Garuda Indonesia kicks off Jakarta-London direct flight

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia kicked off its direct route from Jakarta to London when one of its Boeing 777-300 ER planes took off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday to Heathrow International Airport.

The inaugural flight was witnessed, among others, by British Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik, the Tourism Ministry's official in charge for overseas market development I Gde Pitana and Garuda Indonesia president director Pahala Nugraha Mansury.

"With this, Garuda Indonesia becomes the only airline that has nonstop, fast, convenient and efficient flights from Indonesia to the UK and Europe," said Pahala when attending the event, as quoted in a press statement.

Read also: Garuda postpones US route plans amid Japanese rejection

Garuda Indonesia operates Jakarta-London direct flights three times a week with a flight duration of about 15 hours. The Boeing 777-300 ER has a capacity of 314 seats, with eight for first class, 38 for business class and 268 for economy class.

Pahala said the nonstop route had become a high priority for Garuda, following the opening of Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which recently became the main hub for Garuda Indonesia's international service.

"The nonstop flight is expected to facilitate frequent flyers, who joined SkyTeam to get connections to more destinations," he added, saying that it would allow passengers from the UK to fly onward to Australian cities such as Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. (bbn)

Source: Garuda Indonesia kicks off Jakarta-London direct flight

Jakarta closes hotel targeted by Islamists for alleged vice

By Reuters

Published: 07:05 EDT, 30 October 2017 | Updated: 07:05 EDT, 30 October 2017

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JAKARTA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Indonesia's capital has shut a hotel and spa complex for alleged vice, city officials said on Monday, after Islamist groups in the Muslim-majority country had urged Jakarta's governor to act on a campaign pledge to shut the premises.

The Alexis Hotel, whose website describes it as a "dreamland for men", became embroiled in the city's recent election when the new governor, Anies Baswedan, promised in a televised debate to shut it and accused his predecessor of only acting against more downmarket venues offering vice and drugs.

Edy Junaedi, head of the Jakarta Capital Investment and One-stop Integrated Services (PTSP) agency, confirmed by telephone on Monday that the hotel's permit had not been renewed.

In a letter, the city government said it had decided not to extend the permit after "information circulating in media about forbidden activities", adding that it was required to prevent any immoral and illegal activities.

Islamist groups had previously sent a letter to authorities demanding the hotel be closed, but later called off a proposed protest rally outside the venue for security and technical reasons, state news agency Antara said.

The hotel did not immediately respond to a request for comment and its owner could not be reached.

Media quoted Baswedan as saying the city would take firm action against any businesses conducting "immoral practices".

The governor faced criticism after winning April's Jakarta election with the support of Islamist groups who had agitated for months against his opponent and former governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama - an ethnic Chinese Christian - whom they accused of blasphemy against Islam.

Purnama demolished Jakarta's sprawling Kalijodo red-light district in 2006 as part of a nationwide crackdown on prostitution and also closed a number of notorious Jakarta nightclubs over drug use.

Though illegal in Indonesia, prostitution is rampant in most cities, and the decision to close the Alexis comes as groups like the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which has a history of raiding nightclubs and bars, want Baswedan to impose a more "Islamic lifestyle" on the city of more than 10 million.

Novel Bamukmin, head of FPI's Jakarta chapter, has said the group would "push" Baswedan´s administration to gradually close down bars and clubs in a city known for a freewheeling nightlife because "It's immoral and...not Islamic culture".

Sandiaga Uno, Baswedan's deputy, has said the administration would consider setting up "sharia-inspired" or sharia-compliant entertainment spots similar to those in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. (Reporting by Augustinus Beo Da Costa; Additional reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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Source: Jakarta closes hotel targeted by Islamists for alleged vice

Bukit Duri evictees meet Jakarta governor after class action lawsuit victory

Dozens of Bukit Duri residents who were evicted by the Jakarta administration early this year came to City Hall on Friday morning to meet newly installed Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. 

The residents hoped to discuss with Anies the administration's plan for the evictees following the class action ruling at the Central Jakarta District Court that granted the lawsuit filed by the evictees regarding the forced eviction in which the administration is obliged to pay each of the 93 plaintiff residents Rp 200 million (US$14,740). 

Anies welcomed the visit, saying he had scheduled to meet the residents next week. 

"We will talk about the compensation so that the administration can fulfill its responsibility in accordance with the residents' needs," Anies said.

