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No Body is Perfect: Ramadhan Mubarak
Kehidupan manusia tidak terlepas dari kesalahan dan kekurangan, termasuk saya pribadi. Pada dasarnya dunia ini tidak ada manusia yang sempurna kecuali Nabi Muhammad SAW. Dibalik ketidak sempurnaan manusia membawa banyak hikmah yaitu motivasi untuk melakukan perbaikan terus menerus (continous improvement) untuk berlomba-lomba menjadi lebih sempurna, walaupun tak akan sempurna.
Bagi umat muslim sesaat lagi kita akan memasuki bulan suci Ramadhan, bulan yang penuh berkah. Pada bulan ini warga muslim akan di tempa di dalam Kampus Ramadhan agar menjadi pribadi yang berkarakter dan meningkatkan motivasi untuk melakukan improvement. Kenyataanya semua yang masuk kampus ramadhan tidak semuannya lulus, karena tergoda oleh banyaknya godaan duniawi yang memperdaya kita. Sebagian kecil saja yang bisa lulus dari Kampus Ramadhan dan mendapat gelar “manusia mulia”. Untuk mempertahankan gelar manusia mulia perlu konsistensi pada berbagai kondisi serta dari waktu kewaktu, inilah yang menjadi tantangan terbesar dari manusia yang senantiasa bisa salah dan khilaf. Pentingnnya teman dan orang terdekat yang senantiasa mengingatkan kita jika kita melakukan kesalahan dan kekeliruan, seperti teman-teman mahasiswa, alumni, partner yang telah menegur dan mengingatkan saya yang telah salah dan khilaf. Sekali lagi saya mohon maaf atas kesalahan dan kekhilafan tersebut.
Bagi mahasiswa avm di hongkong yang muslim sebentar lagi memasuki Bulan Ramadhan dan selamat menjalankan puasa dan ibadah Ramadhan. Semoga bisa lulus dari Kampus Ramadhan dan mendapatkan gelar manusia mulia di sisi Tuhan. Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin. (Manajemen AVM International.)
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OBAMA IN JAKARTA
THE PRESIDENT: Terima kasih. Terima kasih, thank you so much, thank you, everybody. Selamat pagi. (Applause.) It is wonderful to be here at the University of Indonesia. To the faculty and the staff and the students, and to Dr. Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri, thank you so much for your hospitality. (Applause.)
Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera. Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta and thank you to the people of Indonesia.
Pulang kampung nih. (Applause.) I am so glad that I made it back to Indonesia and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that’s meant so much to me. And unfortunately, this visit is too short, but I look forward to coming back a year from now when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit. (Applause.)
Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians who are affected by the recent tsunami and the volcanic eruptions — particularly those who’ve lost loved ones, and those who’ve been displaced. And I want you all to know that as always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to natural disasters, and we are pleased to be able to help as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and the resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.
Let me begin with a simple statement: Indonesia bagian dari didi saya. (Applause.) I first came to this country when my mother married an Indonesian named Lolo Soetoro. And as a young boy I was — as a young boy I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home.
Jakarta — now, Jakarta looked very different in those days. The city was filled with buildings that were no more than a few stories tall. This was back in 1967, ‘68 — most of you weren’t born yet. (Laughter.) The Hotel Indonesia was one of the few high rises, and there was just one big department store called Sarinah. That was it. (Applause.) Betchaks and bemos, that’s how you got around. They outnumbered automobiles in those days. And you didn’t have all the big highways that you have today. Most of them gave way to unpaved roads and the kampongs.
So we moved to Menteng Dalam, where — (applause) — hey, some folks from Menteng Dalam right here. (Applause.) And we lived in a small house. We had a mango tree out front. And I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites and running along the paddy fields and catching dragonflies, buying satay and baso from the street vendors. (Applause.) I still remember the call of the vendors. Satay! (Laughter.) I remember that. Baso! (Laughter.) But most of all, I remember the people — the old men and women who welcomed us with smiles; the children who made a foreign child feel like a neighbor and a friend; and the teachers who helped me learn about this country.
Because Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, and hundreds of languages, and people from scores of regions and ethnic groups, my time here helped me appreciate the common humanity of all people. And while my stepfather, like most Indonesians, was raised a Muslim, he firmly believed that all religions were worthy of respect. And in this way — (applause) — in this way he reflected the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains one of this country’s defining and inspiring characteristics. (Applause.)
