GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

PDI-P announces candidates for upcoming regional elections
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y55rv4bt); (https://tinyurl.com/y4tbyt24) 

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) announced earlier today a list of candidates that the party will nominate in the upcoming 2020 regional elections. Among the candidates are four gubernatorial tickets, namely Cek Endra-Ratu Munawaroh in Jambi, Soerya Respationo-Iman Setiawan in Riau Islands, Zainal Paliwang-Yansen Tipa Padan in North Kalimantan and Mohamad Hidayat Lamakarate-Bartholomeus Tandigala in Central Sulawesi.

Other than candidates for the four gubernatorial elections, the PDI-P has also nominated candidates for 58 mayoral/regency elections across the country. Among these candidates is Adly Fairuz, grandson of Vice President Ma’ruf Amin. However, the PDI-P has yet to name its candidate for the mayoral race in Surabaya, East Java, where the nomination process has been reportedly contentious.

 

Jakarta extends transitional PSBB period for fifth time to Sept. 10
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/y26dxzzn) 

The Jakarta administration is extending the transitional period of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for another 14 days, beginning Friday to Sept. 10. Governor Anies Baswedan announced the extension through his Instagram account, urging the public to be more serious in following health protocols by limiting activity outside their homes, maintaining 1-2 meters between each other in a public setting and washing hands with soap regularly.

“To suppress various epidemiological indicators of the spread of COVID-19, [I hope that we] all keep our spirits up, keep reminding each other and follow the provisions of this transitional PSBB,” the Instagram post said Thursday.

The extension was the fifth since the capital first extended the PSBB from June 4 to July 16, dubbing it a "transitional" phase that would go along with the gradual reopening of the economy.

 

Public works ministry urged to reject Anies’ proposal
Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/y44lytmv)  

House of Representatives Commission V deputy chairman Syarif Abdullah Alkadrie has asserted his disapproval of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s plan to open a bicycle lane along a portion of the inner-city toll road. Syarif has also urged the Public Works and Housing Ministry to reject Anies’ proposal.

According to Syarif, toll roads must be used in accordance with prevailing regulations, namely for four-wheeled and six-wheeled vehicles. Syarif also pointed out the safety concerns, with toll-roads packed with vehicles driving at high speed.

The Jakarta administration has previously sought to open more bike lanes to support cyclists and curb air pollution in the capital city. The need for alternative cycling routes has become more urgent in recent months to prevent Jakarta residents from crowding a single area, such as the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Car Free Day, amid COVID-19 concerns.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Sri Mulyani: Q3 too early to assess recovery of fragile economy
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y2gxqlvg); Detik, (https://tinyurl.com/yxd2q7fh) 

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has admitted that the economic recovery efforts from July to August will not have a significant impact on the national economy in the third quarter. It is still way too early and the economy still too fragile, Sri Mulyani said. Although the government has relaxed the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), household spending and industrial production remain weak. Under this condition, Sri Mulyani predicted the economy might contract 2 percent or record zero growth. “There is still one and a half months left, and the government will use all policy instruments to push the economy into a positive growth zone,” Sri Mulyani told CNBC Indonesia.

 

Coronavirus infects 71 Suzuki employees in Bekasi
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y6cdaaef); Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/y5l47tex) 

Automotive manufacturer PT Suzuki Indomobil Motor has cut production capacity by 50 percent at its Tambun I factory in Bekasi, West Java, following a report of 71 COVID-19 infections among workers. The production cut took effect on Aug. 24, Suzuki Indomobil’s president director Seiji Itayama said. In response, the company has conducted contact tracing and polymerase chain reaction tests on all employees who interacted with the infected workers, Seiji added.

 

Energy Ministry to issue three new mining regulations
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yxqfouhx) 

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will issue three new regulations as mandated by Law No. 3/2020 on coal and mineral mining, dubbed the 2020 Mining Law. The three regulations cover coal and mineral mining operations, mining areas and reclamation and post-mining plans. Article 174 of the 2020 Mining Law required the government to issue the regulations within a one-year period. The ministry’s mining director general, Ridwan Djamaluddin, said the ministry would issue all of the mandated regulations in less than a year.

 

Bosowa: Bank Bukopin shares sold for fire sale price to Kookmin
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yy32jzqb) 

Indonesian conglomerate PT Bosowa Corporindo has said Bank Bukopin shares were sold to South Korea-based Kookmin Bank at a fire sale price. The private placement price of Rp 180 per share was below the market price of between Rp 260 to Rp 280 per share, Bosowa’s finance director Evyana Mukti said. “There was no independent valuation, no fairness opinion,” Evyana lamented. Bank Bukopin’s shares should have been sold at a price higher than their book value, she added.

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