'HIDDEN PARADISE' SETS SIGHTS ON WELL-HEELED TRAVELERS by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 24/10, 2020 (ANTARA) - If all goes according to plan, Indonesias hidden paradise Labuan Bajo will soon be transformed into a super premium tourist destination that will host world leaders besides the well-heeled.

Located in West Manggara district, East Nusa Tenggara province, which is considered as one of the least developed regions in eastern Indonesia, Labuan Bajo is blessed with stunning beaches of white and even pink sand, crystal clear waters, mountains, intact forested isles and valleys, with traditional villages at the center.

 

The tourist site has another appeal: it serves as a gateway to the Komodo National Park, home to the worlds only surviving giant lizard, the Komodo Dragon. The park is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

 

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who visited Labuan Bajo twice this year in January and October, has designated it as one of the 10 top priority tourist destinations, dubbed as Beyond Bali, along with Borobudur in Central Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara.

 

Furthermore, the government is determined to develop Labuan Bajo as a super premium tourist attraction. Keen to showcase Labuan Baju to world leaders, President Jokowi is planning to host ASEAN and G20 Summits at the site in 2023.

 

More importantly, we also want to prepare Labuan Bajo [to host] the G20 [Summit] in 2023 and the ASEAN Summit in 2023, he said, noting that in 2023, Indonesia is scheduled to hold the presidency of the G20 and the chairmanship of ASEAN.

 

The Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has been tasked with developing infrastructure and facilities in Tana Mori and Tana Naga isles in Labuan Bajo, in cooperation with PT PP (Persero) Tbk.

 

"We plan to make Tana Mori a high-end resort in Labuan Bajo akin to Bali's Nusa Dua," development director of state-owned ITDC, Edwin Darmasetiawan, stated recently.

INDONESIA BRACES FOR LA NINA-INDUCED HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL DISASTERS by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 23/10 , 2020 (ANTARA) - The onset of monsoons in most Indonesian regions in September have also triggered flooding in several provinces, including Jakarta, West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, West Java, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, and West Sumatra.

Indonesia, with monsoon and dry seasons, is prone to natural disasters, and usually some 75 percent of the disasters are hydrometeorological in nature, such as flooding, landslides, and strong winds.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that during the period from January to Oct 17 this year, Indonesia had recorded 2,276 natural disasters.

The hydrometeorological disasters comprised 827 floods, 637 whirlwinds, and 416 landslides.

The disasters affected 4.5 million people, with 307 individuals losing their lives, 25 persons going missing, and 469 people sustaining injuries. In addition, the disasters caused light, moderate, to serious damage to 35,176 houses and 1,481 public facilities.

The agency also recorded a total of 321 forest and land fires and five volcanic eruptions over the period of time.

In connection with non-natural disasters, chiefly the COVID-19 pandemic, until Oct 23, Indonesia had reported 381,910 confirmed cases, and 13,077 COVID-19 patients had succumbed to the infectious disease.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that La Nina natural phenomenon is currently developing until the end of this year, and its impact, notably rainfall, with high precipitation, will peak in January and February and gradually end in March and April 2021.

La Nina, known for causing torrential downpours and widespread flooding across the country, is expected to increase rainfall by nearly 40 percent throughout the country.

labu siem pedes

 sayur labu siam kuah pedas.
bahan dasar.
- 1buah labu siam besar iris memanjang.
- telur ayam direbus
- 4 buah tahu digoreng
- bawang goreng.
- santan kara 1 bungkus yg kecil
bumbu tumis..
- bawang merah  6 siung iris2
- bawang putih 4 siung iris2
- cabe merah besar 3 buah rebus sebentar kemudian dihaluskan
- cabe rawit utuh 6
bumbu cemplung.
- daun salam 2 lembar
- laos satu ruas geprek
- garam secukupnya
- bubuk kaldu jàmur 1 sendok makan
- gula merah secukupnya.
langkah2
labu siang lumuri dgn garam   sisih kan kira 10 menit.
tahu yg sdh digoreng di potong jadi dua .
tumis bawang  putih kemudian bawang merah, setelah ranum masukan daun salam, laos geprek, cabe merah yg sdh di haluskan dan cabe rawit  aduk2 hingga ranum ,lalu masukan santan kara ýg sdh di kasih air kira2 1 liter aduk2 hingga mendidih, setelah itu masukan tahu ,labu siam dan telur kemudian tambahkan garam  ,gula merah dan bubuk kaldu jàmur  aduk hingga mendidih , setelah matang taburi bawang goreng....
itu ceu yuyum .. silahkan mencobanya..

Political turmoil amid COVID-19, economic recession can add to burden by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 13, 2020 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has been struggling hard to survive the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its major impacts, notably the economic recession.