Now, I stayed here for four years — a time that helped shape my childhood; a time that saw the birth of my wonderful sister, Maya; a time that made such an impression on my mother that she kept returning to Indonesia over the next 20 years to live and to work and to travel — and to pursue her passion of promoting opportunity in Indonesia’s villages, especially opportunity for women and for girls. And I was so honored — (applause) — I was so honored when President Yudhoyono last night at the state dinner presented an award on behalf of my mother, recognizing the work that she did. And she would have been so proud, because my mother held Indonesia and its people very close to her heart for her entire life. (Applause.)
So much has changed in the four decades since I boarded a plane to move back to Hawaii. If you asked me — or any of my schoolmates who knew me back then — I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that one day I would come back to Jakarta as the President of the United States. (Applause.) And few could have anticipated the remarkable story of Indonesia over these last four decades.
The Jakarta that I once knew has grown into a teeming city of nearly 10 million, with skyscrapers that dwarf the Hotel Indonesia, and thriving centers of culture and of commerce. While my Indonesian friends and I used to run in fields with water buffalo and goats — (laughter) — a new generation of Indonesians is among the most wired in the world — connected through cell phones and social networks. And while Indonesia as a young nation focused inward, a growing Indonesia now plays a key role in the Asia Pacific and in the global economy. (Applause.)
Now, this change also extends to politics. When my stepfather was a boy, he watched his own father and older brother leave home to fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian independence. And I’m happy to be here on Heroes Day to honor the memory of so many Indonesians who have sacrificed on behalf of this great country. (Applause.)
When I moved to Jakarta, it was 1967, and it was a time that had followed great suffering and conflict in parts of this country. And even though my stepfather had served in the Army, the violence and killing during that time of political upheaval was largely unknown to me because it was unspoken by my Indonesian family and friends. In my household, like so many others across Indonesia, the memories of that time were an invisible presence. Indonesians had their independence, but oftentimes they were afraid to speak their minds about issues.
In the years since then, Indonesia has charted its own course through an extraordinary democratic transformation — from the rule of an iron fist to the rule of the people. In recent years, the world has watched with hope and admiration as Indonesians embraced the peaceful transfer of power and the direct election of leaders. And just as your democracy is symbolized by your elected President and legislature, your democracy is sustained and fortified by its checks and balances: a dynamic civil society; political parties and unions; a vibrant media and engaged citizens who have ensured that — in Indonesia — there will be no turning back from democracy.
But even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to love about Indonesia — that spirit of tolerance that is written into your Constitution; symbolized in mosques and churches and temples standing alongside each other; that spirit that’s embodied in your people — that still lives on. (Applause.) Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — unity in diversity. (Applause.) This is the foundation of Indonesia’s example to the world, and this is why Indonesia will play such an important part in the 21st century.
So today, I return to Indonesia as a friend, but also as a President who seeks a deep and enduring partnership between our two countries. (Applause.) Because as vast and diverse countries; as neighbors on either side of the Pacific; and above all as democracies — the United States and Indonesia are bound together by shared interests and shared values.
Yesterday, President Yudhoyono and I announced a new Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Indonesia. We are increasing ties between our governments in many different areas, and — just as importantly — we are increasing ties among our people. This is a partnership of equals, grounded in mutual interests and mutual respect.
So with the rest of my time today, I’d like to talk about why the story I just told — the story of Indonesia since the days when I lived here — is so important to the United States and to the world. I will focus on three areas that are closely related, and fundamental to human progress — development, democracy and religious faith.
First, the friendship between the United States and Indonesia can advance our mutual interest in development.
When I moved to Indonesia, it would have been hard to imagine a future in which the prosperity of families in Chicago and Jakarta would be connected. But our economies are now global, and Indonesians have experienced both the promise and the perils of globalization: from the shock of the Asian financial crisis in the ‘90s, to the millions lifted out of poverty because of increased trade and commerce. What that means — and what we learned in the recent economic crisis — is that we have a stake in each other’s success.
America has a stake in Indonesia growing and developing, with prosperity that is broadly shared among the Indonesian people — because a rising middle class here in Indonesia means new markets for our goods, just as America is a market for goods coming from Indonesia. So we are investing more in Indonesia, and our exports have grown by nearly 50 percent, and we are opening doors for Americans and Indonesians to do business with one another.
