presently constructing an alumina refinery plant in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, whose project’s development was launched by State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno on April 4, …
— Antara News
Grab to operate electric scooter service at Terminal 3 State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II) and ride-hailing app Grab are working together to offer an electric scooter service at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to support mobility in the terminal.
— The Jakarta Post
Rotiklot Dam expected to be new tourist site in East Nusa Tenggara
Rotiklot Dam in Fatuketi village, Kakuluk Mesak Subdistrict, Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara province is expected be a new tourist site for people in the district and its surrounding areas.
— Antara News
Sustaining growth a delicate balancing act: APEC
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region aims to stay the course amid a challenging global environment and sustaining economic growth is a delicate balancing act, said a new report issued by the APEC Policy Support.
— Antara News
Sheikh Burhanuddin’s grave to be site of W. Sumatra religious tourism The Padang Pariaman District Government of West Sumatra has designated Syekh Burhanuddin’s tomb as a cultural heritage area which would be used as a religious tourism site, with funding of Rp120 billion.
— Antara News
Feature photo Madu Bina Apiari
This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Bee Day, May 20.
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Indonesia morning news for May 20 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 20, 2019
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Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.
Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.
She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.
