Indonesia Morning News For February 5, 2019

Indonesia’s manufacturing PMI in January points to stagnation
Manufacturing activity in Indonesia failed to show growth for the first time in a year in January, pointing to signs of stagnation in the nation’s economy, a survey showed Friday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Indonesia to track millennial spending in inflation index recast
Intellasia East Asia News With the millennials making up almost a third of Indonesia’s population, the nation’s statistics agency will soon revamp its inflation index to capture their spending habit.
— Intellasia

Indonesia’s military demands civilian positions for officers
Indonesian bureaucrats may soon face tighter competition to reach the top rungs of the career ladder, with the government planning to allow active military officers to take up positions in ministries and government institutions.
— The Straits Times

Indonesia to have seven new skyscrapers in 2019
Seven skyscrapers in Indonesia are set to complete their development phase in 2019.
— Inquirer.net/ The Jakarta Post

Mount Karangetang Spews Lava, Residents Evacuated
Lava stream produced by Mount Karangetang in Sitaro District, North Sulawesi, forced local officials to evacuate those living in the mountain’s bottom vicinity across Niambangeng, Batubulan village.
— Tempo.co

Indonesian President Joko Widodo accuses election rival Prabowo Subianto of ‘outbursts of lies’
Indonesian President Joko Widodo appears to have gone on the offensive against his challenger in the upcoming presidential election Prabowo Subianto as the second debate draws nearer.
— The Straits Times

Russia rejects Indonesia election ‘propaganda’ accusations
Moscow on Monday (Feb 4) denied any involvement in Indonesia’s upcoming elections after President Joko Widodo claimed his opponents have used “Russian propaganda” to distort facts and spread fake news.
— Channel NewsAsia

Poor logistics hold back Indonesian e-commerce from ‘quantum’ leap
Accenture, a Fortune 500 business consultancy, has estimated that Indonesia’s e-commerce market may grow from US$27 billion last year to $300 billion by 2025, if the country’s digital ecosystem can leapfrog into a fully integrated “quantum commerce” environment.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s military demands more positions in ministries and state institutions
Indonesian bureaucrats may soon face tighter competition to reach the top rungs of the career ladder, with the government planning to allow active military officers to take up positions in ministries and government institutions.
— The Straits Times

After Freeport, Indonesia eyes 20% of nickel firm’s shares
After gaining control of 51.23 percent shares of gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, the government is eyeing to gain a 20 percent stake in publicly listed nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia (INCO).
— The Jakarta Post

Switzerland and Indonesia sign deal to tackle international crime
On Monday Switzerland and Indonesia signed an agreement on mutual assistance on criminal matters, with the goal of working together to combat international crime.
— Swissinfo.ch

Deadly earthquake traveled at ‘supersonic’ speeds—why that matters
A powerful temblor in Indonesia offered a detailed look at supershear, a phenomenon that can create the geologic version of a sonic boom.
— National Geographic

Commentary: Indonesia’s Catch-Up Growth and The Next Great Leveller
When developing nations are having economic growth rate faster than developed ones, it is very understandable in this era of globalization.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia to announce new EV policy, plans tax incentives to lure automakers and battery producers
In a bid to become the region’s focal point for electric vehicle (EV) production, Indonesia is reportedly set to announce a broad-ranging EV policy that will offer tax cuts to EV battery producers and foreign automakers, Reuters reports.
— Paultan.org

UnPAY and Tencent Unveils Paper On Indonesia’s Payment Market
UnPAY and Tencent have published a research paper in Mandarin that focus on hotspots and key issues of the payment system when expanding into Indonesia.
— Finews.asia

Implications Of Indonesia’s New Military Base In The South China Sea – Analysis
Though Indonesia is not a claimant in the South China Sea, Jakarta and Beijing have entered into skirmishes in the Natuna area.
— Eurasia Review

Jokowi: `Indonesia Extinct` is Scare Tactic, Spew of Lie
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo spoke-up about his statements directed at Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno over the last few days.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia seeks to ban negative ‘foreign’ influences on music
Hundreds of musicians in Indonesia have lashed out against what they say is a ludicrous draft bill that could “destroy” repress freedom of expression.
— The Guardian