America has a stake in an Indonesia that plays its rightful role in shaping the global economy. Gone are the days when seven or eight countries would come together to determine the direction of global markets. That’s why the G20 is now the center of international economic cooperation, so that emerging economies like Indonesia have a greater voice and also bear greater responsibility for guiding the global economy. And through its leadership of the G20’s anti-corruption group, Indonesia should lead on the world stage and by example in embracing transparency and accountability. (Applause.)
America has a stake in an Indonesia that pursues sustainable development, because the way we grow will determine the quality of our lives and the health of our planet. And that’s why we’re developing clean energy technologies that can power industry and preserve Indonesia’s precious natural resources — and America welcomes your country’s strong leadership in the global effort to combat climate change.
Above all, America has a stake in the success of the Indonesian people. Underneath the headlines of the day, we must build bridges between our people, because our future security and prosperity is shared. And that is exactly what we’re doing — by increasing collaboration among our scientists and researchers, and by working together to foster entrepreneurship. And I’m especially pleased that we have committed to double the number of American and Indonesian students studying in our respective countries. (Applause.) We want more Indonesian students in American schools, and we want more American students to come study in this country. (Applause.) We want to forge new ties and greater understanding between young people in this young century.
These are the issues that really matter in our daily lives. Development, after all, is not simply about growth rates and numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about whether a child can learn the skills they need to make it in a changing world. It’s about whether a good idea is allowed to grow into a business, and not suffocated by corruption. It’s about whether those forces that have transformed the Jakarta I once knew — technology and trade and the flow of people and goods — can translate into a better life for all Indonesians, for all human beings, a life marked by dignity and opportunity.
Now, this kind of development is inseparable from the role of democracy.
Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress. This is not a new argument. Particularly in times of change and economic uncertainty, some will say that it is easier to take a shortcut to development by trading away the right of human beings for the power of the state. But that’s not what I saw on my trip to India, and that is not what I see here in Indonesia. Your achievements demonstrate that democracy and development reinforce one another.
Like any democracy, you have known setbacks along the way. America is no different. Our own Constitution spoke of the effort to forge a “more perfect union,” and that is a journey that we’ve traveled ever since. We’ve endured civil war and we struggled to extend equal rights to all of our citizens. But it is precisely this effort that has allowed us to become stronger and more prosperous, while also becoming a more just and a more free society.
Like other countries that emerged from colonial rule in the last century, Indonesia struggled and sacrificed for the right to determine your destiny. That is what Heroes Day is all about — an Indonesia that belongs to Indonesians. But you also ultimately decided that freedom cannot mean replacing the strong hand of a colonizer with a strongman of your own.
Of course, democracy is messy. Not everyone likes the results of every election. You go through your ups and downs. But the journey is worthwhile, and it goes beyond casting a ballot. It takes strong institutions to check the power — the concentration of power. It takes open markets to allow individuals to thrive. It takes a free press and an independent justice system to root out abuses and excess, and to insist on accountability. It takes open society and active citizens to reject inequality and injustice.
These are the forces that will propel Indonesia forward. And it will require a refusal to tolerate the corruption that stands in the way of opportunity; a commitment to transparency that gives every Indonesian a stake in their government; and a belief that the freedom of Indonesians — that Indonesians have fought for is what holds this great nation together.
That is the message of the Indonesians who have advanced this democratic story — from those who fought in the Battle of Surabaya 55 years ago today; to the students who marched peacefully for democracy in the 1990s; to leaders who have embraced the peaceful transition of power in this young century. Because ultimately, it will be the rights of citizens that will stitch together this remarkable Nusantara that stretches from Sabang to Merauke, an insistence — (applause) — an insistence that every child born in this country should be treated equally, whether they come from Java or Aceh; from Bali or Papua. (Applause.) That all Indonesians have equal rights.
That effort extends to the example that Indonesia is now setting abroad. Indonesia took the initiative to establish the Bali Democracy Forum, an open forum for countries to share their experiences and best practices in fostering democracy. Indonesia has also been at the forefront of pushing for more attention to human rights within ASEAN. The nations of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny, and the United States will strongly support that right. But the people of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny as well. And that’s why we condemned elections in Burma recently that were neither free nor fair. That is why we are supporting your vibrant civil society in working with counterparts across this region. Because there’s no reason why respect for human rights should stop at the border of any country.
