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Politician Budiman Sudjatmiko promises to build a tech complex called the Bukit Algoritma, or Algorithm Hill. Touted to be the Silicon Valley of Indonesia, the new project means to attract investors to the currently neglected Sukabumi Special Economic Zone.
Budi Handoko was behind the development of the Cikidang Plantation Resort area, Algorithm Hill’s potential project location. His track record in East Kalimantan is not unblemished.
The plan to build Bukit Algoritma or the Algorithm Hill went viral, both on the news and social media. PDI-P politician Budiman Sudjatmiko explains his ideas for the project touted to be Indonesia’s Silicon Valley.
THE Cikidang Plantation Resort run by PT Bintangraya Lokalestari in the Sukabumi Regency, West Java, will be transformed into a research and tech innovation complex dubbed Bukit Algoritma. To Dhanny Handoko, owner of Bintangraya, the project is a new hope after the company’s old plan to turn its land in Cikidang into the Sukabumi Special Economic Zone continues to fail. “Not just to return to how things were, but also to become more relevant in the future in the field of technology,” Dhanny said to Tempo journalist, M. A. Murtadho, in Cikidang, Wednesday, April 14.
The government’s plan to build 100 Techno Parks is falling behind. The project will instead focus on developing eight primary science and technology zones.
Pressure to hold an extraordinary congress is mounting among cadres of the National Awakening Party (PKB). There are indications that Yenny Wahid and Yaqut Cholil Qoumas are gathering support to take over the position of general chair. Muhaimin Iskandar is maneuvering, asking for the support of the Presidential Palace and grooming his older brother to lead the party.
Some National Awakening Party (PKB) officials, who are removed before their terms ended, are closing ranks against Muhaimin Iskandar.
The PDI-P is pushing the National Research and Innovation Agency to become an autonomous institution. Megawati Soekarnoputri could potentially be appointed to chair its steering committee.
The Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assitance (BLBI) Asset Recovery Task Force found at least a dozen problems when identifying assets belonging to 48 obligors. They plan to hunt down these assets all the way abroad.
The KPK continues to find steep roads and dead ends in investigating the BLBI case implicated Sjamsul Nursalim and his wife. Everything stops as Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung walks free.
People Think There are Grey Areas in Our Jurisdiction
The Indonesian Ombudsman finally intervened in the rice import polemic last March. Agency Chair Mokhammad Najih said the government’s planned rice import ahead of the prime harvest season had discomposed the public, particularly farmers, while in fact the import would not become necessary until May. Moreover, the agency also found maladministration in the policy making process. Najih added that the Ombudsman had strengthened its role in helping improve the public service quality. In addition to following through with public reports and complaints, it will continue to enhance oversight of the ministries and state agencies. The focus of the watchdogs’ new board will be on economic development issues and their impact on public services. Najih also highlighted the need to expand his agency’s authority.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Md. is threatening debtors of the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) funds, including Sjamsul Nursalim, with sequestering (gijzeling) if they fail to pay what they owe to BLBI. They can also face criminal charges.
Weekly News Summary.
Yopie Hidayat (Contributor)
Fast with a Bang!
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Female surfers wearing traditional Balinese kebaya snap a photo before surfing on Kuta Beach, Badung, Bali, Friday, April 16. The activity, which was attended by dozens of women, including foreigners, was carried out to commemorate Kartini Day and to revitalize tourism in Bali which was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. ANTARA/Fikri Yusuf
Readers write the importance of common space for resident collective activities in Slipi and chaos in the traffic light location in Garut, West Java.
Recreating Silicon Valley is not as easy as turning the back of one’s hand. Without a solid ecosystem in place, the Algorithm Hill project in Sukabumi, West Java, could well be mere business cunning out to grab tax deductions and import duty waivers while establishing a special economic zone.
The internal conflict in the National Awakening Party (PKB) must be resolved democratically. There must be no government intervention.
President Joko Widodo separated the National Research and Innovation Agency from the ministry of research and technology. A decision heavily influenced by his political party’s interest.
The chase after assets held by Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) recipients should continue with all the force of the law behind it. This needs to be done with transparency and no favoritism.
Taman Mini reflects the view that life is only the status quo—as though in every phenomena, every difference, there is only the everlasting.
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