Mandatory Rupiah Policy Needs More Time, Expert Says

 

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Economy expert Lana Soelistianingsih appreciated Bank Indonesia’s move in establishing mandatory rupiah policy in every financial transaction in the country. Lana said that the policy can help to strengthen the Rupiah's position against US Dollar.
However, the policy, which is regulated in Bank Indonesia Regulation No. 17/3/PBI/2015 and Law No. 7/2011 on Currency, requires transitional period, according to Lana.
"The regulation is good, but it needs more time," Lana said on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. "In tourism sector, [using Rupiah in financial transaction] could potentially cause price disparity."
Lana added that not all consumers know exactly the exchange value of foreign currency. "Travel agents can set Rupiah at a particular exchange value to avoid losing profit," Lana said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN | ANDRI EL FARUQI

BMKG Names Banda Aceh as Hottest City in Indonesia

 

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Blang Bintang's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has named Banda Aceh as the hottest city in Indonesia, with temperatures averaging at 36.4 degrees Celsius.

Other cities which made the list include Tanjung Selor in North Kalimantan where temperatures averages at 34.9 degrees Celsius, as well as Medan, North Sumatra, and Rengat in Riau, where temperatures average at 34.8 and 34.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.

BMKG said that the reason behind the high recorded temperatures is the position of the sun relative to the earth - which is currently slightly biased towards the North.


Similar trends could also be observed im the Northern Hemisphere - in fact, recently, the mercury in Cagil, Turkmenistan peaked at 47.2 degrees Celsius.

Golkar to Leave Prabowo's Coalition

 

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agung Laksono, the elected Golkar Party chairman in Ancol National Meeting (Munas), said the party will leave the Red-White Coalition (KMP). “Since the beginning, Munas has intended to leave KMP,” said Agung on Monday.
Agung said Golkar will support President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla as the elected and legitimate government. However, Golkar will not join the Great Indonesia Coalition. “There should be no coalitions. They should just be disbanded,” he said.
He continued that Golkar wants parliament to unite in order to exercise its oversight, legislative and budget functions without influence from coalition.
Agung’s decision affects several strategic policies in parliament in the near future. Different from Aburizal Bakrie-led National Conference (Munas) in Bali. Agung supports the regulation in lieu of law that replaces the regional elections law and interpelation.

FRANCISCO ROSARIANS

Ahok Plans on Building 'Dream Gardens' in Jakarta

 

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) revealed a plan to make six dream gardens for Jakarta residents. The parks will be designed for people to do various activities such as exercising and learning. Ahok calls it an integrated park.
“On March next year, there will be six pilot dream gardens,” Ahok said in a speech at the commemoration.
According to Ahok, the parks will be managed by women of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK). Some facilities such as pre-school education, integrated health service post (Posyandu), library, and sport facilities. The government is targeting 16 percent additional green open space by 2030.
“Each city will have one,” said Ahok.
To realize the plan, Ahok added, local government will acquire resident’s land and buildings that are located in the crowded settlements. However, Ahok has yet to give details about the budget.
“Hopefully it will be approved by the Regional Legislative Council.”

GANGSAR PARIKESIT

East Jakarta to Build Children-Friendly Parks

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Jakarta Administration plans to build nine children-friendly parks equipped with swings, giant chessboards, futsal fields, reflection areas, etc. These parks are expected to be a place for children to be creative and hopefully would minimize the case of violence against children.

Head of East Jakarta Parks Sub-Department, Suzi Marzitawati, told that this year her party only built one children-friendly park on Jalan Raya Bogor, Kramat Jati. As for the additional nine parks, they will be built in Cililitan, Kelapa Dua, Jatinegara, Klender, and Kampung Rambutan.

“The construction will be started next year,” she stated on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara News.

According to Marzitawati, at this time her sub-department is still reviewing the parks’ concept. The review itself involved the East Jakarta Women Empowerment and Family Planning (KPMP & KB) Office.

“Besides children’s playground, those parks will also be equipped with library and health and community health center for children,” she said.

ANTARA NEWS