Hand in hand, that is what development and democracy are about — the notion that certain values are universal. Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty. Because there are aspirations that human beings share — the liberty of knowing that your leader is accountable to you, and that you won’t be locked up for disagreeing with them; the opportunity to get an education and to be able to work with dignity; the freedom to practice your faith without fear or restriction. Those are universal values that must be observed everywhere.
Now, religion is the final topic that I want to address today, and — like democracy and development — it is fundamental to the Indonesian story.
Like the other Asian nations that I’m visiting on this trip, Indonesia is steeped in spirituality — a place where people worship God in many different ways. Along with this rich diversity, it is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population — a truth I came to know as a boy when I heard the call to prayer across Jakarta.
Just as individuals are not defined solely by their faith, Indonesia is defined by more than its Muslim population. But we also know that relations between the United States and Muslim communities have frayed over many years. As President, I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations. (Applause.) As part of that effort, I went to Cairo last June, and I called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world — one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences.
I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust. But I believed then, and I believe today, that we do have a choice. We can choose to be defined by our differences, and give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground, and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of progress. And I can promise you — no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress. That is who we are. That is what we’ve done. And that is what we will do. (Applause.)
Now, we know well the issues that have caused tensions for many years — and these are issues that I addressed in Cairo. In the 17 months that have passed since that speech, we have made some progress, but we have much more work to do.
Innocent civilians in America, in Indonesia and across the world are still targeted by violent extremism. I made clear that America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. Instead, all of us must work together to defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion –– certainly not a great, world religion like Islam. But those who want to build must not cede ground to terrorists who seek to destroy. And this is not a task for America alone. Indeed, here in Indonesia, you’ve made progress in rooting out extremists and combating such violence.
In Afghanistan, we continue to work with a coalition of nations to build the capacity of the Afghan government to secure its future. Our shared interest is in building peace in a war-torn land — a peace that provides no safe haven for violent extremists, and that provide hope for the Afghan people.
Meanwhile, we’ve made progress on one of our core commitments — our effort to end the war in Iraq. Nearly 100,000 American troops have now left Iraq under my presidency. (Applause.) Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their security. And we will continue to support Iraq as it forms an inclusive government, and we will bring all of our troops home.
In the Middle East, we have faced false starts and setbacks, but we’ve been persistent in our pursuit of peace. Israelis and Palestinians restarted direct talks, but enormous obstacles remain. There should be no illusion that peace and security will come easy. But let there be no doubt: America will spare no effort in working for the outcome that is just, and that is in the interests of all the parties involved — two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. That is our goal. (Applause.)
The stakes are high in resolving all of these issues. For our world has grown smaller, and while those forces that connect us have unleashed opportunity and great wealth, they also empower those who seek to derail progress. One bomb in a marketplace can obliterate the bustle of daily commerce. One whispered rumor can obscure the truth and set off violence between communities that once lived together in peace. In an age of rapid change and colliding cultures, what we share as human beings can sometimes be lost.
But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia should give us hope. It is a story written into our national mottos. In the United States, our motto is E pluribus unum — out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — unity in diversity. (Applause.) We are two nations, which have traveled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag. And we are now building on that shared humanity — through young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to greater prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations.
Before I came here, I visited Istiqlal mosque — a place of worship that was still under construction when I lived in Jakarta. And I admired its soaring minaret and its imposing dome and welcoming space. But its name and history also speak to what makes Indonesia great. Istiqlal means independence, and its construction was in part a testament to the nation’s struggle for freedom. Moreover, this house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect. (Applause.)
Such is Indonesia’s spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia’s inclusive philosophy, Pancasila. (Applause.) Across an archipelago that contains some of God’s most beautiful creations, islands rising above an ocean named for peace, people choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Development is strengthened by an emerging democracy. Ancient traditions endure, even as a rising power is on the move.
That is not to say that Indonesia is without imperfections. No country is. But here we can find the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion — by the ability to see yourself in other people. As a child of a different race who came here from a distant country, I found this spirit in the greeting that I received upon moving here: Selamat Datang. As a Christian visiting a mosque on this visit, I found it in the words of a leader who was asked about my visit and said, “Muslims are also allowed in churches. We are all God’s followers.”
