Indonesia Morning News For November 9

Breastfeeding: Indonesia hits back to counter deaths, stunting, economic loss
Aggressive marketing strategies continue to encourage Southeast Asian mothers to choose milk formula over breastfeeding, despite evidence that breast milk is the most nutritional food for healthy infants. Now, at least one Asean country is fighting back.
— AEC News Today

China`s decision could trigger Sumatran tiger poaching: Environmentalist
China`s decision to legalize tiger bone usage for medicine has the potential to trigger poaching of Sumatran tigers, an environmentalist said.
— Antara News

Govt to ratify seven trade agreements without House approval
The government has decided to ratify seven international trade agreements (PPI) without the approval of the House of Representatives, the senior economy minister said in Jakarta on Wednesday, following a coordination meeting.
— The Jakarta Post

US emergency directive after Boeing jet crash in Indonesia
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency airworthiness directive on how to handle erroneous data from a sensor that investigators believe malfunctioned on a new Boeing jet that plunged into the sea in Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board.
— WTOC

20 Ambassadors Join Special Tour to Help Lombok Tourism Recovery
Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited 20 ambassadors of Indonesia`s friendly countries in Jakarta to join a Diplomatic Tour for two days, on November 9-10. The event aims to revive the tourism in Lombok after a month-long earthquake since July 29.
— Tempo.co

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Says Current Account Deficit Not a Sin
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said in recent years Indonesia has experienced a current account deficit (imports are greater than exports), but that can all be compensated by the large amount of capital inflows to Indonesia. So that overall the transaction surplus still occurs.
— Netral News

Outbreak of Japanese Encephelatis in Bali
Authorities in Bali are warning about the outbreak of a rare and deadly disease.
— 9news.au

CORRECTED-Indonesia’s Inalum sells $4 bln in bonds to fund Freeport purchase
State-owned Indonesian miner PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) on Thursday sold $4 billion of bonds in its first-ever U.S. dollar bond deal to fund the acquisition of a majority stake in the world’s second-biggest copper mine.
— Reuters

Indonesia state firm sells $5.5b in bonds to fund stake purchase
Indonesia’s state mining holding company Inalum has sold US$4 billion (S$5.5 billion) in bonds to fund an acquisition of a majority stake in the Indonesian gold and copper mining unit of United States-based Freeport-McMoRan.
— The Straits Times

Indonesia tin exports slump on after bourse restricts trading
Indonesia’s refined tin exports in October fell 42 percent from a month earlier to 5,109 tonnes, trade ministry data showed on Thursday, following the introduction of restrictions on some sales last month by the country’s only tin-trading bourse.
— Nasdaq

Indonesia’s First Electric Scooter Wins Jokowi’s Heart, Set to Conquer Archipelago
The scooter known as Gesits – a contraction of Garansindo Electric Scooter (GES) and Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) – dominated national headlines and briefly trended on social media after the president, who was clearly impressed, took it for a spin around the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.
— Jakarta Globe

Terrorism is foe of Islam: Indonesian defense minister
Acts of terrorism are absolutely a foe of Islam, and they have nothing to do with the religion, currently embraced by more than two billion people across the globe, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu stated.
— Antara News

Pundi X and HARA partnership brings blockchain to farming for increased productivity, financial inclusion
Pundi X, a global developer of blockchain-based technology solutions, and HARA, the Indonesian company dedicated to revolutionizing global agriculture with data, will jointly deploy thousands of blockchain-based point of sales (“POS”) devices to farmers to facilitate data collection and financial inclusion across developing economies.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Pindad introduces latest armored car in cooperation with CSG
State-owned defense equipment company PT Pindad introduced its latest armored car product made in cooperation with Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which is the development of Steyr Pandur II 8×8 produced by CSG.
— Antara News

Ministry Threatens to Suspend Online Taxi, YLKI Agrees
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) lauded the government`s warning to online taxi operators. The Transportation Ministry has threatened to suspend online taxi licenses if they fail to guarantee the safety of their passengers.
— Tempo.co

SOE Minister Asks SOEs to Develop Downstream Coal Industry to Optimize Exports
The SOE Minister Rini Soemarno requested that state-owned companies develop the downstream coal industry in an effort to optimize export value.
— Netral News

Floods sweep through North Sumatra, Riau and West Java
Heavy rain in the western part of the country recently resulted in floods and landslides in several provinces, including North Sumatra, Riau and West Java, claiming the lives of a number of people.
— The Jakarta Post

Road to Indonesia’s 2019 Presidential Election; Hoaxes & Corruption
In fact, both sides need each other; corporate leaders do not want to see policies that undermine the profitability of their companies, while political leaders need funds when running for political positions.
— Indonesia Investments

‘Long Way to Go’ to Improve Education in Indonesia, Finance Minister Says
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia still had a long way to go to improve its education system, adding that programs designed and implemented by local governments were key to improving the quality and standard.
– Jakarta Globe

