Indonesia Morning News For January 30, 2019

Indonesia’s loan growth edges up in 2018 amid recovery in financial stability
Banking credit in Indonesia accelerated at a faster pace last year as financial stability commenced recovery, paring down risks of hawkish policy of U.S. Federal Reserve.
— Xinhua

National economy still faces risks in 2019: Committee
The Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) has said Indonesia’s economy faces several risks this year, such as continuing trade and current account deficits and liquidity constraints.
— The Jakarta Post

314 Cases of Dengue Fever; Depok on Alert Status
The Depok City Government declared an alert status for dengue fever. As of January 25, 2019, there had been 314 dengue patients admitted to the hospital.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia Sees Consumption as Shield Against Chinese Slowdown
Indonesia will seek to sustain the growth in domestic consumption and boost government spending in a bid to shield itself from a spillover of slowing economic growth in China, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
— Bloomberg

Bank Mandiri to launch two millennial mortgage products in February
State-owned lender Bank Mandiri plans to launch in early February a mortgage product for millennials, its consumer loan group head has announced.
— The Jakarta Post

Ransom for Indonesian Hostage’s Release Funded Philippine Church Attack, Sources Allege
Ransom paid to free an Indonesian fisherman who was snatched by Abu Sayyaf extremists funded Sunday’s deadly bombings at a cathedral in the Philippines, an ex-militant and a source with knowledge of Filipino investigations into the attack told BenarNews.
— Benar News

Southeast Asia’s plastic-spewing ogre
Indonesia should be ashamed of its status as the world’s second-largest plastic waste producer after China.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

1,151 corrupt civil servants discharged
A total of 1,151 out of 2,357 civil servants who were proved to be guilty of corruption have been dishonorably discharged, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Deputy for Prevention Pahala Nainggolan said.
— Antara News

Indonesia hopes for more value-added investments from China
An Indonesian minister has invited potential Chinese investors to expand value-added investments in Indonesia under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
— Xinhua

Indonesia plans electric vehicle incentives for foreign car makers
Indonesia is finalising a new electric vehicle (EV) policy that will offer fiscal incentives to foreign car makers, as it ramps up efforts to become a lithium battery hub, its deputy industry minister said on Tuesday (Jan 29).
— South China Morning Post

Stinking rich? Rare durian fruit go on sale for $1,000 each
A rare durian fruit is causing a stir in Indonesia, where the pungent delicacy is selling for the equivalent of $1,000 each, or more than three times the average monthly wage.
— The Guardian

Meet ‘Miss Lambe Hoaks’, the government’s new antihoax weapon
The Communications and Information Ministry has launched an online anti-hoax show in a fresh approach to counter various falsehoods masquerading as truth, especially those found floating around on social media.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Indonesia has more banks than needed, says bankers association
The Indonesian Banks Association (Perbanas) has said that 50 to 70 banks are sufficient to ensure healthy competition between lenders in the Indonesian market.
— Eleven

Ministry: Country’s Hajj Cost is Cheapest among ASEAN Countries
The Ministry of Religious Affairs claimed that the country’s Hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH) is the cheapest among ASEAN countries, said the ministry’s sec-gen of Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Providence, Ramadhan Harisman, as quoted from the ministry official website, Tuesday, January 29.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia stainless steel exports rose sharply in 2018
Indonesia’s exports of stainless steel in slabs and hot rolled coil jumped in 2018 and will continue to grow this year as the country boosts its steel production, the Industry Ministry said.
— Business Recorder

Quran Contest Gets Underway in Indonesia
The 11th edition of a national Quran competition began in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on Monday.
— IQNA

Indonesian Embassy in Beijing handles 12 human trafficking cases
The Indonesian Embassy in Beijing is currently handling 12 cases of human trafficking that have befallen Indonesian citizens in several regions in China.
— Antara News

Jakarta family living in narrow alley recorded as owners of several luxury cars
In an apparent case of identity theft, a family in Tamansari, West Jakarta, have just learned they are recorded as the owners of several luxury cars and that substantial taxes are owed on one of the vehicles.
— The Jakarta Post

Bogor’s mayor and MUI reject call from Islamic group to cancel Chinese New Year celebrations
Chinese-Indonesians were not allowed to celebrate Chinese New Year during Suharto’s New Order dictatorship, just one part of his regime’s attempts to repress Chinese culture.
— Coconuts Jakarta