On Thursday, Anies said his administration would not file an appeal regarding the court's ruling.

Read also: Bukit Duri eviction declared 'illegal'

Bukit Duri resident and lawyer Vera Soemarwi said the residents would bring up the proposal to develop kampung susun (elevated village) with the governor.

The Jakarta administration under former governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama evicted Bukit Duri residents on Jan. 12, 2016, as part of the administration's efforts to restore Ciliwung River to further decrease flooding in the city.

Opposing the policy, 93 of the residents filed a class action to the Central Jakarta District Court on May 10, 2016 and demanded compensation amounting to Rp 1.07 trillion in material losses and Rp 104 billion in immaterial losses. (rdi/dmr) 

Source: Bukit Duri evictees meet Jakarta governor after class action lawsuit victory

North Jakarta Police arrest middle-aged woman for allegedly selling crystal meth

North Jakarta Police have arrested a 58-year-old woman for allegedly selling and using sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine).

North Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Dwiyono said the woman was a meth addict.

 "She sold the drugs so she could keep using," Dwiyono said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co.

Meanwhile, Dwiyono added that police also arrested 46 people in Cilincing, Koja, Tanjung Priok and Penjaringan, for their suspected involvement in drug cases.  

Five of them are suspected of being drug dealers, while 31 are allegedly distributors and the rest users, he added.

Four marijuana-related cases saw police seize 123.36 grams of the drug.

The police also announced on Friday the seizure of 150.05 grams of crystal meth from 32 cases, the drugs of which were worth Rp 300 million (US$ 22,031).

Dwiyono added that drug dealers had become more cautious, opting to sell drugs to acquaintances.

If the dealers did not know the buyers well, they would ask them to transfer the money in advance, he said. (cal)

Source: North Jakarta Police arrest middle-aged woman for allegedly selling crystal meth

At least 47 killed in Jakarta fireworks blast

Updated: 9:45 pm, Thursday, 26 October 2017

The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks factory near Jakarta has risen to 47, police say.

'So far 47 bodies have been found,' Jakarta police chief Idham Aziz said.

All the victims were employees of the fireworks factory in Tangerang, just southwest of Jakarta, local fire department official Oni Sahroni told Metro TV.

Police said in a statement the bodies of the victims were charred beyond recognition and that the initial explosion blew off the factory's roof.

Footage taken by a local resident using a mobile phone showed flames engulfing the factory while residents shouted 'Oh God! oh God!'

The factory, run by PT Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses, had operated for only six weeks, district chief Toni Rustoni said.

DPA

Source: At least 47 killed in Jakarta fireworks blast

Jokowi shares experience leading capital with Jakarta leaders

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.

In the meeting, Jokowi told the governor and the deputy governor to focus on the upcoming 2018 Asian Games, said Anies.

"Jakarta will be one of the hosting cities for the 2018 Asian Games. We have to be prepared for that. There are many details to think about," Anies added. "We talked about sidewalks in regards to the Games. We want to ensure that international communities will have a good experience here, which includes having well-managed sidewalks."

The discussion, he added, then expanded to Anies' plan to build a stadium in Jakarta so that it will be "an example of a world-class stadium," Anies did not elaborate.

Aside from that, he added, they discussed how to finish the city's long-awaited mass rapid transit (MRT) on time, as well as how to relieve traffic congestion.

Asked whether they also discussed the Jakarta Bay reclamation project, Anies said  they did not touch on the topic.

Source: Jokowi shares experience leading capital with Jakarta leaders

APMI Questions Police Report on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia Young Entrepreneurs Association (APMI) Chairman Sam Aliano went to the police headquarter to question the legal basis of the report made against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. He handed over a clarification letter to the police and asked for the reason following the issue.

"We want clarification regarding the legal basis of [the report]," said Sam on October 24. He said that he personally had no problem with the use of the word 'pribumi' (native Indonesian) mentioned by the Jakarta Governor in his inaugural speech.

Read: Anies Baswedan Explains His Controversial Pribumi Remark

Sam defended that Law No. 40/2008 on eradicating racial and ethnical discrimination violates the regulation issued by United Nations and International Day of the World's Indigenous. He is also puzzled by the public members who filed police reports against the governor for using the term.

"Was it a sin? Why was Pak Anies reported [to the police]?" said Sam who persisted that the word pribumi is the root of Indonesian culture and must not be forgotten.

