July 12, 2016 edition

The amended 2016 state budget and the law on tax amnesty were passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) on June 28. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the tax amnesty was the government's attempt to cover the 2.48 percent deficit in the budget. The global economic crisis has caused state revenues to decline, including those from taxes. In response, the government decided to slash the budget by Rp50 trillion.
"Then there's the tax amnesty to add to revenues," said Kalla. He hesitated to say whether he was optimistic or pessimistic on the results of the tax amnesty, which is expected to add some Rp165 trillion to the current budget. If the attempt fails and the deficit reaches 3 percent, the government, said Kalla, will discuss the problem with the DPR, given that the law on state finances regulates that the deficit should not be more than 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). "So, there are only two solutions: reduce spending or raise the deficit," said 74-year-old Kalla.

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July 5, 2016 edition

Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan has issued specific instructions to public transportation companies and departments for the Lebaran holidays. He has ordered that all safety features of all modes of transportation-buses, trains, ships and airlines-be strictly and carefully checked. "I don't want to take any risks with safety," he said.
He said vehicles that fail to meet the safety criteria will be prohibited from operating during the Lebaran exodus that will carry people back to their hometowns and villages. Jonan, 53, said he was dead serious about all public transportation complying with regulations involving passenger safety. "In this sector, there's the principle of 'No Go Item', meaning if one item is malfunctioning, well, it will not go," said Jonan, who was previously CEO of the state-owned railway company, Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI).

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June 28, 2016 edition

With the end of Ramadan fast approaching, Bambang Brodjonegoro's busy schedule has just begun. His days are filled with one ministerial meeting after another. He must also keep monitoring two legislative bills currently being discussed by the House of Representatives (DPR) to ensure that they are passed by the end of the month as scheduled. One bill concerns the revised state budget (RAPBN-P) and the other is on the tax amnesty.
The revised state budget will be slashed by Rp90 trillion to account for declining revenues. Another way of addressing the shortfall is through tax amnesty, which is expected to bring additional revenues of up to Rp165 trillion. Bambang sincerely hopes the DPR will enact the two legislations. "The government's program, including the revised state budget, should be backed by the parties claiming to support the government," said Bambang.

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June 21, 2016 edition

Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian was recently nominated as the sole candidate for the position of National Police chief. Last week, President Joko Widodo submitted Tito's name to the House of Representatives (DPR) as a replacement to the incumbent police chief, Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who will retire next month.
Tito admits he could not refuse the President's order, although there are quite a few other more senior officers who qualify for the post. In fact, Tito, a 1987 graduate of the Military Academy, will leapfrog four other higher-ranking generals. "This is the President's choice and that's an order," Tito said during his visit to the Tempo office last Friday.

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June 14, 2016 edition

Setya Novanto announced his support for the government of President Joko Widodo right after he was elected chairman of the Golkar Party for the 2016-2019 term. He made the announcement at the Golkar national convention in Nusa Dua, Bali, last May, saying that his party was oriented towards development for the people, a vision that was in line with the development programs espoused by Jokowi. "In order to achieve our mission, Golkar must work with the government," asserted 60-year-old Setya, who hails from Bandung, West Java.
He claims that his party's support of the government had nothing to do about securing his legal status over a number of pending cases, among them the 'Papa Wants Shares' scandal. "I don't feel there are any pending cases against me," Setya stressed.

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June 7, 2016 edition

With his flaming red hair and grinning face, Umar Patek greeted Tempo at Surabaya's maximum correctional facility in Porong, Sidoardjo, East Java, three weeks ago. He was allowed out of his cell in Block F to meet us at the visitors' room.
Convicted for crimes of terrorism, Umar, 49, who has many aliases, was prominently mentioned last May as having played a role in the release of 10 Indonesians held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf armed separatist group in the Philippines. Umar claimed to have offered his services in negotiating for the release of the hostages, crew members of the Brahma 12 tug boat. "I wanted to help because they were my fellow compatriots. Everything I did was above board, I asked no pre-conditions," said Umar Patek, whose real name is Hisyam bin Ali Zein.

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May 31, 2016 edition

Supreme Court Chief Justice Muhammad Hatta Ali feels the current negative media reports about the court system are excessive and unjustified. "When it comes to reports about our justice system, they tend to be exaggerated," said Hatta during a recent interview.
The reputation of the Supreme Court was once again in question after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) nabbed Central Jakarta Court Clerk Edy Nasution red-handed accepting a bribe from a businessman.

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