January 31, 2017 edition
Pertamina needs to resolve the convoluted problems plaguing its organization now, not later. The first internal conflict that led to the formation of groups at the top level of this state oil and gas company may have resulted in the second problem, the management's failure to prevent the recurrence of damages in its refineries.
The internal rift was believed to have been sparked by the management change carried out by the state-owned enterprise (SOE) ministry. The new structure limits the role of CEO Dwi Soetjipto, vesting instead bigger powers to his deputy, Ahmad Bambang. Ironically, as the second top man, he currently supervises the two directors, for processing and marketing, in addition to the Integrated Supply Chain, a fuel and crude oil import procurement unit, which will shortly join other units under his command.
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January 24, 2017 edition
If President Joko Widodo gives the green light to the Tobacco Bill submitted by the House of Representatives (DPR) last December, he will look like a turncoat deserting his own principles embodied in the Medium-term Development Plan for 2015-2019. One of the points is aimed at reducing smoking among the under-18 year olds, by 25 percent.
In 2015, teenage smokers made up of 7.2 percent of Indonesia's 255 million population. Jokowi aims to reduce that number to 4.5 percent in four years' time. Even without the Tobacco Bill, smoking among teens aged 10-14 years jumped from 0.7 percent in 2001 to 4.8 percent, according to the health ministry's primary health research carried out in 2013. The Bill sets very lax regulations on tobacco, particularly on its trade and control. The articles in the Bill also run counter to other existing laws. Advertisement and distribution of tobacco products, for example, overlap with articles in the health law and its derivative regulations.
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January 10, 2017 edition
January 3, 2017 edition
December 27, 2016 edition