November 4, 2014 edition

Hundreds of people were crowded in the Grand Mutiara meeting hall in downtown Kupang on Thursday night last week. Public figures, heads of local government offices, leaders of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) and local politicians filled the two-storey hall, the largest building in the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara. They were celebrating the selection of Setya Novanto as chair of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2014-2019 term.
Setya, general treasurer of the Golkar Party, had become a legislator representing this election district. Speaking to reporters, he said this was not the only thanksgiving event being held in Kupang. Before that particular reception, he had been at many other places, including the Diocese of the Catholic Church of Kupang, the Yesus Maria Oebelo Pilgrimage Park and a livestock farm in Amfoang, 150 kilometers outside the city. "I am going to turn East Nusa Tenggara into a repository of livestock," he said.

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More National articles in other editions

January 1, 1970 edition

JUSUF Kalla received a special guest on his first day of work as vice president on Tuesday last week. It was the chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Prabowo Subianto, who had run against Kalla and newly-elected President Joko Widodo in the July 9 election. Prabowo arrived with Fuad Hasan Mansyur, the chairman of the Golkar Party information and public relations division. "I came to offer my congratulations and to apologize," Prabowo said, conveying the purpose of his visit. In politics, Prabowo added, people often have to talk tough, but their hearts remain united.

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January 1, 1970 edition

Military ceremony is apparently of great importance to outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose term ends this week. In a cabinet meeting last week, the ex-general twice brought up that he wanted Monday's inauguration to include military formalities.
Yudhoyono said the new tradition would be set when he welcomed his successor, Joko Widodo, with a grand military ceremony at Merdeka Palace, the president's official residence. "Joko will receive his first homage from the Presidential Guard," Yudhoyono said at his last cabinet meeting in Central Jakarta.

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January 1, 1970 edition

Police Wants FPI Disbanded
The Jakarta Metro Police has recommended the dissolution of the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) to the Home Affairs Ministry. The recommendation letter was served after FPI members staged a violent protest last week against the appointment of Basuki Tjahaja 'Ahok' Purnama as Jakarta's new governor.

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January 1, 1970 edition

High-ranking officials from President-elect Joko Widodo's coaliton of politican parties seemed panicked as the House of Representatives' (DPR) consultation body convened on Wednesday night last week. Aria Bima, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician, quickly headed to a different room where a discussion was happening on whether the impending election for the new House leadership would happen that night or be delayed until the following day.
Shortly thereafter, Aria raced back to the consultation body room, where members of the parties supporting Joko had gathered-the PDI-P, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Democrat (NasDem) Party and the People's Conscience (Hanura) Party. Aria, apparently downcast, uttered not a word. PKB politician Marwan Ja'far left the room. Marwan's cell phone rang, and he spoke in near whispers when he took the call.

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January 1, 1970 edition

PUAN Maharani paused while she read a 10-page proposal at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) 4th Work Meeting. Tears flowed as she stood before the 1,593-strong audience at the Marina Convention Center in Semarang, two weeks ago.
"PDI-P expresses its gratitude to all the Indonesian people for their support in winning both the legislative and the presidential elections of 2014," said Puan, who led the PDI-P's campaign team and who is the daughter of PDI-P Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

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September 23, 2014 edition

THE speculation was answered on Monday evening last week. In front of the press, President-elect Joko Widodo and Vice President-elect Jusuf Kalla announced how many ministries will exist after they take office on October 20. "Thirty-four," said Joko in front of the office of his Transition Team in Central Jakarta.
Joko also revealed the number of politicians and professionals his cabinet would include, which had been the subject of endless speculation: "There will be 18 experts and 16 'professional' representatives from political parties." Transition Team Chief of Staff Rini Soemarno and her deputies-Andi Widjajanto, Anies Baswedan, Hasto Kristiyanto, and Akbar Faizal-were also present at the announcement.

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