Anies Baswedan had clarified that the use of the term pribumi mentioned in his inaugural speech was referred to the nation's colonial era. The speech delivered after his inauguration as Jakarta Governor sparked public debates since it is generally considered to be out of context and can potentially reclaim racism.

Andita Rahma

Source: APMI Questions Police Report on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan

Group issues Jakarta's integrated transit map

An integrated map comprising various mass public transportation lines has been launched by a group calling itself the Greater Jakarta Transportation Discussion Forum (FDTJ).

The map, which took five weeks to complete, connects 105 Transjakarta routes, seven commuter line routes, long-distance trains, and the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Skytrain.

"The cartography team is working to add the newest public transportation routes, the light rail transit [LRT] and the mass rapid transit [MRT]," said Adriansyah Yasin, a spatial planning and development student, who co-founded the FDTJ along with other public transportation enthusiasts in September 2014. 

The LRT and MRT are expected to begin commercial operations in 2018 and 2019, respectively. 

The map is an updated version of the previous one, launched in July. It includes information on the nearest Transjakarta bus stops to commuter train stations, Transjakarta bus routes during public holidays, city landmarks and estimated walking times between train stations and the nearest bus stop.

Adriyansyah said that he expected the map to help passengers understand Jakarta's public transportation routes and assist the transportation bodies in their attempts to integrate various modes of transportation in Greater Jakarta. (wit)

Source: Group issues Jakarta's integrated transit map

Sidewalk development in North Jakarta has reached 45% completion

Sidewalk development has reached 45 percent completion, with an aim to finish the project in November, says the North Jakarta Bina Marga road agency.

The agency's head of road infrastructure and utility network (PJJU) section, Libertus Sagala, said Saturday that his agency had completed sidewalk construction in several spots.

"The development has reached 45 percent and we have finished the construction in several areas such as Jl. Enggano," Libertus said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

He added that each district in North Jakarta had been allocated Rp 6 billion (US$443,885) for the sidewalk construction project.

He said each sidewalk would be built with different widths. "It depends on the availability of space on each road. We aren't reducing the width of the roads," he said.

When construction was complete, he said his agency would install several facilities on the sidewalks such as posts to block traffic, benches and blind lanes.  

Sidewalk construct has been carried out on Jl. Akses Rusun Marunda in Cilincing district, Jl. Plumpang Semper in Koja district and Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in Kelapa Gading.

The road agency said earlier this year that it would build 80 kilometers of sidewalk in Jakarta this year. (rdi)

Source: Sidewalk development in North Jakarta has reached 45% completion

Mitsubishi Corporation May Relocate its Jakarta Factory

The company plans to move the factory to Karawang, one of the key automotive hubs in Indonesia. However, other locations are also still a possibility. Mitsubishi Corporation is also seeking advice from Indonesia's Industry Ministry to make the best decision. Earlier, the Indonesian government had already stated that it encourages the country's automotive companies to cluster together in automotive industry centers, such as in Karawang, Kendal, or Gresik.

Relocating the factory is not a small step and therefore the company will first carefully study the impact of the move before making any decisions. Matters that are studied include the investment required to relocate the factory to a new location and issues related to labor. In Pulo Gadung Mitsubishi faces difficulty to expand their facilities as their industrial estate is located too close to the city. Moreover, land prices are very high in that region.

Mitsubishi Corporation partners with Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors for the distribution of Mitsubishi vehicles on the Indonesian market. At the Pulo Gadung factory it produces up to 50,000 commercial vehicles per year. Mitsubishi Fuso is the market leader in the commercial vehicle sector of Indonesia.

Mitsubishi Car Sales in Indonesia:

2017 Sold Cars January   7,982 February   9,069 March   8,868 April   8,039 May  11,217 June   7,859 July   8,345 August   9,185 September  10,934

Source: Bisnis Indonesia

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Source: Mitsubishi Corporation May Relocate its Jakarta Factory

North Jakarta group cancels Alexis Hotel protest

Some 1,000 people who intended to demand the closure of North Jakarta's Alexis Hotel, widely believed to be a high-class brothel, have canceled their protest plans for Thursday afternoon following discussions with the police.

Mohamad Yusuf, coordinator of the North Jakarta Community Forum Presidium that initiated the plan, said the protesters had met with the North Jakarta Police and agreed to cancel Thursday's planned protest.