That spark of the divine lives within each of us. We cannot give in to doubt or cynicism or despair. The stories of Indonesia and America should make us optimistic, because it tells us that history is on the side of human progress; that unity is more powerful than division; and that the people of this world can live together in peace. May our two nations, working together, with faith and determination, share these truths with all mankind.
Sebagai penutup, saya mengucapkan kepada seluruh rakyat Indonesia: terima kasih atas. Terima kasih. Assalamualaikum. Thank you.
posting by : andri vista medina , www.avm-indonesia.com
Obama Speech University of Indonesia Jakarta Full Text;
Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta. And thank you to the people of Indonesia.I am so glad that I made it to Indonesia, and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that has meant so much to me. Unfortunately, it’s a fairly quick visit, but I look forward to coming back a year from now, when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit.
Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians affected by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions – particularly those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been displaced. As always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to this natural disaster, and we are pleased to be able to help as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.
Let me begin with a simple statement: Indonesia is a part of me. I first came to this country when my mother married an Indonesian man named Lolo Soetoro. As a young boy, I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home.
Jakarta looked very different in those days. The city was filled with buildings that were no more than a few stories tall. The Hotel Indonesia was one of the few high rises, and there was just one brand new shopping center called Sarinah. Betchaks outnumbered automobiles in those days, and the highway quickly gave way to unpaved roads and kampongs.
We moved to Menteng Dalam, where we lived in a small house with a mango tree out front. I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites, running along paddy fields, catching dragonflies, and buying satay and baso from the street vendors. Most of all, I remember the people – the old men and women who welcomed us with smiles; the children who made a foreigner feel like a neighbor; and the teachers who helped me learn about the wider world.
Because Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, hundreds of languages, and people from scores of regions and ethnic groups, my times here helped me appreciate the common humanity of all people. And while my stepfather, like most Indonesians, was raised a Muslim, he firmly believed that all religions were worthy of respect. In this way, he reflected the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains one of this country’s defining and inspiring characteristics.
posting by: andri vista medina , www.avm-indonesia.com
Mentawai Tsunami and Mount Merapi Eruption Updates
At least 382 peeple have killed in last three days from the twin disasters in Indonesia.In Mentawai Islands tsunami death tolls has risen to 348 people and nearly 400 still missing. Indonesian officials said that we will never see missing people alive again as it is ecpexted that they swept away by wave. President Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono visted the tsunami effected area to oversee the rescue efforts.
On the other side, death toll climbs to 34 after the Mount Merapi eruption in Central Java , which is nearly 1,300 Kilometers away from the tsunami zone. Hundreds of people are living in temporary shelters suffering from breathing problems, eye and skin irritations, and dizziness. Local officials have issued highest alert for the volcano. The eruption left the area under a blanket of volcanic ash. (allvoices.com)
Terror suspects die in hail of police bullets
Five men linked to a terrorist cell have been shot in Indonesia.
The suspected terrorists were killed after police launched series of anti-terror operations throughout the country..
Police have said the men may have been planning to launch a terror attack over the next few weeks. One was identified as Mukhlis, who was shot as he was alighting from a taxi.
He had trained with Islamic separatists in the Philippines. Mukhlis was with two other terror suspects who were also shot.
Another two were killed in a later raid on a suspected hideout in the West Java city of Cikampek, about 80 kilometres from Jakarta.
One of the dead has been named as Saptono, who was involved in a suicide car bomb attack that killed ten people outside the Australian embassy in 2004.
All of the men were linked to a previous operation in February, when police raided a militant training camp in Aceh province.Those just eliminated were linked to the terrorist training facility in Aceh. (Indonesia News.net)
Bali Nine's Scott Rush circumcised in jail
BALI Nine death row prisoner Scott Rush has been circumcised in a secret jail ceremony in Bali and has told authorities he is learning about Islam.
Authorities at Kerobokan Jail confirmed that Rush had undergone a circumcision on Friday in the jail’s Muslim prayer area.
The jail’s doctor and other officials were not even aware the circumcision had taken place until the weekend and were angered that such a procedure had been conducted by someone who was not authorised by the jail.
They have since questioned Rush’s motives and whether he had really converted to Islam. Rush is a Catholic and his parents are staunchly religious.
As recently as a week ago Rush attending Christian church services at the jail.
The jail’s head of education and rehabilitation, Anang, said that Rush had told him he was still learning about Islam.
“His answers were complicated,” Anang said about his discussion with Rush, whom he has told to provide him with more answers today.
