GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

12 checkpoints across Jakarta require SIKM for cross-region travel
Detik, (https://tinyurl.com/y96b24r5); CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y87et3w3); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/y9susus7)

Cross-region trips to and from Jakarta will be strictly monitored in 12 different checkpoints starting today, following the beginning of the third phase of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) imposed in the capital city.

The monitoring is in accordance with Jakarta Governor Regulation No. 47/2020, which states that the 12 checkpoints will be located in Jakarta’s border areas, including Kalimalang, Lenteng Agung, Kalideres and a number of highways leading in and out of Jakarta.

Residents who wish to leave or enter Greater Jakarta are required to obtain a Jakarta exit and entry permit (SIKM). The permit can be requested online by residents who have met the requirements and followed all steps listed on corona.jakarta.go.id.

 

Some leaders to allow mass Idul Fitri prayers despite calls to worship at home
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/ycuqljrp)

Some regional leaders are set to allow residents to perform mass Idul Fitri prayers despite the central government’s announcement that such gatherings were against prevailing public health laws during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Bekasi city administration in West Java, for example, has announced that it will allow 38 districts to hold mass Idul Fitri prayers, saying the districts are categorized as “green zones”, meaning they have a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases.

In West Nusa Tenggara, Bima Mayor Lutfi has also announced that mass prayers are allowed, contradicting Governor Zulkieflimansyah’s decision to ban all forms of congregational prayer during the holiday.

Several other regions that have not reported any confirmed cases of COVID-19, such as North Gorontalo regency in Gorontalo and Natuna regency in Riau Islands, will also allow residents to perform mass Idul Fitri prayers.

 

KPU responds to reports on alleged population data breach
Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/ybxajjv6); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/yamek8pt); Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/yd2vt2or); Republika, (https://tinyurl.com/y8887wr6)

General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Viryan Azis has affirmed that the KPU has been conducting an investigation into an alleged breach of Indonesian population data as recorded in the 2014 final voters list (DPT).

Regardless, according to Viryan, the circulating data on Indonesian population believed to be breached had always been open to the public. Public access to the data, Viryan added, was regulated in Law No. 8/2012 on the general election, which states that KPU offices at the regency and city level must provide a copy of the DPT to political parties participating in regional elections.

The KPU, however, will still take follow-up actions and disclose the results of its investigation to the public.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Tax revenue down in April
Investor Daily, (https://tinyurl.com/yavrkded); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y7grs7xb)

The Finance Ministry has explained that tax revenue as of April totalled just Rp 376,67 trillion (US$25.34 billion), equal to 30 percent of the government’s target, a 3.1 percent contraction year-on-year (yoy). The main driver of the contraction was a decline in income tax revenue in the oil and gas sector, which fell 32.3 percent. Ministry spokesperson Rahayu Puspasari added that revenue from corporate income taxes had dropped 15.23 percent. Furthermore, revenue from the import income tax and value added tax (VAT) contracted 8.9 percent, while revenue from the domestic VAT increased slightly by 0.82 percent. The impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak have started to be felt, especially in the trade, construction, real estate, mining, transportation and logistics sectors. The finance and insurance sectors have continued to operate relatively normally amid the pandemic.

 

Funding of national strategic project land procurement no longer requires state budget revision
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/ybydt94t)

The government has facilitated funding for land procurement for national strategic projects (PSN) through the signing of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 66/2020, which permits financing through long-term and/or reserve funds. The regulation revises Perpres No. 102/2016, which requires funds to be allocated from the state budget. Finance Ministry State Assets Director General Isa Rachmatarwata explained the fund detailed in the new regulation was a pool of funds accumulated from funding and fund management gains. The funds can be used without having to wait for next year's state budget or state budget revisions.

 

South Korea invests Rp 22 trillion to develop Dumai refinery
Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/y7xyxznf)

South Korean investors have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to partner with state-owned energy holding company PT Pertamina and state-owned construction firm PT Nindya Karya to work on a refinery development master plan (RDMP) valued at Rp 22 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in Dumai, Riau. Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Bahlil Lahadalia said the Dumai refinery would increase oil and fuel production capacity, helping the country to lower dependency on oil imports while addressing the current account deficit (CAD) issue. The MoU was signed by Pertamina processing and petrochemical megaprojects director Ignatius Tallulembang, Nindya Karya president director Haedar Karim and a Korean consortium represented by DH Global Holdings Co. Ltd. chairman Jung Sam Seung. According to Bahlil, the refinery development is a priority national strategic project (PSN).

 

Bank Permata appoints new commissioners after acquisition by Bangkok Bank
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/ycsqccfn); Detik Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y8829ge7) 

Thailand-based Bangkok Bank has officially acquired privately owned Bank Permata after acquiring 89 percent of Bank Permata’s shares from British financial giant Standard Chartered Bank and diversified conglomerate PT Astra International. With the acquisition, Bangkok Bank can now appoint its representatives as members of Bank Permata’s board of commissioners. Bangkok Bank president Chartsiri Sophonpanich has been announced as Bank Permata’s new president commissioner, replacing Sebastian Ramon Arcuri. Meanwhile, Chalit Tayjasanant, Goei Siauw Hong and Niramarn Laisathit have replaced Suparno Djasmin, Mark Spencer Greenberg and Ian Charles Anderson as commissioners.

Download PDF