BNPB warns of possible floods, landslides, whirlwind during rainy season
The Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has warned of possible floods, landslides, and whirlwind during the current rainy season.
— Antara News

Whale shark seen in Jakarta Bay
A whale shark was seen swimming near the surface of the Jakarta Bay on Wednesday.
— The Jakarta Post

After deadly Lion Air crash, new focus on torrid industry growth in Indonesia
In April 2013, a Lion Air Boeing 737 missed the runway on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in bad weather and plowed into the sea, cracking its fuselage open on the rocks.
— Reuters

Garuda, pharmaceutical firm sign deal on transportation of radioactive goods
Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and state-owned company PT Industri Nuklir Indonesia (INUKI) have signed an agreement on the transportation of dangerous goods, such as radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals produced by INUKI.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia needs to boost exports of rattan products
Indonesia is the largest rattan producer in the world and has some 40 types of rattan that can be tapped commercially, but industries at home still use only about six to seven types of them.
— Antara News

Indonesia Food Sovereignty Remains Elusive
Four years after coming into office, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s goal of food sovereignty continues to be a work in progress.
— Voice of America

Celebrate 110 years of Umami, Ajinomoto Helds “World Umami Forum”
– A seasoning manufacturer from Japan, Ajinomoto Group , held World Umami Forum event in New York, United States at the end of September.
— Antara News

Indonesia to ratify Pakistan trade deal to protect palm oil exports
The Indonesian government will push ahead and ratify a trade deal with Pakistan to protect $1.5 billion in annual palm oil exports to the South Asia nation, a cabinet minister said.
— Daily Times

Floods submerge 4,384 homes in 44 villages in Riau
Floods have submerged a total of 4,384 homes located in 44 villages in 11 sub-districts in Indragiri Hulu (Inhu) District, Riau Province, Sumatra Island.
— Antara News

Indonesian ‘vaccine fatwa’ sends measles immunization rates plummeting
As the bell rang on a recent morning at an elementary school here and pupils filled the classrooms, anxious adults crowded the corridors outside. It was vaccination day, but many parents in this North Sumatra village did not want their children immunized with a new measles-rubella (MR) vaccine.
— Science Mag

Landslides hit Agam and West Pasaman districts, West Sumatra
Landslides hit Talamau Sub-district in West Pasaman District and Palembayan Sub-district in Agam District, West Sumatra Province, on Wednesday evening.
— Antara News

KPU to Announce Ex Corruption Convicts Running for Legislation
Upon heading to the 2019 General Election, the General Elections Commission (KPU) Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan announced that the agency was suggested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to announce 40 legislation hopefuls who were former convicts of corruption cases.
— Tempo.co

Astindo says Lion Air ticket sales shows ‘slight’ decline
The Indonesian Travel Agents Association (Astindo) has said that sales of Lion Air tickets fell 5 to 6 percent since the recent accident involving Lion Air flight JT610, registered as PK-LQP, which crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29.
— The Jakarta Post

Jokowi wants to see Guns N’ Roses ‘in this lifetime’
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said that he wants to attend American rock band Guns N’ Roses “Not in This Lifetime” Jakarta concert, which is set for Thursday at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) main stadium.
— The Jakarta Post

Haj pilgrims urged to avoid contact with camels to prevent MERS
Ahead of the upcoming hajj period next year, the Health Ministry warned hajj pilgrims on Wednesday to avoid contact with camels to prevent potentially contracting Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
— The Jakarta Post

MRT stations to have water fountains
Inspired by similar installments recently made at several schools, museums and mosques, Jakarta MRT will follow suit and equip several stations with water fountains to cater to thirsty commuters.
— The Jakarta Post

Three important things Indonesia has to learn from Chinese industrial film
President of China Film Group Corporation Le Kexi revealed that there are three important things from the progress of the Chinese film industry that Indonesia must learn.
–– Antara News

Thousands attend anti-LGBT rally in W. Sumatra, authorities promise harsh laws to stop spread of ‘virus’
Some of the “customary law” punishments for LGBT individuals suggested by West Sumatra officials included having them paraded through the streets, forced to pay fines with buffalos and being ostracized or expelled from their…
— Coconuts Indonesia (paywall)

Indonesian Caves Hold Oldest Figurative Painting Ever Found, Scientists Say
Archaeologists exploring caves in Indonesia have discovered a wall painting that could be the oldest figurative painting ever found.
— www.npr.org

Anti-drug agency shoots dead drug kingpin in Aceh
The National Anti-Drug Agency (BNN) shot dead Burhanuddin, a wanted drug kingpin, in Aceh on Wednesday, the agency`s deputy for eradication Insp. Gen. Arman Depari stated.
— Antara News

Feature photo Syachrul Anto

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges Syachrul Anto, a 48-year-old volunteer diver from Surabaya who died recovering debris and human remains from Lion Air Flight JT610

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Indonesia morning news for November 9 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on November 9, 2018
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.