Last July, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) won 60.80% popular votes in the Presidential Election, ensuring his re-election for the next 5 years.
However, this is not enough, because in the Parliamentary Election last April, SBY's Democratic Party only secured 26% of the seats in the lower house of Parliament (DPR), therefore he needs to form a coalition with other political parties.
Initially, four Islamic based political parties, i.e. PKS, PPP, PAN and PKB, have vowed to support and provide additional 30% seats in the lower house of Parliament (DPR).
But this is still not enough for SBY, so he made a deal with the opposition party PDIP, 3rd. winner in parliamentary election, PDIP recognized SBY's re-election as President, in exchange for Democratic Party's support for Taufiq Kiemas, husband of PDIP's chairperson, to become chairman of the Parliament (MPR) on 3 October.
SBY's wish for more parliamentary support was materialized last Wednesday when the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie was elected as Chairman of the Golkar Party, 2nd. winner in the parliamentary election.
With the support from PDIP & Golkar, SBY's government will have the support of more than 85% of the seats in parliament. Critics feared that this will weakened law enforcement, which can be seen from SBY's appointment of 3 new leaders of the independent Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the mysterious status of the Bank Century case.
For detailed media reports, please click here, here, here, here.
In view of the above, I hope that the grand coalition built by SBY and his party with all the other parties would enable the upcoming government to work much harder and better for the very best interests of the people & the country of Indonesia.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The closing of Karaoke in Depok
Since the University of Indonesia moved from Jakarta to Depok, West Java, in 1987, the town has developed very rapidly, especially after it became a municipality in 1999.
The existence of one of the largest university in Indonesia has made the town flourished with places for young students to stay and enjoy, such as room & house rentals, shopping and entertainment places including Karaoke Places.
Although the town's 2003 by-law did not mentioned any permit for Karaoke Places, but somehow many Karaoke Places, including big ones like Inul Vista and Nav, have been opened. After several years, the municipality suddenly realized about this mistake and decided to suddenly close them down this Sunday.
For detailed media reports on the above, please click here and here.
I felt so sad at the decision of the Depok municipality to suddenly close down the Karaoke Places without considering the fact that such action would cause many workers to lose their jobs. If the Karaoke Places are really against the by-law, why were they allowed to exist for several years?
The existence of one of the largest university in Indonesia has made the town flourished with places for young students to stay and enjoy, such as room & house rentals, shopping and entertainment places including Karaoke Places.
Although the town's 2003 by-law did not mentioned any permit for Karaoke Places, but somehow many Karaoke Places, including big ones like Inul Vista and Nav, have been opened. After several years, the municipality suddenly realized about this mistake and decided to suddenly close them down this Sunday.
For detailed media reports on the above, please click here and here.
I felt so sad at the decision of the Depok municipality to suddenly close down the Karaoke Places without considering the fact that such action would cause many workers to lose their jobs. If the Karaoke Places are really against the by-law, why were they allowed to exist for several years?
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Armed Forces Day
Before the democratic reform took place in Indonesia on May 1998, I always have mixed feelings on the armed forces.
On the one hand, I was aware that Indonesia needs a strong armed forces to protect and defend sovereignty from any attacks by foreign or domestic enemies. And the fact shows that since our independence the armed forces has played leading role in driving away enemy attacks.
On the other hand, I am very sick and tired of the dominant roles of the military officials in almost every thing that goes on in Indonesia, in which they were used as a tool by the authoritarian regime at that time to maintain power.
10 years after the reform, the armed forces’ role in civilian life has decreased significantly, and civilians played most of the major roles in society.
However, the demilitarization process has gone too far, for example drastic cuts in budget has unable the armed forces to maintain their equipments causing frequent air crashes killing many well and expensively trained officers.
Today, 5 October, the armed forces celebrate its 64th anniversary, and I hope that the government, the parliament and every one in Indonesia would realize that we need a strong armed forces to protect and defend our country and people, therefore obviously we should treat them properly and provide them with what they need so that they can do their job properly.
LONG LIVE THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES!
On the one hand, I was aware that Indonesia needs a strong armed forces to protect and defend sovereignty from any attacks by foreign or domestic enemies. And the fact shows that since our independence the armed forces has played leading role in driving away enemy attacks.
On the other hand, I am very sick and tired of the dominant roles of the military officials in almost every thing that goes on in Indonesia, in which they were used as a tool by the authoritarian regime at that time to maintain power.
10 years after the reform, the armed forces’ role in civilian life has decreased significantly, and civilians played most of the major roles in society.
However, the demilitarization process has gone too far, for example drastic cuts in budget has unable the armed forces to maintain their equipments causing frequent air crashes killing many well and expensively trained officers.
Today, 5 October, the armed forces celebrate its 64th anniversary, and I hope that the government, the parliament and every one in Indonesia would realize that we need a strong armed forces to protect and defend our country and people, therefore obviously we should treat them properly and provide them with what they need so that they can do their job properly.
LONG LIVE THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
The Earthquake & the Parliament
Last Wednesday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale devastated the capital town of West Sumatera Padang and the town of Pariaman, causing hundreds of people killed and missing and injuring many others. Hundreds of houses, office, school, other public utility buildings collapsed.Last Thursday another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale rocked the province of Jambi.In order to handle this disasters, the central government has allocated an emergency fund of Rp. 100 billion.