Indonesia’s Salim Group to set up esports venture
Indonesian conglomerate Salim Group is hoping to tap into the booming esports market, setting up a joint venture with a German company that organizes and produces video game competitions.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Moderate Muslims seek political room and weight in elections
The reasons for Nahdlatul Ulama’s greater involvement in the country’ political life “are contained in the Qurʾān”, says NU president.
— AsiaNews.it

Indonesia boosts its military presence in the Natuna Islands
When Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi delivered her traditional annual foreign policy review recently, she made a point of referring to last month’s separatist slaughter of 19 construction workers in rebellious Papua.
— The Strategist (blog)

Indonesia’s Top Brokerage Sees Uncertainty Spawning Deals
An expected spike in market volatility from global geopolitical events may create more opportunities for investors, brightening prospects for equity and debt underwriters, according to Indonesia’s largest brokerage.
— Yahoo! Finance

Great Eastern to sell minority stake in Indonesia insurance firm for $1.9m
Intellasia East Asia News Insurer Great Eastern has entered into a share and purchase agreement to divest a minority stake in Indonesia insurance firm, QBE Indonesia, for some $1.4 million (S$1.9 million).
— Intellasia

Indonesia’s millennials could be key to election, if they vote
Making up nearly half of the electorate, Indonesia’s millennials are at the top of every political party’s target group list for this year’s election.
— The Straits Times

News Hoax Negatively Impact Political Education
The 2019 General Election provides a longer campaign duration Legislative Candidates, Political Parties and Presidential Candidates, which can be both positive and negative.
— Netral News

Twelve dragon replicas to be displayed during Cap Go Meh in Singkawang
Welcoming the Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh (15th day of first month of the lunar calendar), the Saint Yosep Singkawang Group has completed 12 replicas of moon dragons, reports kompas.com.
— The Jakarta Post

New Wonderful Indonesia in Singapore gets bigger promotion budget
The Visit Indonesia Tourism Office (VITO) – the promotion arm of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism – in Singapore has been upgraded to a Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Office (WITO) to become the first full tourism promotion office overseas since 1996, when the government closed the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Office in Singapore.
— TTG Asia

Indonesian worker commits suicide at employer’s home in HK
A 31-year-old domestic worker from Indonesian was found dead at her employer’s home in Tune Mun in the New Territories on Monday in what officials described as a suicide.
— Asia Times

Indonesian government chooses Mobile Legends for country’s first e-sports tournament
Indonesia’s government launched the country’s first government-backed e-sports competition with Mobile Legends as its main sport, as CNN Indonesia reported.
— e27

Python Carried Into A House By Flood Bites Man
An Indonesian man has been wounded after being struck by a 3.5 metre-long python that made a surprise appearance at a housing complex.
— Indonesia Expat

As Many As 14 Regencies Set to Build Disaster Early Warning System
The Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration through the Directorate General of Specific Regional Development (DG of PDTu) held a socialization of the construction of the 2019 disaster early warning system at GH Universal Hotel, West Java on Monday (1/28/2019).
— Netral News

Family buried in Buleleng landslide
A landslide hit Mengening village in Buleleng District, Bali Island, killing Ketut Budikaca (33) and his three family members on Tuesday morning.
— Antara News

Aiming to add 4 new startups, Mandiri Capital Indonesia targets insurtech, investment management sectors
Intellasia East Asia News Mandiri Capital Indonesia also prepares follow-up funding round for its existing portfolio Mandiri Capital Indonesia team Mandiri Capital Indonesia (MCI), a subsidiary of Indonesian state-owned Bank Mandiri Group, announced that it will add four new startups in its company’s portfolio.
— Intellasia

Myanmar releases 14 out of 15 Acehnese fishermen
Myanmar authorities released 14 of the 15 Acehnese fishermen detained on November 6, 2018, and handed them over to the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, Panglima Laut (customary sea commander) of Idi Region, East Aceh District, stated.
— Antara News

Task force hunts down four suspects in football match-fixing
The police’ anti-football mafia task force has hunted down four people on wanted list for alleged involvement in the match-fixing of the League II and League III of 2018 national football matches.
— Antara News

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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 January 30 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on January 30, 2019
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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.