June 28, 2016 edition
Perhaps the Central Java provincial government needs to reflect on the old saying: 'Take an umbrella before it rains'. Last week's floods and landslides that swept through 16 provinces-arguably the worst ever for the region-left 47 dead, 15 injured and dozens missing. The total material loss is estimated to reach hundreds of millions of rupiah.
The 'umbrella' most needed in Central Java, or any other region in the country for that matter, is a comprehensive disaster mitigation plan. As a first step, the regional governments should be alert and responsive towards disaster potentials in their regions. Two days before the disaster, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had issued warnings for torrential rain until June 20 for Central Java.
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More Opinion articles in other editions
June 21, 2016 edition
There are at least two reasons why the Friends of Ahok organization grew so fast: the popularity of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-Ahok's real name-and a shared spirit to fight corrupt political parties. But today this group of volunteers campaigning for Ahok's gubernatorial campaign next year may be facing problems if it is proven, in one way or another, to be implicated in the Jakarta Bay case currently being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Let's be clear from the start: Ahok has scored some positive points since he took over as governor in 2014. He has applied the principle of transparency in preparing his budget, which has led to a number of confrontations with the politicians sitting on the Jakarta People's Representative Council (DPRD). It did not take long for the public to place him in the 'white' category and his opponents on the council in the 'black' group.
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June 14, 2016 edition
Somehow, the government has a talent for implementing policies-however noble and justified-at the wrong place and the wrong time. In pursuing higher non-tax revenue targets to fund its ambitious development projects, particularly its massive infrastructure programs, the Joko Widodo administration is now looking at requiring coal-producing companies to cough up more than Rp25 trillion in unpaid royalties. The push could not have come at a worse time for the coal industry, currently in a slump in both Indonesia and worldwide.
Moreover, coal miners are unlikely to comply with the government's demand when the finance ministry has yet to meet their own claims on overdue tax refunds going back several years. Companies insist they will not be forking out the royalty payments until the government shows some reciprocity over the excess taxes they were compelled to pay in the past.
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June 7, 2016 edition
Observing the Golkar Party national convention in Bali recently, was like watching a political comedy. Everything was turned upside down and topsy-turvy. The illogical became rational and the forbidden became halal (meaning allowed-as opposed to haram or forbidden).
The most glaring example of the party's chaotic situation is the appointment of 200 members to the party's central executive board. Some of them actually have traits or reputations that clearly defies the party's standards, as laid down in its rules and regulations.
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May 31, 2016 edition
There is no urgent reason to extend the tenure of General Badrodin Haiti as Indonesia's National Police chief. President Joko Widodo should be focusing on the next batch of leaders and at the same time keeping his distance from political interests within the police force.
Credit should be given to Badrodin for successfully keeping the peace during last December's local elections. It took place across 300 regions without any major incident, with the police admittedly playing a major role in this positive outcome.
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May 24, 2016 edition
There is no need for Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to be hesitant when discussing the additional contribution for Jakarta's north coast reclamation project. If there is no evidence of ill intent or losses to the state, it will be difficult to accuse him of corruption even if his initiative is seen as controversial.
The policy proposed by Basuki imposes additional obligations on Muara Wisea Samudra-a subsidiary company of Agung Podomoro Land, a property development giant. Muara holds the permit to reclaim land on which it will build the 161-hectare Island G, to be known as Pluit City. It will have to pay Rp392.6 million to the city treasury as a condition for receiving the reclamation license.
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May 17, 2016 edition