This morning, various TV stations reported that Indonesian and foreign rescue teams are still looking for survivors who are trapped under the wreckage of buildings or landslides.
While Indonesians mourn over the impact of the earthquakes in both provinces, a glamorous event took place at the capital city Jakarta last Thursday i.e. induction of the new members of Parliament consisting of 560 members of People's Representative Council (DPR) and 132 members of Regional Representative Council (DPD). Although the induction ceremony takes only several hours however according to Kompas the cost is as high as Rp. 46 Billion.
Considering that the Parliament (DPR & DPD) are permanent institutions, I felt that the costs for induction of their members should not be very high, especially now that Indonesia is facing the earthquakes and the economy is still recovering from the impact of global financial crisis.
I hope that the new members of Parliament will do their very best to serve the interests of the Indonesian people, and do not follow the decadent behaviors of some of their predecessors.
Photos: Courtesy of Kompas.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Indonesian Batik Day
For many people in Jakarta, it has become some sort of " tradition " to wear the Indonesian traditional dress or shirt Batik to work every Friday.
But today, me and many others who do not usually wear Batik are also wearing it, due to the following reasons:
Firstly, on this day the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is scheduled to officially announce that Indonesian Batik to a global list of Intangible Cultural Heritage items;
Secondly, I felt that this recognition is special therefore worth celebrating
Thirdly, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono has urged the Indonesian people to wear Batik so as to celebrate this special occasion;
For detailed media report on the above, please click here and here.
Considering the above, I hope that from now on the Indonesian people would show ownership of Batik not just by wearing it but also conducting research to develop designs, and promoting it as often as possible.
Last but not least, I hope that the UNESCO's recognition of Batik would calm down my fellow Indonesians who have shown their uncontrolled anger towards Malaysia about this matter.
Photo: Courtesy of The Jakarta Globe
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Earthquakes in West Sumatera & Jambi
It is very difficult to express how I felt when I read, heard and watched the news on the media about the earthquake that hit the Provinces of West Sumatera and Jambi.
The first earthquake hit Wednesday 30 September at 5.16 PM with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale hit the Province of West Sumatera.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysical Agency (BMKG), epicentrum of the earthquake was located 71 kilometer below sea level around 57 Kilometer from the town of Pariaman, West Sumatera. The effect of the earthquake was felt in places as far away as Jakarta, Singapore and Malaysia.
Thousands of houses/offices/schools and public utility buildings in the towns of Pariaman and Padang were badly damaged. Almost 500 people died and many more people injured. Many people are estimated to have been trapped under building wreckages. Beside that, the earthquake also cause landslides, isolating certain area and making it very difficult to go to the area.
Further, on Thursday at 8.56 am, another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale hit the Province of Jambi on the Southern part of the Island of Sumatera. The epicentrum of the earthquake is located 10 kilometer below sea level around 46 kilometer from Sungaipeneh region.
For detailed media reports on the above, please click here, here, here, here and here.
In connection with the earthquakes, the central & provincial government together with private entrepreneurs have made rescue efforts. President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono accompanied by several ministers visited Padang on Thursday afternoon and stay for a night there to coordinate the rescue efforts. Further, other provinces like North Sumatera and Aceh shall send their rescue teams.
Considering that Indonesia have been experiencing a series of devastating earthquakes in the last five years i.e in Garut, Tasikmalaya, Yogyakarta, Bengkulu and Aceh, I hope that the rescue and recovery efforts can be carried out efficiently and effectively.
Last but not least I would like to express my deepest condolence and symphaty to the victims of earthquake.
The first earthquake hit Wednesday 30 September at 5.16 PM with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale hit the Province of West Sumatera.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysical Agency (BMKG), epicentrum of the earthquake was located 71 kilometer below sea level around 57 Kilometer from the town of Pariaman, West Sumatera. The effect of the earthquake was felt in places as far away as Jakarta, Singapore and Malaysia.
Thousands of houses/offices/schools and public utility buildings in the towns of Pariaman and Padang were badly damaged. Almost 500 people died and many more people injured. Many people are estimated to have been trapped under building wreckages. Beside that, the earthquake also cause landslides, isolating certain area and making it very difficult to go to the area.
Further, on Thursday at 8.56 am, another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale hit the Province of Jambi on the Southern part of the Island of Sumatera. The epicentrum of the earthquake is located 10 kilometer below sea level around 46 kilometer from Sungaipeneh region.
For detailed media reports on the above, please click here, here, here, here and here.
In connection with the earthquakes, the central & provincial government together with private entrepreneurs have made rescue efforts. President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono accompanied by several ministers visited Padang on Thursday afternoon and stay for a night there to coordinate the rescue efforts. Further, other provinces like North Sumatera and Aceh shall send their rescue teams.
Considering that Indonesia have been experiencing a series of devastating earthquakes in the last five years i.e in Garut, Tasikmalaya, Yogyakarta, Bengkulu and Aceh, I hope that the rescue and recovery efforts can be carried out efficiently and effectively.
Last but not least I would like to express my deepest condolence and symphaty to the victims of earthquake.
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