Yusuf said the group agreed to cancel the protest, because they had been able to convey their wishes to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan through the police

"We have asked a person close to Pak Anies to remind him about his [campaign] promise to close Alexis," Yusuf was quoted by kompas.com on Thursday.

Although the group had canceled Thursday's protest, Yusuf said the group might still hold a demonstration in the next few days.

During his gubernatorial campaign, Anies had promised to close the Alexis Hotel in connection with cleaning up the city.

He criticized his rival, then Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, for only acting firmly in evicting low-income residents, but not in curbing high-class prostitution. (cal/wit)

Source: North Jakarta group cancels Alexis Hotel protest

Philippine woman who died in S. Jakarta known as a lecturer

The woman who committed suicide at Blok M Square Mall, South Jakarta, had been a lecturer from the Philippines, the police said.

Kebayoran Baru Police said they have been in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta about the incident. The women has been identified as Lorena C Binay-an, 39.

"From a card carried by her, it was found that she had been a lecturer at Isabela State University in the Philippines and this was confirmed by an embassy official who visited the scene," said Comr. Subowo, the police's criminal unit head, as quoted by Kompas.com on Wednesday.

The police said she had been a tourist who stayed at Wisma Delima on Jl Jaksa, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

"The embassy doesn't know her home address yet and is currently coordinating with the Philippines' Foreign Affair Ministry [on the case]," Subowo added.

Lorena jumped to her death from the mall's fifth floor on Monday evening.

Before the suicide, she left her bag near a snack kiosk on the fifth floor. The owner told the police that the woman had walked back and forth aimlessly in front of the kiosk before jumping. (agn)

Source: Philippine woman who died in S. Jakarta known as a lecturer

Amid Jakarta Bay controversy, Luhut says the ball's in Anies' court

Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan must review all relevant regulations before making any decision in relation to the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project.  

He said as the city's leader, it was up to Anies to decide whether the project would continue, however, he must make a decision in line with regulations.

"He should be rational and not let politics influence his decision," he said on Tuesday.

(Read also: Anies-Sandiaga must continue reclamation project)

Luhut said that while his authority as a coordinating minister was limited, Anies could not make arbitrary decisions.

He said the governor should take into account a 2008 presidential regulation (Perpres) on spatial planning in Greater Jakarta that guides land development. He also cited Perpres No. 122/2012 on coastal reclamation and small islands, which stipulates the central government has the authority to issue reclamation permits for islands of more than 25 hectares.

While campaigning for the Jakarta gubernatorial election, Anies vowed to stop the project, saying it was environmentally unfriendly and would disrupt the livelihoods of fisherfolk. He also said he would initiate further studies on land reclamation with independent researchers.

Luhut's undersecretary on infrastructure, Ridwan Djamaludin, said the central government would welcome new studies from credible researchers. "We'll listen to experts," he said. (dis/wit)

Source: Amid Jakarta Bay controversy, Luhut says the ball's in Anies' court

Jakarta gears up for Anies-Sandiaga inauguration

The inauguration of Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno as Jakarta governor and deputy governor, respectively, on Monday afternoon will be guarded by the Jakarta Police and Indonesian Military (TNI), an official has said. 

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said security personnel would be deployed to secure the State Palace and City Hall. 

"After the inauguration at the State Palace, the event continues at City Hall and the Jakarta Regional Council's [DPRD] office. There will also be a pesta rakyat [people's party] held at City Hall in the evening. We will secure all those events," he said as quoted by kompas.com. 

Heru Budi Hartono, a close aid of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, said that Monday's ceremony would closely follow that of a presidential inauguration. 

"[But] outside the palace, the procedure might be different," Heru said on Tuesday. (rdi/wit)

Source: Jakarta gears up for Anies-Sandiaga inauguration

Tour de Singkarak officially launched in Jakarta

The ninth Tour de Singkarak (TdS) officially launched on Oct. 15 at Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta.

TdS is said to be an international cycling competition that is among the top five cycling events in the world. The event itself is slated on Nov. 18-26.

"This is an effective way to promote TdS 2017. Since it is a cycling competition, we are hosting Fun Bike event to celebrate the launch during the car free day," said Tourism Ministry's head of man-made tourism promotion, Ni Putu G. Gayatri.

Themed Sportive Innovative Proactive, the Fun Bike event is attended by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno.

The event kicked off at Sapta Pesona Building then continued with the participants then turning left and make a U-turn at the Ramayana status, continued to Jl. MH Thamrin and then Sarinah, make another U-turn at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and then back to Sapta Pesona Building.

