Edition 06 July 2020

The Curious Case of Lobster Exports

Keeping Track is Better Than Smuggling

Blind Groping In Face of Corona

The Season for Larvae Hunters

The export wave for lobster larvae has begun. Some exporting companies are affiliated with political party officials and former smugglers.

The Curious Case of Lobster Exports

One month after the lobster larva export was reopened, exporters have begun delivering packages to Vietnam. Various issues were brought to light.

Keeping Track is Better Than Smuggling

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo

Blind Groping In Face of Corona

Data fumbling has been occurring since the coronavirus pandemic started in Indonesia in March. The Covid-19 task force began its work in total blindness for lack of data. Tracing people who had been in contact with positive patients met with obstruction. Lately it has been revealed, the Covid-19 death toll is far higher compared to official data announced by the government spokesperson.

National

Cabinet Reshuffle Threats

The president is unhappy with the performance of his ministers and banking institutions. There are plans to disband the Financial Services Authority and reshuffle the cabinet.

National

Death from the Market

Positive Corona cases continue to be high in 16 provinces. Market places are among the disease centers.

Economy

Jiwasraya’s Bad connection

Ties between players in a suspected corruption case at Jiwasraya are becoming clearer. The involvement of investment managers led investigators to the Financial Services Authority and the Indonesian Stock Exchange.

Market Pulse

A Bigger and Deeper Looming Problem

Yopie Hidayat (Contributor)

Law

Business deal gone wrong

Entrepreneur Maya Miranda Ambarsari was reported to the police for allegedly mistreating her business partner. The police never solved the case.

Law

One Brand for Two

The intellectual property directorate-general issued trademark certificates to two disputing parties. They claimed it as compromise to resolve the problem.

Law

the Cost of Patent Certificates

Employees of the intellectual property directorate-general are suspected of manipulating the outcome of cases. The director-general knows his subordinates take money from applicants.

Agus Suparmanto, Trade Minister:  I Need to Create a Friendly Business Climate

SINCE the ‘new normal’ protocol was put into effect, Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto must keep up with the prescribed routine of using hand sanitizers, wearing masks and keeping physical distance every time he goes out. “If you hold hands (with a woman), you could be asked to prove that you are married. So, I told my wife, ‘dear, don’t be too close, or they will ask us to show our marriage certificate,’ (chuckles)...” Agus quipped during the special interview with Tempo last Wednesday, June 24. Agus, 54, said the government’s new set of regulations was aimed at expediting the control of the coronavirus outbreak in all sectors, from social, health to trade. “So that our lives can return to normal gradually,” he said adding that although the economy is starting to move again with the reopening of shopping centers and markets, the public safety will remain government’s priority and will be safeguarded through health protocols. Agus, accompanied by his lawyers Harris Sarana and Sehat Damanik, sat down with Tempo reporters Agung Sedayu, Mahardika Satria Hadi and Khairul Anam at his office for the interview. He explained various matters ranging from his strategy to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the trade sector, government’s decision to approve export of personal protective equipment to the need to impose import quotas for several commodities. In addition, he also clarified Tempo’s news report that linked him to the fiasco surrounding Aneka Tambang’s nickel mining project in North Maluku. In its March 31-April 6, 2020 issue, Tempo published an investigative article titled Mining Scandal of Trade Minister. The report highlighted Agus’ connection to a series of irregularities in a nickel ore project in Tanjung Buli in remote East Halmahera, North Maluku. Agus himself is an investor in Yudistira Bumi Bhakti which undertook the project during the period 2001-2014. Agus has raised objections to the report. He felt his name had been smeared. The press council which mediated the dispute had issued Assessment and Recommendation Letter No. 23/PPR-DP/V/2020 which, albeit calling the title inaccurate, stated that the entire coverage met the standard journalistic requirements. Tempo has already offered an apology to Agus Suparmanto for the title. This interview also partly serves as the right of reply.

Science & Technology

Two Roads to Corona Vaccine

Indonesia is taking two ways to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Bio Farma and Kalbe Farma are collaborating with vaccine makers from China and South Korea. The Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology is leading an independent vaccine development.

Letters

The Land Transfer of RRI

The Tempo magazine wrote about the land transfer of Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) to the religious affairs ministry in its June 30-July 6, 2020 edition in an article titled Up in the Air for RRI. I would like to comment on this report.

Cartoon

KARTUN

*How can you enter state school, while you’re still little? **Yes, I’m little, but old, Bro... (Words on board: Announcement of New Student Selection Result)/Tempo/Yuyun Nurrahman

Picture Window

Corona Footprints

A WOMAN wearing a protective face mask stands in an escalator with marks for social distancing during reopening at Pondok Indah Mall as the government eases restrictions amid the Covid-19 outbreak in Jakarta, June 15./REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana