GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Medical association advises three-week PSBB period for Jakarta
The Jakarta Post (https://tinyurl.com/y4e5uudg) 

The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has urged the Jakarta administration to extend the length of its partial lockdown, also known as large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), from the usual two weeks to three weeks.

“As Jakarta IDI chairman and IDI deputy, I suggest that the PSBB be enacted for three weeks minimum,” Slamet Budiarto said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com. Slamet said three weeks would cover the virus’ 14-day incubation period and an extra transitional week to completely curb transmission.

“Moreover, the workers of the 11 business sectors [that are allowed to operate during the PSBB] are still going to do activities outside. Therefore, the IDI advises at least three weeks for the PSBB,” he said.

 

Special autonomy for Papua will continue, fund will be allocated: Chief security minister
CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/y5l4hmvc), Detik (https://tinyurl.com/yxcwm4fr) 

Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has affirmed that the government will continue granting special autonomy for Papua. According to the minister, the allocation of special autonomy funds for Papua will be extended, the mechanism of which will be stipulated in a revision of Article 34 of Law No. 21/2001 on Papua’s special autonomy.

Mahfud asserted as well that the government would include members of the House of Representatives and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) who were from Papua. The inclusion is expected to facilitate discussions between the central government and Papuan community in terms of interests and aspirations.

Papua has exercised special autonomy since the issuance of Law No. 21/2001. The law was amended through Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2008, which has served as the legal foundation for the implementation of special autonomy in Papua. According to the prevailing law, the government will allocate special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua until 2021.

 

KPU to reopen registration process for regional candidates
CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/y4gnz2nq) 

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has decided to reopen the registration process for candidates who would compete in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections. The registration will be reopened in 28 regions where there is only a single candidate pair.

Regions that currently only have a single candidate pair include Semarang, Central Java; Kediri, East Java; and Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

KPU head Arief Budiman said the registration process would remain open in the next three days. The second batch of candidate registration will end on the weekend. Arief further added that the KPU had deliberated its decision to reopen the registration carefully. Earlier this week, the KPU first informed the general public in the 28 regions of the possibility of reopening registration.

Law No. 10/2016 on regional elections stipulates that regional elections can be legally carried out even if there is only a single candidate pair. A single candidate pair can win the election if they secure more than 50 percent of the vote.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES 

House, govt agree on 2021 macroeconomic assumption
Bisnis Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/y6z9gqfm); CNBC Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/yyaxfzdn); Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/yxm2y7gx) 

The House of Representatives’ budget committee and the government has reached an agreement over the country’s growth target for next year at 5 percent. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the agreed target is appropriate, as it reflects cautiously optimistic attitude. Meanwhile, inflation and the Rupiah exchange rate is set at 3 percent and Rp 14,600 per US dollar, respectively.

 

Energy ministry urges local government to prepare RUKD
Kontan (https://tinyurl.com/y5lpow23) 

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry urges regional administrations to prepare Regional Electricity General Plan (RUKD) to ensure the availability of electricity supply amid the pandemic. The ministry’s secretary general Munir Ahmad said many regional administrations have not prepared their RUKD, yet. The RUKD is needed to harmonize regional electricity development plan with the National Electricity General Plan (RUKN) and the PLN’s electricity procurement plan (RUPTL). By streamlining the RUKD and RUKN, the government could accelerate its priority programs such as the 35,000 megawatt (MW) program and ensuring electricity supply to smelters, industrial parks, as well as  special economic zone.

 

JFX suspends Pruton Mega Berjangka
Kontan (https://tinyurl.com/y3hv6bby) 

The Jakarta Futures Exchange (JFX) has suspended the membership of derivative brokerage company PT Pruton Mega Berjangka, following a circular from the Trade Ministry’s Futures Exchange Supervisory Board (Bappebti). The suspension has taken effect since September 9. Because of the suspension, Pruton is oblige by law to liquidate its investment and pass its clients’ account to other brokerages.

 

Cisco, IDC: Digitally matures SMEs could add $164 B to GDP
The Jakarta Post (https://tinyurl.com/y3r6k4yj) 

Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could contribute an additional of US$164 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 if they become more digitally mature, according to a recent study by technology company Cisco and International Data Corporation (IDC). The study, titled the 2020 Asia Pacific Small Medium Business Digital Maturity Study, shows that digitally mature SMEs can enjoy up to 16 percent increase in revenue and a 14 percent increase in productivity. “Digitizing SMEs is important, as it is the driving force of our economy. SMEs are also one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic,” Cisco Indonesia managing director Marina Kacaribu said. Most of Indonesia’s SMEs were still in the early stage of digital transformation, marked by the absence of digitalization roadmap and lack of digital talent.

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