Read also: Indonesian tourism attracts foreign investors

The TdS itself will kick off in Batu Sangkar, Tanah Datar regency and finish at Bukittinggi tourist city.

The race will be divided into nine stages: Tanah Datar - Padang with the travel distance of 107 kilometers, Painan – Sawahlunto (166 kilometers), Muaro Sijunjung – Punjung Island (100 kilometers), Singkarak Lake – Payakumbuh (135 kilometers), Harau Valley – Padang Panjang (101 kilometers), Solok – South Padang Aro Solok (140 kilometers), Pariaman – West Pasaman (157 kilometers), Padang Pariaman – Agam (101 kilometers) and Pasaman – Bukittinggi (90 kilometers).

TdS was first held in 2009. In 2013 ASO Amauri Sport, the official organizer of Tour de France, recommended TdS as a major race in the Asian region.

TdS takes the fifth spot for the highest number of spectators in the world with 500,000 visitors. The first spot is Tour De France with 12 million, followed by Giro A Italy with eight million, Vuelta A Espana with five million and Santos Tour Down Under with 750,000. (kes)

Source: Tour de Singkarak officially launched in Jakarta

LRT project fence collapses in South Jakarta

A fence fell at the light rapid transit (LRT) construction site in front of Saidah Tower on Jl. MT Haryono, South Jakarta, owing to heavy rain on Thursday.

Civil construction division manager of the Greater Jakarta LRT project, Ery Satriadi, said on Friday that there was no severe damage in the incident.

"The project's excavation slope was eroded by the rain. Only a project fence fell to the ground," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Ery said construction workers would clean the site and reinstall the fence before building the project's foundation. (ecn/syl)

Source: LRT project fence collapses in South Jakarta

Indonesia's second one-stop public service mall opens in Jakarta

Jakarta, along with Surabaya in East Java, now has a one-stop building in which people can process documents ranging from identity cards and passports to business permits.

Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat inaugurated the Public Service Mall located on Jl. H. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Thursday morning.

The event was attended by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Asman Abnur and Agrarian and Spatial Minister Sofyan Djalil.

"There are 12 floors here but three floors are particularly used for services. Other floors are our back offices," said Djarot as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that one more floor could be used for services in the future.

With the inauguration, the Jakarta One-Stop Integrated Service (PTSP) office, which was previously located in City Hall, has been moved to the mall.

The services in the Public Service Mall include those from the Civil Registry and Population Agency, the Jakarta Tax and Levy Board, the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), the Jakarta Police, the Customs and Excise Directorate General, the Immigration Directorate General and the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Aside from services from the offices, express services and those for disabled people are also available.

Last Friday, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini inaugurated a similar facility on Jl. Tunjungan, Genteng, which became the first public service mall in the country. (agn) 

Source: Indonesia's second one-stop public service mall opens in Jakarta

Window cleaner falls to death at West Jakarta apartment

A 27-year-old window cleaner has fallen to his death on Tuesday from the 26th floor of the Neo SOHO Podomoro City apartment in Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta, when the aluminum ladder he was using broke.

As reported by tribunnews.com, the victim, Haris Medis, died instantly upon plummeting to the terrace lobby of the Neo SOHO mall, which is located beneath the apartment building.

Tanjung Duren Police inspected the scene and have taken the victim's body to the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for further examination.

"The case is under investigation by the West Jakarta Police," the head of the Tanjung Duren Police's crimes division, Adj. Comr. Rensa, was quoted as saying on Tuesday. (cal) 

Source: Window cleaner falls to death at West Jakarta apartment

Jakarta to host Indonesia Modest Fashion Week 2017

As a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has a huge potential in developing its Muslim fashion industry.

Realizing this, Indonesia Modest Fashion Designers (IMFD) supported by the Tourism ministry is set to hold Indonesia Modest Fashion Week (IMFW) 2017 event on Oct. 12-15 at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta.

"This event is part of our efforts to encourage private companies, industries and associations to achieve the goal of becoming the Muslim fashion capital in the world," said the ministry's archipelago tourism marketing development deputy, Esthy Reko Astuti.

Esthy considered fashion and tourism important to the creative industry. Moreover, fashion contributes a lot to the tourism sector, other than culinary and souvenirs.

Read also: Six Muslim fashion wear designers to adore

"Tourists mostly spend their money on these three things apart from hotel and transportation," Esthy added.

