GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Ahmad Riza Patria elected as deputy Jakarta governor
Detik, (https://tinyurl.com/rsgkd2k); The Jakarta Post (https://tinyurl.com/sonbx9v)

Jakarta City Council elected in a plenary meeting earlier today Ahmad Riza Patria of the Gerindra Party as the new Jakarta deputy governor.

The voting, which was held at City Hall in Central Jakarta, was attended by 100 councilors, who each cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.

Selection committee chairman Farazandi of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said that Riza had secured 81 votes and his opponent Nurmansyah Lubis of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had gained 17 votes, with two votes ruled out of a total of 100 votes.

The council will soon submit the election results to the Home Ministry.

 

Supreme Court elects new chief justice
Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/un4o7pd)

The Supreme Court elected earlier today its new chief justice Syarifuddin to replace incumbent Hatta Ali, who is to retire on April 7.

Out of 47 justices in the court, Syarifuddin received 32 votes, making him the chief justice for the 2020-2025 period, while his contender Andi Samsan received 14 votes.  

The voting was held in two rounds given that the voting did not fulfill the 50 percent plus one vote requirements.

 

Graft convicts will not be released amid COVID-19 pandemic: Jokowi
Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/u3z4zc9); Liputan6, (https://tinyurl.com/wvqnc5t)

The Law and Human Rights Ministry has stated that the plan to revise terms and conditions for inmates stipulated in Government Regulation (PP) No. 99/2012, which was proposed by Minister Yasonna Laoly, will not proceed.

Ministry spokesman Bambang Wiyono said the plan was revoked following statements by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, which clarified that the government did not intend to revise the PP.

President Jokowi reasserted earlier today that the government would only release regular inmates as opposed to graft convicts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

 

PAN lawmaker removed from House Commission III leadership lineup
TribunNews, (https://tinyurl.com/wq37krb)

The National Mandate Party (PAN) has decided to remove lawmaker Mulfachri Harahap from his position as deputy chairman of House of Representatives Commission III.

The decision was stipulated in letter No. 01.027/K-S/FPAN/DPR RI/III/2020 signed by PAN faction head Hanafi Rais and PAN faction secretary Ahmad Yohan on March 27.

Ahmad said Mulfachri’s removal from Commission III leadership was not related to the recent internal discord during the party’s national congress. Ahmad also insisted that Hanafi had previously communicated with Mulfachri regarding his removal.

Mulfachri is to be replaced by Pangeran Khairul Saleh.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Ministry asks automakers to produce ventilators
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/snxvvfu); Liputan6, (https://tinyurl.com/regy6ge) 

The Industry Ministry has asked automakers through the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) to produce ventilators needed by hospitals to treat the rising number of COVID-19 patients, the ministry’s director of maritime industry, transportation equipment and defense equipment, Putu Juli Ardika, said. Putu added that some automakers had discussed the ministry’s request with their component suppliers to conduct the reverse engineering required to develop a ventilator prototype.

Gaikindo chairman Yohannes Nangoi said automakers needed assistance from experienced ventilator makers to prepare a blueprint and raw materials. He said he hoped the government could facilitate such partnership.

 

Consumer confidence weakens as COVID-19 pandemic worsens
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/wvyp7eg); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/vqfwsl5); Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/t2mrahj) 

Bank Indonesia has announced that its consumer confidence index (IKK) in March weakened to 113.8, the lowest level since September 2016, from 117.7 in February. The survey was conducted in 14 cities. Despite weakening consumer confidence, BI is still optimistic following the survey as the IKK index was still above 100.

 

COVID-19 batters February’s loan growth
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/vgjsmfr) 

The Indonesian banking industry recorded a 5.93 percent loan growth in the second month of the year, the lowest expansion since November 2009, according to Financial Services Authority (OJK) data. The figure is lower than the 6.1 percent booked in January. Non-performing loans jumped to nearly 2.8 percent, the highest since May last year. “The slow loan growth was caused by weak demand in line with the economic cycle, which has been slowing since 2019’s fourth quarter,” said Bank Permata economist Josua Pardede on Thursday.

 

Agriculture Ministry, Gojek cooperate over staple foods delivery
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/tue7m9f); Detik, (https://tinyurl.com/wjcbo6m); Liputan6, (https://tinyurl.com/uol43ko) 

The Agriculture Ministry has cooperated with homegrown technology decacorn Gojek to provide a free delivery service for customers who buy staple foods from Toko Tani Indonesia Center (TTIC). “In accordance with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s instruction, the ministry is working to ensure the availability of staple foods during the COVID-19 pandemic until the Idul Fitri holiday. The ministry appreciates Gojek’s cooperation in facing this challenge,” Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said. The ministry’s Food Resilience Agency (BKP) head, Agung Hendriadi, said the cooperation was part of the government’s effort to provide additional income for ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers.

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