The deputy of the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) prevention unit, Johan Budi, slammed graft suspect Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan for ignoring the agency’s summons for questioning on Friday. The National Police chief candidate’s excuse was that he had to wait for the results of a pretrial hearing scheduled for Monday, but Johan said this was …
Gemstone fever hits Jakarta
When Aris, 40, a Jakarta-based insurance company employee, went to East Kalimantan five months ago to visit a miner client, he was astounded by the sight of a rock outcrop at a coal mine. The client gave him a small piece of raw gemstone found at the site as a souvenir. “After I had the …
Govt to take harsh measures against tax evaders: VP
The government will take harsh actions against those evading payment of taxes, regardless of their social and economic backgrounds, says Vice President Jusuf Kalla. evade – to avoid something unpleasant or unwanted, or to manage not to do (something that should be done) He stressed that with the current implementation of “gizjeling”, meaning taxpayers would …
BPJS to add more benefits
The Workers Social Security Management Agency (BPJS TK) is preparing three government regulations to give additional benefits to workers participating in occupational social security programs. Besides providing occupational accident and death benefits to workers, BPJS TK will provide scholarships to children of workers who are physically disabled by or killed in occupational accidents. BPJS TK …
Ruling alliance in chaos
Political elites in the ruling coalition have launched a salvo of warnings against each other in an apparent ploy to reshape the political landscape in the next few months. As the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has stepped up its pressure against President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the former Jakarta governor met on Thursday with …
KPK to grill Gen. Budi on ‘spooky Friday’
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Thursday that it would question National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan for the first time as a graft suspect on Friday, three weeks after declaring him a suspect on Jan. 13. There are rumors that Budi will be detained soon after questioning, as the anti graft …
Prostitutes smash streetlamps with slingshots
Frequent passersby may have often wondered why the leafy junction under Jl. Sentra Primer flyover in Pulogebang, near the East Jakarta mayor’s office, often goes without adequate light. The place is well-known for transvestite prostitutes soliciting clients. slingshot – a Y-shaped stick with a piece of elastic fixed to the top parts, used esp. by …
Governor Ahok to use e-money to defeat Jakarta’s hoodlums
In his war against hoodlums, who have for decades controlled the lucrative parking and street vendor business in Jakarta, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama launched on Thursday an electronic-payment system for parking, street vendors and microentrepreneurs operating on sidewalks and city facilities. hoodlum – a criminal, esp. one who is a member of a …
Drop Budi, team tells Jokowi
An independent team set up to investigate the standoff between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police, recommended on Wednesday that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo drop the candidacy of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as the next police chief. standoff – a situation in which neither side has won a competition or argument, or …
Economy in brief: Pindad spends Rp 700b to improve capacity
State-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad said it had allocated Rp 700 billion (US$55.5 million) in state capital injection to improve the production capacity of its weapons and ammunition division. Pindad president director Silmy Karim said the funds would be used to modernize Pindad’s manufacturing equipment so that its production quality and capacity could increase. “Along …