She also encouraged Muslim fashion designers to incorporate local material into their design.

"There should be a local touch because it's who we are. We have tenun, batik, pearls and gemstones," she said. 

"The creativity of Indonesian designers have allowed them to compete in the global stage; local material gives a competitive edge for these designers and it's also an effective promotional tool for Indonesia," added IMFW 2017 project director Jeny Tjahyawati.

Prior to becoming Indonesia Modest Fashion Week 2017, the event was named Indonesia Islamic Fashion and Product (IIFP) for the past two years.

For this year, the event is set to feature 150 booths and 60 works from local and international designers. (kes)

Source: Jakarta to host Indonesia Modest Fashion Week 2017

Jakarta-owned hotel to undergo renovation ahead of Asian Games

Betawi culture ornaments will beautify 180 rooms of city-owned Grand Cempaka Hotel in Central Jakarta where athletes and match officials will stay during next year's Asian Games.   

City-owned hotel management PT Jakarta Tourisindo (Jaktour) operational director Iskandar Zulkarnain said on Monday that the company is set to renovate the rooms to make it more comfortable for guests.

"We will beautify the rooms with Betawi's culture ornaments. We have proposed our business plan to the city administration as a stakeholder. We are grateful that both executives and legislators support the plan," he said as quoted by beritajakarta.id.

Iskandar said that the company had proposed Rp 50 billion (US$3.7 million) in a regional investment scheme (PMD) to fund the renovation.

The renovation is scheduled to finish before the kick off of the quadrennial sporting event, which is slated for Aug. 18 to Sep. 2.

The company has also proposed that Hotel Arcici Sunter in North Jakarta be used during the games, which is expected to attract 20,000 people to Jakarta, Iskandar said. (fac)

Source: Jakarta-owned hotel to undergo renovation ahead of Asian Games

Indonesia Police Detain 51 Men in Jakarta 'Gay Spa' Raid

JAKARTA — Indonesian police detained 51 men including several foreigners in a raid on what authorities described as a "gay spa" in Jakarta late on Friday, and some could face up to six years in prison under pornography and prostitution laws.

The arrests are the latest in a spate of high-profile police actions against gay clubs and parties in Indonesia this year that have called the country's reputation for tolerance into question.

With the exception of the ultra-conservative Aceh province in northern Sumatra, where Islamic law is enforced and two men were publicly flogged last month for gay sex, homosexuality is legal in Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population.

Among those detained at the spa in Central Jakarta on Friday were four Chinese nationals, a Singaporean, one Thai national, one Malaysian, and one Dutchman, although none of the foreigners would be charged, Jakarta Police spokesman Argo Yuwono told Reuters on Saturday.

 This handout picture released on October 7, 2017 by the Indonesian Police shows police officers displaying evidence collected during a raid on a gay sauna late on October 6 at a press conference in Jakarta. AFP/Getty Images

When asked about what the people in the spa were doing at the time of the raid, Yuwono noted that it was dark at the time.

"LGBT is clearly between men and men or same-sex relationships. Male prostitution," Yuwono said, without clarifying further. He said those charged could face up to six years in prison under Indonesia's pornography law.

"There's a cashier, the manager there and also those providing facilities like towels and other things," he said.

Activists say police targeting of consensual gay sex has shone a light on discrimination and harassment in the world's third-largest democracy.

Related

Andreas Harsono, a Jakarta-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, referred to a pattern of discriminatory police action against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Indonesia.

"If they raided (this club) because they are gay, it is abusive, it is abuse of power," he said, adding that there is no law against homosexuality as long as relationships are consensual.

"If there is no victim, there is no crime," he said.

Police often use the pornography law to "criminalize" such cases, but that law itself is also problematic, Harsono said, noting that people could be charged if they had pornographic material on a cell phone.

"Just imagine if every person in Indonesia had their cell phones checked, how many hundred million people would go to jail?"

In May, officers detained 141 men in a raid on the Atlantis sauna, accusing them of involvement in a gay prostitution ring in a part of Jakarta that is also home to many heterosexual "spas."

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Source: Indonesia Police Detain 51 Men in Jakarta 'Gay Spa' Raid

Jakarta foots US$5b annual bill for traffic jams: Minister

National Development Planning Minister and National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) head Bambang Brodjonegoro has said that traffic congestion costs the capital US$5 billion annually, as kompas.com reported on Thursday.

"Economic losses due to traffic jams cost $5 billion annually," Bambang said on Thursday in Depok, West Java, adding that the major cause of congestion was limited roadway capacity, which could not accommodate the increasing number of vehicles in the capital.

He also blamed the sluggish development of public transportation infrastructure, like the MRT and LRT projects.

Read also: Easing traffic through a smarter system

He said the MRT feasibility study had been available in the 1990s, but that the government had failed to realize the project, arguing that it was financially unfeasible.

"We are 30 years late in building the MRT. We considered the project unfeasible financially, because we only thought about value and investment and revenues from the project," said Bambang.

The MRT project, which is expected to be completed in 2019, also required economic considerations, he added, particularly in terms of losses from traffic jams – losses incurred as a result of longer travel times and greater fuel consumption.

The government is now working on the first phase of the MRT project, which runs from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. The second phase of the project will extend the route completed during the first phase to Kampung Bandan in North Jakarta. (bbn)

Source: Jakarta foots US$5b annual bill for traffic jams: Minister

East Jakarta vaccinates 100 dogs, cats

One hundred pets were administered with the anti-rabies vaccine in Cakung, East Jakarta, during a mass vaccination program initiated by the East Jakarta administration to celebrate World Rabies Day on Sept. 28.

A total of 58 dogs and 42 cats at the Metland Ujung Menteng residential area were administered the free vaccine from the East Jakarta administration on Wednesday.

East Jakarta secretary Rusdiyanto said the mass vaccination was conducted in the residential area because it was adjacent to Bekasi, West Java.

"Some areas around Jakarta are still considered rabies endemic so we're holding the vaccinations here to prevent the spread of rabies," Rusdiyanto said on Wednesday as quoted by timur.jakarta.go.id.

The East Jakarta Fisheries, Agriculture and Food Security Agency said it expected to vaccinate 5,211 animals in the area until the end of the year.

From January to October, the agency vaccinated 2,688 cats, 1,353 dogs, 24 weasels and 20 monkeys.

Meanwhile, all five municipalities and one regency in Jakarta are set to hold a mass vaccination of animals from Oct. 3 to Oct. 8 to prevent the spread of rabies. (cal)

Source: East Jakarta vaccinates 100 dogs, cats

Explosion reported at gas station in East Jakarta

An explosion occurred at a gas station near SMA Kapin high school in Duren Sawit district, East Jakarta, on Wednesday morning. 

No casualties were reported, however an employee of the station identified as Zulfikar sustained minor wounds on his neck.

It was reported that around 8 a.m. seven gas pumps exploded.

"The gas station was serving customers when the incident occurred," said Comr. Nevo, Duren Sawit Police's criminal unit head, as quoted by tempo.co on Wednesday. 

Material losses have yet to be calculated, he added.

The explosion was allegedly caused by an overheated pump monitoring machine, which had affected the pumps and triggered the explosion.

The police are questioning two of the station's employees, Jaka Desmanto and Ahmad Riyadi, Nevo said. (agn)

Source: Explosion reported at gas station in East Jakarta

Jakarta not ready for CCTV ticketing system

The Jakarta Police have installed 14 CCTVs along several roads throughout Jakarta to monitor traffic violations, but the city is not yet ready to levy penalties on violators based on the system.

Head of law enforcement at the Jakarta Police traffic unit, Adj. Sr. Comr. Budiyanto, admitted on Tuesday that the process would take a long time.

"The process takes time, especially in law enforcement in the form of reprimands," Budiyanto said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

The CCTVs will be equipped with loudspeakers, Budiyanto said. Hence, they need to be calibrated to assure "validity".

Other than that, coordination with the criminal justice system to maximize results is also needed along with the drafting of standard operating procedures.

Data on vehicles owners, the dissemination of information related to the CCTV system and trial runs before the implementation of the real thing is also required to make the system work effectively, Budiyanto said.

So far, out of 14 CCTVs, only the one on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta has been equipped with a loudspeaker. (wnd)

Source: Jakarta not ready for CCTV ticketing system

5 SaaS startups exhibiting at TIA Jakarta 2017 and their cool ideas

Cloud computing is ubiquitous in the sharing economy we live in today, providing unparalleled convenience for businesses to store and share large volumes of data with minimal maintenance required.

