Selamat Hari Raya Idul Adha! (Indonesia Intelligencer July 25-31)
Hello Coconauts!
To commemorate an Idul Adha like none other, we’ve opened up today’s newsletter to all readers. Stay up to date with Coconuts Jakarta, Coconuts Bali and Indonesia Intelligencer.
Enjoy the holiday!
COVID-19
The latest
Indonesia has surpassed the 100,000 cases milestone with the country’s total sitting on 106,336 as of Thursday’s Health Ministry announcement. Deaths continue to rise, yesterday surpassing 5,000.
West Java crackdown
Do the violation, pay the fine. That’s the message from West Java’s provincial government where a new law has come into immediate effect targeting those who violate restrictions. Fines can now be issued against individuals, businesses and whole institutions for a range of offences beginning from not wearing a face mask when in public.
Healthy bodies wanted
State-owned pharmaceuticals firm Bio Farma is on the hunt for volunteers for a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Would-be human guinea pigs must be healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 59 and have not contracted the virus at all. Arya Sinulingga, an aide to SOE Minister Erick Thoir, has volunteered and calls for others to do so too. “Hopefully, this vaccine can be used in our nation and in others. I hope this will be successful.”
Back to school — sort of
Here’s some good news amid the gloomy predictions for the school year ahead. One Surabaya cafe is offering students access to its wi-fi and hot tea for students using the Warkop Pitulikur to study, no purchase necessary. The move has been widely applauded across social media — here’s hoping others follow suit!
Recommended reads:
How will COVID-19 affect Indonesia’s upcoming elections? (Policy Forum)
Recently one politician, the Regent of Klaten Sri Mulyani, was heavily criticised for the distribution of aid packages branded with her name and photographs. Her administration quickly clarified that it was unintentional, and both government bodies and critics have warned running candidates to not politicise the pandemic and the resulting vulnerability among the public.
While there will be some political moments like this in the wake of the pandemic, in the long run, the crisis experience is likely to lead voters to place healthcare and disaster management high on the agenda for political parties, coalitions, and candidates.
There’s a reason for Stephani to be uneasy. Nationwide, doctors, nurses, and other medical workers are dying at an alarming rate. The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) estimated that six out of every 100 deaths were medical workers, but in a country where COVID-19 has become heavily stigmatized and data is often inaccurate or not publically available, that figure might only be a small fraction of the total problem.
“Every time I read the news and see that a nurse died of COVID-19, I think to myself, ‘Oh my God, another nurse died? Who is going to be next?’” Stephani said. “Every time I don’t feel well, I always think about whether it’s a symptom of COVID or not… if I was exposed one day and I went home and I infected everyone, I don’t think I could forgive myself.”
Business and Economics
Hot ticket
International and domestic travel is undergoing its sharpest decline ever, but it seems nothing can stop Traveloka. The travel portal has won over an additional $250 million in funding from international investors who are banking on both Indonesians love of travel and Traveloka as the go-to portal. The fresh capital "is expected to further strengthen Traveloka's balance sheet and boost efforts to deepen Traveloka's offerings in select priority areas” a statement said.
Budget blowout
Next year’s budget deficit will be allowed to widen to 5.2 percent of GDP as the economic impact of the pandemic bites. It’s up from an initial expansion of 4.3 percent. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati earmarked an additional Rp 179 trillion ($12.2 billion) in spending with a focus on food security and infrastructure stimulus.
Lone wolf
It’s looking unlikely other emerging markets will follow Indonesia’s lead in central banks buying up bonds, Bloomberg reports. The $27 billion buy-up is an unprecedented move in the country but analysts initially suggested it could be an example to other struggling economies, particularly with new economic concepts being explored. Still, three weeks on from the announcement Bank Indonesia stands alone.
Recommended reads:
Coronavirus stalks Southeast Asia's once-thriving unicorns (Nikkei Asia Review)
Smaller startups that lack similar financial means have been forced to shut down for good. Stoqo Teknologi Indonesia, a popular online platform that supplied fresh ingredients to mom and pop food outlets, ceased operations in late April after COVID-19 "drastically decreased [its] income." Another casualty was Airy, a budget hotel startup; it stopped operations at the end of May after seeing a "very significant decline in sales and very high refund requests from users" over the past few months.
Indonesia’s stimulus not enough for households to survive pandemic: Survey (The Jakarta Post)
“We still need a greater stimulus to boost the demand side of the economy,” University of Indonesia economist Ari Kuncoro told The Jakarta Post. The government should opt for “more creative incentives”, such as an internet subsidy for students and incentives for leisure activities.
“The MSMEs are now looking to get working capital loans to boost production, but they will need demand, which has been temporarily weakened by the pandemic,” Ari added.
Across the Archipelago
Labor storm brewing
A decision to bring in hundreds of Chinese workers to construct massive industrial projects has been slammed by the country’s unions. Job opportunities have been scarce amid the pandemic leading to fury that skilled workers from China are benefiting and giving fresh fuel to anti-Chinese investment activists. Still, the government stands by the move. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan says it’s a necessity, adding that “the presence of skilled workers will lead to creation of 5,000 jobs for the locals and transfer of technology.”
Aceh’s business as usual
Two women were caned nearly 100 times on Tuesday in Aceh, officials from the province announced this week. The pair are accused of organizing and selling sex online in violation of Sharia law after they were arrested in March along with five sex workers. The sex workers also face caning.
Idul Adha
Do the right thing this weekend. That’s the message from the influential Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which has called for Muslims across the country to be mindful of distancing measures to have a safe and happy holiday. “We need to focus on our health. If we are unfit or carrying preexisting diseases, it is advisable for us to pray from home,” Asrorun Niam Sholeh, the secretary of MUI’s fatwa commission, said in a statement.
Farmers have turned online to spruik their cows and goats ahead of the Idul Adha celebrations. Traditionally, the sight of the animals along roads from the major cities to the smallest of villages would mark the beginning of the lead-up to the holiday but with movement restrictions and disruptions to logistical chains, farmers have gone digital. Mahir Farm, in Bogor, told Reuters 80 percent of its sales this year have come from social media.
Recommended Reads:
Bungled Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail line causes chaos (China Dialogue)
However, concerns have been voiced from the start that the project’s environmental impact assessments were inadequate, with limited efforts to consult the public or NGOs.
“Preparation, outreach and public consultation should not just be a formality. Public consultation must be meaningful,” said Meiki Paendong, executive director of WALHI West Java, an environmental NGO based in Bandung. WALHI is the national chapter of Friends of the Earth.
Indonesian police say there is no evidence of Chinese military uniforms being washed at a launderette in Jakarta, after investigating a viral video analysts say is the latest in a series of hoaxes circulated to create a “phobia” of Beijing and discredit President Joko Widodo.
The footage showed camouflage uniforms hanging on racks at a launderette in the capital’s northern Kelapa Gading district, while a narrator said in Bahasa Indonesia: “There are many Chinese soldiers here, ready for war. Looks like one battalion.”
Top Coconuts Jakarta reads
Authorities raid budget hotel in West Jakarta after couple had sex with curtains open
Only PCR test result required for air travel: Soekarno-Hatta official
All Jakarta sub-districts now infected with coronavirus: official data
Jakarta man faces 6 years in prison for spreading Chinese army laundry hoax
Alleged mentally unstable man stabs imam in Pekanbaru mosque
Top Coconuts Bali reads
