GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

House scrutinizes uncoordinated policies between Jakarta administration, central govt
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y7v2b8mf)

House of Representatives Commission IX member Saleh Partaonan Daulay has highlighted the lack of coordination between the Jakarta administration and the central government in imposing COVID-19 policies.

Saleh highlighted in particular Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s decision to impose a transitional period, in which some parts of the capital city will gradually ease their large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), while other parts considered “red zone areas” will continue to fully impose the policy. This, according to Saley, is not aligned with the central government’s wish to immediately implement the “new normal” phase.

Furthermore, Saleh also requested Anies to disclose the details of red zone areas in Jakarta, urging the governor to elaborate further on how the Jakarta administration will enforce the transitional period and how its efficiency will be evaluated.

 

Prabowo asked to retain chairmanship
Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/ybvvygnf); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/yap44ofe); Liputan 6, (https://tinyurl.com/y7lpz3wm)

Gerindra Party members held a virtual national leadership meeting (Rapimnas) on June 4, during which as many as 34 Regional Representatives Council (DPD) members from Gerindra at the regional level urged Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, who also currently serves as the defense minister, to continue helming the party for the 2020-2025 period.

Party central executive board (DPP) deputy chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad confirmed that the Rapimnas was attended by 34 DPD members from Gerindra who represented the executive boards of Gerindra branches.

Gerindra lawmaker Andre Rosiade said Prabowo welcomed the suggestion during the Rapimnas. According to Andre, Prabowo expressed his readiness to retain his position as the party’s chairman and carry out his duties accordingly.

 

House discusses protection of MSMEs in omnibus bill
Media Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/ybz9a5cv)

The House of Representatives Legislation Body (Baleg) continued its discussion on the problem inventory list (DIM) of the omnibus bill on job creation during a meeting on Thursday.

The meeting, which was chaired by Baleg head Supratman Andi, was attended by Baleg members, representatives of the government and lawmakers.

During the meeting, several crucial points of the draft bill were addressed, including the protection and empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives. Baleg deputy chairman Ahmad Baidowi explained that the discussion focused on how the omnibus bill could benefit and boost MSMEs at large, particularly in terms of improving the ease of doing business in the MSMEs sector.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Syahrul: 2.7 million farmers receive social assistance package
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yao8sgbv) 

Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo claimed that his ministry had disbursed social assistance worth Rp 600,000 (US$42.83) per person to 2.7 million farmers. The Agriculture Ministry’s social assistance package includes seeds, fertilizer and plant nutrients, as well as Rp 300,000 in cash. The cash was distributed by the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry.

 

Erick plans shake-up of construction SOEs
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/ya4vstpy) 

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir plans to shake up the leadership position for state-owned construction firm PT Wijaya Karya and PT Waskita Karya after having done the same for PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PTPP) and PT Adhi Karya on Thursday. The shake-up will be done through annual shareholder meeting. Waskita’s annual shareholder meeting is being conducted today at Teraskita Hotel in East Jakarta. Wijaya’s annual shareholder meeting will be held on Monday next week.

 

Ombudsman records mounting complaints about aid distribution
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/ydx67r47) 

The Indonesian Ombudsman has received hundreds of complaints about the distribution of COVID-19 social aid, including alleged recipient data manipulation and benefit cuts. The reported data manipulation took place in Jambi and Papua, where the number of recipients was changed and the original recipients’ names were replaced with others who were not the targets of the program, Ombudsman chairman Amzulian Rifai said in a statement on Wednesday. One month after the Ombudsman opened its online complaint service on April 29, 1,004 COVID-19 related complaints had been submitted, 817 of which were related to social aid distribution. Most reports, however, were not from the provinces where the alleged data manipulation and benefit cuts were later found. The reports were predominantly from Banten, West Sumatra, Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Central Java and East Java. Amzulian Rifai also said the government should be more proactive in conveying information to the public and should prepare plans to resolve the social aid problem faced by the community.

 

COVID-19 Task Force allows companies in nine sectors to resume operation
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y7gyz9ev); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/yckltne90; Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/y8akr73l) 

Indonesia’s COVID-19 Task Force has allowed companies in nine sectors to resume operation during the transition period as preparation for the “new normal”. The sectors include mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture and husbandry, fisheries, as well as logistics and trucking. Task force chief Doni Monardo said the selected sectors had low risk of COVID-19 spread and significant economic impact particularly in combating unemployment.

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