Tech in Asia Jakarta 2017 puts the spotlight on five SaaS startups who have leveraged on the cloud to develop user-friendly services. Take a look at how they are disrupting traditional processes with their cloud-based solutions:

(Psst, all five of them will be showcasing their product this November 1 & 2 at Tech in Asia Jakarta!)

1. Owline Group

The amount of paperwork involved in stock taking and recording sales transactions have always been a huge pain point for business selling a wide range of products. This is why Owline has developed an integrated solution to ease the laborious process.

Kasir Pintar, otherwise known as 'Smart Cashier', is a Point of Sales mobile app designed to replace a desktop-based cashiering system for greater mobility. The mobile platform provides users with end-to-end visibility on store management, ranging from monitoring stock levels to generating expense reports. The mobile app also backs up store data to prevent frustrations resulting from data loss.

2. Gadjian

Regardless of industry, employee management is an integral component for any business. Gadjian, a resource management and cloud-based payroll application, allows lean enterprises to oversee key aspects of employee management. Gone are the days where you have to calculate employees' salaries manually – Gadjian's application can keep track of salary, attendance, and tax deductions, saving you time to focus on other business needs.

3. Gawean

Recruitment is a costly and time-consuming process for both businesses and prospective candidates alike. With both stakeholders in mind, Gawean has designed a job portal catered to blue-collared workers in the food & beverage, hospitality and retail industries. What makes Gawean different from other job portals is its use of a scoring system that assesses candidates' resumes for companies, speeding up the process and improving success rates for a match between companies and job seekers.

4. Jubelio

The booming ecommerce industry has empowered more individuals to launch businesses online. For these budding entrepreneurs, Jubelio – a cloud-based tool for consolidating customer orders from various marketplaces – provides a central platform for order management. Business owners with physical presence can benefit from the multi-channel selling platform feature as well, since Jubelio automatically synchronizes all online and offline business transactions.

5. ITtron

First impressions matter, even more so in the digital sphere where elements of physical interaction are absent. Landing pages are crucial in making that first impression to drive conversions because it is often the first point of contact between businesses and prospective customers. Here's where ITtron steps in with its user-friendly solutions for businesses who want to enhance their digital presence. ITtron specializes in building landing pages optimized for both desktop and mobile viewing. Each landing page is also integrated with autoresponder emails to nurture leads for email marketing follow-up.

Showcase your product to the world at #tiajkt2017

If you're an aspiring startup like these five SaaS startups, Tech in Asia wants you! They are looking for startups to exhibit at Indonesia's largest tech conference this November 1 & 2, and you'll get increased visibility, exposure, potential funding, and other exclusive networking opportunities.

As long as you are a startup with a working prototype and received less than US$3 million in funding, apply for your booth below and join 280 exhibitors in showcasing your product!

For those of you on a budget, Tech in Asia's gracious partner, Sea (previously Garena) will be sponsoring 20 tech startups to showcase for free at Tech in Asia Jakarta. All you need to do is fill out this form by October 6 for a chance to exhibit at no cost!

Note: Each Sea-sponsored startup will only be entitled to one booth and one exhibitor pass.

If you would like to meet these five SaaS startups and more in the flesh this November, use the discount code tiajkt10 to save 10 percent when you purchase your conference pass, but only before 13 October, 11:59PM (GMT +7).

Source: 5 SaaS startups exhibiting at TIA Jakarta 2017 and their cool ideas

Jakarta Designated as Center of World Sharia Economic Development

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Special Capital Region(DKI) of Jakarta was appointed as the center of the world's sharia economic development when Jakarta Islamic Economic Community (MES) held regional discussion and meeting (Muswil dan Rakerwil) inJakarta on Saturday (30/9).

In the regional discussion and meeting, Reza Artha was unanimously chosen as the chairman of MES DKI Jakarta for the term 2017-2022. Jakarta deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno also attended the event as the head of MES DKI Jakarta Supervisory Council.

"Sandiaga Uno stated that MES should take a more active role in Jakarta development, especially in sharia economy. One of his propositions is making Jakarta as the center of world's sharia economic development," Reza said.

Considering that 220 million Muslims reside in Jakarta, this holds great potential for Jakarta to develop sharia economy, Reza continued.

Reza explained that MES DKI Jakarta has annual programs that are intended to promote halal lifestyle in international events. These programs include halal tourism, halal culinary, Muslim fashion, and halal creative industry or entertainment.

ANTARA

Source: Jakarta Designated as Center of World Sharia Economic Development