The country’s tally of confirmed cases reached 336,716, total recoveries at 258,519, and death toll at 11,935. It was ranked 21^st on the Worldometer’s COVID-19 list of over 200 countries on Oct 13, 2020.

The country saw an economic contraction of 5.32 percent in the second quarter of 2020. Several million Indonesians became jobless owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nation had to face another burden caused by a political turmoil marked by major rallies on Oct 6-8 and Oct 13, in several cities following the House of Representatives’ (DPR’s) decision to endorse the government-proposed Job Creation Law on Oct 5, 2020.

The government affirmed that every stakeholder, including the representatives of employers, trade unions, academicians, and experts, were involved in drafting the Job Creation Law, Indonesia’s first omnibus law comprising 79 laws. The draft law was also introduced to the public, it stated.

On Oct 9, President Joko Widodo had highlighted numerous benefits of the law intended to boost domestic and foreign investment and create job opportunities for Indonesian workers. The law aims to protect the interests of Indonesian workers and the environment as well as boost the economy.

However, trade unions, students, several university lecturers, and activists hold diverse opinions, as they harbor concerns over the law benefiting companies rather than workers, as it would encourage outsourcing the employment system, allow foreign blue-collar workers to work in Indonesia, and endanger the environment.

Exchange of words continue unabated via mainstream and social media, but no solution lies in sight, as some people, including legislators, affirmed that work was still ongoing on the final draft of the law. When the Parliament endorsed the law, hard copies of the final draft were not distributed to the attending MPs.

"No, (we did not receive hard copies of the final draft). It is not yet completed, but it is already endorsed. What is being endorsed is a ghost bill," Benny Kabur Harman, the Democratic Party legislator, who decided to walk out while the endorsement was ongoing, stated.

Omnibus law protests highlight need for dialogue by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 10 , 2020 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo’s goal of getting Indonesia’s first ever omnibus bill passed into law has finally been realized after six months of deliberations.

On October 5, 2020, the House of Representatives (DPR) endorsed the proposed legislation, which comprises 79 laws and spans 905 pages.

Six political parties — PDIP, Golkar, PKB, NasDem, PPP, and Gerindra — firmly endorsed the omnibus bill; the National Mandate Party (PAN) endorsed it, but with some notes; while, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party (PD) opposed the bill.

The bill was proposed by Widodo after he was re-elected as Indonesia's President for the 2019-2024 term. At his swearing-in ceremony on October 20, 2019, Jokowi had asked the Parliament to complete deliberations on the omnibus law within 100 days.

The government completed the draft omnibus bill on February 12, 2020, and the Parliament began discussing it on April 2, 2020.

The government has claimed that all stakeholders in the country were involved in the drafting of the bill, including the Manpower Ministry, experts, businessmen, and labor union representatives. And, it was widely publicized among the public, both the government and the DPR have claimed.

However, following its Parliamentary approval, the law has been rejected by many labor unions, activists, and university lecturers, who have said it would harm workers’ interests and endanger the environment.

Their opposition centers on certain fundamental issues covered by the law, which, they feel, would be disadvantageous to workers. The issues pertain to reducing severance pay, implementing a contract and outsourcing system, setting minimum wages, and the potential loss of health insurance and pensions for workers owing to the implementation of contract-based employment and outsourcing, among other things.

“Our concerns are that the omnibus bill will hurt labor. Because some of the regulations will allow foreign unskilled workers (to be employed), it will be a massive use of outsourcing, flexible working hours, and a change in payroll scheme from monthly to hourly,” chairman of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal, noted in a statement.

Starting October 6, 2020, labor unions had called for a nationwide strike and rallies in several Indonesian cities. University students, vocational students, activists, and other elements also joined the rallies.

On October 8, 2020, the third consecutive day of protests, the rallies took a violent turn, leading to several protesters and policemen getting injured, and 18 bus stops and one MRT station suffering damage downtown of Jakarta.

AS INFECTIONS SPIKE, JAKARTA PRIORITIZES HEALTH OVER RECOVERY by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 4/10/2020 (ANTARA) - Several Indonesian provinces reported a sharp spike in coronavirus infections in August and September, with the highest single-day rise of 4,494 cases recorded nationally on September 26, 2020, to which Jakarta alone contributed 1,322 cases.

When the Indonesian capital celebrated its 493rd anniversary on June 24 this year, it had clocked 195 fresh COVID-19 cases over a 24-hour period, which had taken its total tally to 10,472. Nationwide, the tally had reached 49,009, with 1,113 fresh cases registered that day.

In comparison, Indonesias COVID-19 tally was pegged at 200,506 cases as of October 3 this year, with 4,007 fresh cases reported in the previous 24 hours. Jakarta accounted for 1,265 of the total infections, which took its total caseload to 77,452.This surge in infections has not just been seen in Indonesia, but in many countries across the world after they relaxed COVID-19 measures from May this year, when the rate of infections slowed, to make way for the new normal.