And the jail’s doctor, Agung Hartawan, who was only aware of the circumcision on the weekend said luckily it was a good job and not bleeding too much.
Dr Hartawan said he had asked Rush if he converted to Islam and that he said: “I want to learn Islam.”
And he said when he further questioned Rush about the secretive procedure and whether his parents were even aware of it, that Rush had told him: “This is my right and I just want to know about Islam, I want to learn about Islam.”
Rush is one of three members of the Bali Nine on death row for their role in the heroin trafficking gang. He is due to lodge his final appeal very soon. (news.com.au)
Tsunami warning after strong quake off Indonesia lifted
A tsunami warning in Indonesia issued after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the Sumatran coast of Aceh province Sunday has been lifted, an official said.
The quake was recorded at 0559 GMT with the epicentre 66 km southwest of Meulaboh in West Aceh district, according to the Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Fauzi, head of the Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System, said there was no threat of a major tsunami and the warning had been lifted.
Fauzi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, earlier said sea buoys indicated a 20-cm tsunami in the sea off Meulaboh.
An official named Wandi in Meulaboh told Elshinta radio that he had not received reports of damage or casualties.
‘The situation is calm and we call on the people to remain calm,’ he told the radio station.
The quake was also felt strongly in the neighbouring provinces of North Sumatra and Riau. Local television showed residents in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, scrambling out of shopping malls.
Indonesian Economy Probably Expanded at Fastest Pace Since 2008
May 7 (Bloomberg) — Indonesia’s economy probably expanded at the fastest pace in more than a year last quarter as record- low interest rates boosted consumer spending in Southeast Asia’s largest economy and exports and investment recovered.
Bank Indonesia has left its benchmark interest rate at 6.5 percent since August and urged lenders to expand credit as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono focuses on boosting growth after winning a second term last July. That’s lifted earnings at companies including PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia.
“Retail sales surged in the first quarter, supported by fiscal stimulus and high consumer confidence,” Nikhilesh Bhattacharyya, an economist at Moody’s Economy.com in Sydney, said in a note yesterday. “Business investment picked up, supported by easing credit standards, surging capital inflows and high capacity utilization. Exports grew rapidly on the back of strong demand from emerging markets.”
The Jakarta benchmark stock index has increased 11 percent this year and the rupiah gained 13 percent in the past 12 months to become the best performer in Asia, as foreign funds sought to take advantage of Indonesia’s strengthening economy and political stability.
Global Rebound
Growth in Asian economies from Malaysia to China is accelerating as the global recovery boosts demand for the region’s semiconductors, palm oil and televisions, after governments around the world boosted public spending and slashed interest rates to increase consumption.
Indonesia’s exports, which account for 29 percent of gross domestic product, surged 54 percent to $35.4 billion in the first quarter from $23.03 billion a year earlier, according to data from the statistics bureau.
“We have seen investment and exports start to pick up in the first quarter,” said Destry Damayanti, an economist at PT Mandiri Sekuritas, a unit of PT Bank Mandiri, in Jakarta. “More investment in big projects like in the airports and seaports should help boost the economy.”
Domestic and foreign investment totaled 42.1 trillion rupiah ($4.6 billion) in the first quarter, according to data from the Board of Capital Investment. Foreign direct investment accounted for 35.4 trillion rupiah.
Confidence Climbs
Economic growth has also been supported by rising confidence, buoyed by the most stable political climate since the ouster of the dictator, Suharto, in 1998. A central bank index measuring consumer sentiment rose to 107.4 in March from 98.6 a year earlier, bolstering demand for mobile phones and automobiles.
Car sales in Indonesia rose 74 percent to 174,042 units in the first three months of this year from a year earlier, according to the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industry. Cement consumption rose to 10.3 million tons in the first quarter from 8.98 million tons a year earlier, data from an industry group shows.
“A more and more positive story is coming from Indonesia,” said Rudyanto Somawihardja, president director of PT Sinar Mitra Sepadan Finance, a financing company in Jakarta. “Car sales are rising, cement sales are picking up, signaling an increase in purchasing power.”
Yudhoyono’s Plans
Sinar Mitra expects revenue to double to 3.7 trillion rupiah this year from 1.7 trillion rupiah in 2009, Somawihardja said this week.