Police Uncover LINE Group Chat Prostitution `Show Time`
After uncovering an online-chat group running online prostitution in the chat-app Line entitled ‘Show Time’, police investigation found that the group had also trafficked high school student for the group’s prostitution practices.
— Tempo.co

With more trained farmers, Indonesia reduces corn imports
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said the country needed at least 40,000 additional agriculture instructors to boost production and reduce food imports.
— The Jakarta Post

Airbus urged to produce aircraft components in Indonesia
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan called on French aircraft manufacturer Airbus to plan to produce its aircraft components in Indonesia.
— Antara News

Insurance, banking holding companies set to emerge in March, April
The State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry plans to establish a state-owned insurance holding company and state-owned banking holding company in March and April ,respectively, in trying to improve efficiency of government businesses in the two sectors.
— The Jakarta Post

‘No evidence Indonesian duo behind church attacks in Jolo’
Analysts have raised doubts over claims made by a senior Philippine government official that an Indonesian couple was behind the church bombings in the southern Philippines, citing a lack of evidence.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Owner of Ocean Princess to compensate for polluting NTT waters
PT Ocean Tanker, owner of Ocean Princess tanker that ran aground in Alor Sea, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), December 12, 2018, will pay compensation for polluting and damaging the Pantar Alor Strait Marine Nature Sanctuary.
— Antara News

JK backs Jokowi-Ma`ruf pair “100 percent” in election: Jenggala center
Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) supports the Joko Widodo-Ma`ruf Amin pair “100 percent” in the April 17, 2019 presidential election, chief of the National Team of Jenggala Center Iskandar Mandji said.
— Antara News

Indonesia becomes increasingly difficult for Christians
Open Doors 2019 World Watch List was recently released. Indonesia was previously ranked #38 on the list of the most severe places for Christians to live.
— Mission Network News

E-commerce and cross-border tax avoidance
In Indonesia, there is an enormous potential for growth in the e-commerce sector.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Transportation, Trade Ministers sign declaration on sea toll program
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita signed a declaration of MV Dorolonda regarding a sea toll program ahead of National Press Day 2019.
— Antara News

Jakarta regional general hospitals offer free treatment for dengue patients
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has ordered all regional general hospitals (RSUDs) in the capital to treat dengue patients free of cost.
— Antara News

Indonesia’s Pertamina says Balongan refinery operating normally after fire
Indonesian state energy firm PT Pertamina said operations at its Balongan refinery were running normally after a fire struck an oil and gas field in Balongan.
— Reuters

Indonesia’s anti-graft agency arrests Borneo politician over mining permits
Investigators in Indonesia have arrested a politician on charges of corruption stemming from the issuance of mining permits on the island of Borneo.
— Mongabay

Indonesia strengthens support for start-up businesses
Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry continues to strengthen its strategies to meet the needs of Industry 4.0, according to a recent press release.
— OpenGov

Cancer patients in Indonesia often late to seek treatment
Rifaldi was only 2 years old when he was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, a rare kidney cancer that affects mainly children.
— The Jakarta Post

Delayed salaries of Pos Indonesia`s workers paid on Feb 4
Corporate Secretary of PT Pos Indonesia Benny Otoyo has confirmed that the state-owned postal service firm`s employees would receive their delayed salaries on Monday (Feb 4).
— Antara News

Investigation into a kiosk keeper`s murder still underway: Papua police
The Indonesian police in Puncak Jaya District, Papua Province, continued probing into the murder of Sugeng Efendi, a kiosk keeper in Wuyukwi Village, Mulia Subdistrict, on Saturday evening (Feb 2), a police spokesman said.
— Antara News

Paramount bed making key contribution to Indonesia’s healthcare
More than half of hospitals in Indonesia have adopted products of Paramount Bed, one of the top makers of nursing beds in Japan.
— Business Standard

Indonesia to send 36 players, targets 1 title in 2019 All England badminton championship
Indonesia would send 36 badminton players in the 2019 All England, setting a target to seize champion title in men’s doubles, an Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) official said here on Monday.
— Xinhua

Feature photo Farhan Perdana (Blek)

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges Chinese New Year, 2019.

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 February 5 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 5, 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.