The Indonesian government also eased restrictions starting May to begin the transition to the new normal in several regions, including Jakarta, where the number of COVID-19 cases had shown a declining trend.

Jakarta had imposed Large-Scale Social Distancing (PSBB) measures for the first time from April, to June 3, 2020. Starting from June 4, the capital city had implemented a transitional PSBB as part of the shift towards the new normal.

However, after the COVID-19 infection rate climbed, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan decided to re-enforce PSBB measures from September 14, 2020 for a period of 14 days.

The measures include imposition of sanctions and fines on those found violating the health protocols, which prescribe wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, restricting the capacity of spaces, and refraining from activities that lead to gathering of crowds.

Considering the emergency situation in Jakarta, there are no other choices, but to put the emergency brakes. This means that we have to implement the PSBB as it was in the beginning of the pandemic. This is the emergency brake that we have to pull, Baswedan said on September 9, 2020.

Data shows infections were climbing in Jakarta at the time: The capital city had recorded 7,960 active cases on August 30, 2020, and 12 days later, on September 11, 2020, the number had jumped to 11,824 active cases, an increase of 3,864 cases, or 49 percent.

According to data provided by the Jakarta provincial government, over 12 days of the PSBB implementation from September 12-23, 2020, the number of active cases was recorded at 13,277, an increase of 1,453, or 12 percent, compared to the figure for September 11.

Despite the slowing of active cases, the Jakarta authorities have remained vigilant over concerns the infections could spike again.

Therefore, Anies Baswedan has decided to extend the PSBB until October 11, 2020, by enforcing health protocols focusing on the 3Ms (wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands) .

The Association of Indonesia's Indigenous Businessmen (HIPPI), Jakarta chapter, has said it understands the Jakarta Governors rationale for extending the PSBB measures.

In a statement released recently, chairman of HIPPI Jakarta, Sarman Simanjorang, said entrepreneurs have no choice but to support the policy.

The PSBB extension has burdened entrepreneurs owing to minimal transactions, a fall in turnover of up to 80 percent, decrease in cash flow, and increase in operating costs, he noted.

"But this is a risk that we must face and share. Our hope is that this PSBB is the last one so that there is certainty for the business sector," he said.

According to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the nations main focus is handling the COVID-19 pandemic as economic recovery will follow suit.

However, on September 14, 2020, he asked regional heads to not be hasty in imposing lockdowns in their territories to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

Once again, do not rush to close an area, city, or district, and if we work based on data, the intervention steps will be more effective and can immediately solve problems on the field, Jokowi remarked while chairing a limited cabinet meeting at the Merdeka Palace.

To deal with the rise in infections, Jakarta has increased the number of referral hospitals for COVID-19 patients from 67 to 100. The authorities have later added 13 regional public hospitals (RSUD) and 26 private hospitals on the list of referral hospitals for COVID-19 treatment.

Furthermore, the government has instructed that residents who test positive for COVID-19 undergo self-quarantine at facilities offered by the government.

However, it is also allowing people to self-isolate at home as per the requisite criteria.

"Well, the point is that every citizen exposed to and infected with COVID-19 must undergo independent isolation, either individually or through government facilities, but not without control," Governor Baswedan explained.

Several hotels are also offering rooms for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, in accordance with President Widodos directions. Currently, at least 15 one-, two-, and three-star rated hotels are being readied as quarantine facilities.

The decision has been taken on account of the high number of COVID-19 family clusters.

Patients exposed to COVID-19 who have undergone independent isolation at home could raise the likelihood of virus transmission, Baswedan stated.

One positive news is that the COVID-19 recovery rate in Jakarta has reached 75.2 percent of the total cases, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.

"The central government is paying special attention to the situation development and will always increase the capacity of hospitals and health facilities," he stated.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, a community health expert, has lauded the decision of the Jakarta Governor to re-enforce the PSBB to check the spike in COVID-19 cases, saying strict implementation of PSBB will effectively control the virus spread.

In the past, when PSBB implementation had not been relaxed, it had proved quite effective in controlling (COVID-19 transmission). After relaxing it, the number of cases increased. So, it must be tightened again, Thabrany noted.

The tightening of PSBB would certainly have an impact on the economy, but the government has a bigger responsibility -- prioritizing public health above other interests, he remarked.

So, by prioritizing public health, it is hoped economic recovery would also be realized more quickly "lest people whose businesses are affected influence the government to not implement strict PSBB", he said.

He said anyone who disagrees with the strict implementation of the PSBB must be held responsible for the impact of the spike in COVID-19 cases on public health.

"If they are willing to (take) the responsibility, to pay the (medical cost) of someone infected with (COVID-19), go ahead," he averred.

In addition to strict PSBB, the Jakarta authorities must also impose a curfew to limit outdoor activities at night, he advised.  
 
 

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