Yudhoyono, 60, has pledged to double spending on roads, seaports and airports to $140 billion over the next five years to help deliver average growth of 6.6 percent over the remainder of his term ending in 2014.
“With ample liquidity now, banks are more than willing to finance infrastructure projects such seaports and toll roads,” said David E. Sumual, an economist at PT Bank Central Asia in Jakarta.
–Editors: Stephanie Phang, Greg Ahlstrand
To contact the reporter on this story: Aloysius Unditu in Jakarta at aunditu@bloomberg.net; Michael Munoz in Hong Kong at mjmunoz@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Anstey in Tokyo at canstey@bloomberg.net
Indonesia May Hold Rates as Rupiah’s Strength Tackles Inflation
By Aloysius Unditu and Michael Munoz
May 4 (Bloomberg) — Indonesia’s central bank may keep its benchmark interest rate at a record low this week as a strengthening currency and rising food supplies keep inflation at “moderate” levels.
Bank Indonesia will keep its reference rate unchanged at 6.5 percent for a ninth consecutive month tomorrow, according to all 20 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The measure is at the lowest level since it was introduced in 2005.
Inflation in Southeast Asia’s largest economy stayed below 4 percent last month as rice harvests boosted supplies and a 4 percent gain in the rupiah this year reduced import costs, a report showed yesterday. That makes Indonesia a standout in a region where inflation has accelerated and central banks from India to China are either raising interest rates or ordering banks to hold more assets in reserve.
“Moderate inflation is allowing Bank Indonesia to be patient,” said David Cohen, an economist at Action Economics in Singapore. Still, “a gradual rise in inflation from the current year-on-year pace will likely prompt them to begin raising rates before yearend in an effort to remain ahead of the inflation curve,” he said.
Bank Indonesia may keep its policy rate unchanged through the end of the year should inflation remain “within its expectations,” Senior Deputy Governor Darmin Nasution said in Jakarta yesterday.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is focused on boosting development in the world’s fourth most populous nation, urging banks to increase lending and raising spending to bolster growth.
‘Tame Inflation’
The rupiah is the best performing currency in Asia this year against the dollar after the Malaysian ringgit and the Indian rupee. The Jakarta main stock index has gained 17 percent this year.
“Given the tame inflation and the rupiah’s appreciation against the dollar, we think there will be no change in Bank Indonesia’s monetary stance,” Aldian Taloputra, an economist at PT Mandiri Sekuritas in Jakarta, wrote in a note yesterday.
Australia, India, Vietnam and Malaysia have increased borrowing costs to fight inflation and avert asset bubbles, and China on May 2 asked lenders to set aside more money as reserves for the third time this year.
Low borrowing costs have benefited Indonesian companies and banks including PT Bank Mandiri and PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia. Bank Rakyat, the country’s second-largest lender by assets, said last week first-quarter net income rose 25 percent to 2.15 trillion rupiah as lending increased.
Car sales may grow 10 percent this year, helped by low lending rates, the country’s biggest auto dealer, PT Astra International, said in March.
“Low inflation means people have more purchasing power and they will have more to spend, including buying cars and motorcycles,” said Juniman, an economist at PT Bank Internasional Indonesia in Jakarta.
To contact the reporter on this story: Aloysius Unditu in Jakarta at aunditu@bloomberg.net: Michael Munoz in Hong Kong at mjmunoz@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: May 3, 2010 13:00 EDT
Indonesian minister to attend nuclear treaty talks in New York
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will lead an Indonesian delegation to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Session to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York on May 3 to 28, 2010.
The Indonesian delegation will be composed of representatives from the foreign ministry, the Indonesian permanent representative mission in New York, Indonesian permanent representative office in Vienna and from several technical government agencies. According to the ministry of foreign affairs, the session which constituted the eighth of its kind since the establishment of the NPT, will evaluate the implementation of a number of regulations laid down in the treaty.
The NPT is basically built on three pillars, namely nuclear arms reduction, non-proliferation and nuclear energy development for peaceful purposes. It is expected that the foreign minister would make an Indonesian statement on Monday local time.
He will also make a statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement State Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Indonesia is the coordinator of the Working Group of the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Arms Reduction. Based the results of the preparatory meetings held in the 2007-2009 period, it was expected that all NPT member states will have comprehensive deliberations on such issues as arms reduction, additional protocols, security, the Middle East situation and membership withdrawals.(*)
