GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Indonesia to compensate, protect victims of past terrorist acts
The Jakarta Post (https://tinyurl.com/yxnu7oza); Tempo (https://tinyurl.com/y5xueywu)

The government is set to grant protection and compensation to people impacted by past acts of terrorism at home and abroad.

The move – stipulated in Government Regulation (PP) No. 35/2020 on the amendment of PP No. 7/2018 on compensation, restitution and support for victims and witnesses – entails wide-ranging state support, which also includes the protection and psychological rehabilitation of children of victims and witnesses.

Presidential expert staff member Dini Shanti Purwono said the regulation, issued on July 8, was proof of the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of Indonesian citizens affected by terrorism.

Terror victims, witnesses and survivors – or their inheritors – may apply for financial compensation through the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

 

160 cases, 85 suspects: Firli reveals antigraft body’s achievements in past six months
CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/y4jhkcjl); Tempo (https://tinyurl.com/y26ppedr)

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri said earlier today the antigraft body had investigated 160 cases and named 85 suspects in the last six months. Firli further added that the KPK had arrested 61 out of the 85 suspects.

“We have also summoned and investigated 3,512 witnesses,” the police general added.

Firli also claimed that the relationship between the KPK and its supervisory body was well and had not hampered any investigative measures, including wiretapping and confiscation of evidence.

 

Minister Nadiem must be evaluated: House
CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/y5rk7hme)

House of Representatives Commission X member Ali Zamroni has said that Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim has to be evaluated following concerns over the involvement of private enterprises in the ministry’s latest teacher training grant program, the Mobilization Organization Program (POP), which is part of the minister’s Freedom to Learn initiative that aims to improve the quality of teachers by involving communities and organizations.

“Education must be free from the interests of particular parties,” said the Gerindra Party politician earlier today.

Ali said that several unqualified organizations were included in the program. Meanwhile, a number of more deserving mass organizations, according to Ali, such as the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah's women's wing Aisyiyah, did not pass the selection process and thus were not able to join the program.

Ali deemed the program full of conflicts of interest considering the involvement of the Putera Sampoerna Foundation, which was selected to receive the largest grant of Rp 20 billion (US$1.3 million) to train teachers at 100 schools.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Govt to inject Rp 11.5 T into seven BPDs
Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/y43klwck); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y5raja9x); Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/y4o29ujo) 

The government will inject Rp 11.5 trillion (US$78.9 million) into seven regional development banks (BPDs). Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the BPDs include a bank in West Java (Bank BJB) receiving 2.5 trillion, Jakarta (Bank DKI) Rp 2 trillion, Central Java (BPD Jateng) Rp 2 trillion, East Java (Bank Jatim) Rp 2 trillion and North Sulawesi and Gorontalo (Bank SulutGo) Rp 1 trillion. Meanwhile, the government is still evaluating its plan to place Rp 1 trillion BPDs in both Bali (BPD Bali) and Yogyakarta (BPD DIY). The funds will be used to double loan disbursements of each BPD. They are prohibited from using the funds to purchase government bonds (SBN) or foreign currencies, Sri Mulyani added.

 

Sri Mulyani approves Rp 16.5 T in loans for Jakarta and West Java administrations
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yym7uwnt); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y4ujamtu); Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/y2bmt9u9) 

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has approved Rp 16.5 trillion (US$114.1 million) in recovery loans, as part of the national economic recovery program (PEN), for the Jakarta and West Java administrations. The two provinces will be the first to utilize this scheme and will receive Rp 12.5 trillion and Rp 4 trillion, respectively. The funds will be used to finance local infrastructure projects, including drinking water facilities, public transportation, waste management facilities and flood mitigation infrastructure, as well as tourism and public sports facilities. The loans will be disbursed in two allotments in 2020 and 2021, with Jakarta to receive Rp 4.5 trillion and Rp 8 trillion, and West Java to receive Rp 1.9 trillion and Rp 2.1 trillion. Sri Mulyani also urged other provinces such as Central Java and East Java to utilize the scheme.

 

Govt to tender 12 toll road projects
Investor Daily, (https://tinyurl.com/y6hdhcb4), (https://tinyurl.com/y38bcgp5) 

The government will hold tenders for 12 toll road projects with a total value of Rp 241.9 trillion (US$16.7 billion). The toll road projects are the 93.2 kilometer Solo-Yogyakarta-New Yogyakarta International Airport toll road, the 76.4 km Yogyakarta-Bawen toll road, the 7.9km Balikpapan-Panajam Paser Utara toll road, the 206.6 km Gedebage-Tasikmalaya-Cilacap toll road, the 39.2 km Kamal-Teluk Naga-Rajeg toll road, the 37.7 km Patimban Access toll road, the 31.2 km Bogor-Serpong (Parung) toll road, the 61.5 km Sentul Selatan-Karawang Barat toll road, the 32.4 km Semanan-Balaraja toll road, the 21 km Semarang Harbor toll road, the 40 km Cikunir Karawaci toll road, and the 21.5 km Cikuni Ulujami toll road. In addition to tendering the 12 toll road projects, the government will also finish four toll road projects this year, namely the 33 km first and fifth sections of the Balikpapan Samarinda toll road, the 131 km Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road, the 21km first section of the Manado-Bitung toll road, and the 79 km Banda Aceh-Sigli toll road.

 

Office space occupancy drops
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y2ywgpfl) 

The office space occupancy rate faces pressure from a combination of oversupply and low demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leads Property senior director Darsono Tan said the occupancy rates of many new buildings were under 50 percent. Darsono also predicted the office space occupancy rate to be in the range of 73 to 74 percent by the end of this year. Property consultant Cushman & Wakefield commercial director Nonny Subeno said no new transactions were recorded between April and May, but there had been an improvement in June.

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