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The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Plan to install stairlifts in Borobudur to welcome Macron draws controversy
Various religious leaders, along with Buddhist priests and monks, walking around the Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, during a pradakshina ritual on Aug 17, 2024, to commemorate the 79th Independence Day. - Antara JAKARTA: The government's plan to install stairlifts and iron ramps at Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple in Magelang, Central Java, ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit, has sparked concerns among the public. Many have taken to social media to express worries that the installation of the stairlift, which is typically used in homes to help people navigate stairs, could harm the structure of Borobudur, especially considering the damage to the ancient temple caused by overtourism in recent years. Hasan Nasbi, head of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), said the stairlift was necessary to accommodate both President Macron and President Prabowo Subianto, arguing that climbing Borobudur's 12-tier stairway in formal attire during a brief official visit would be both impractical and exhausting. 'The French president has very limited time to visit Borobudur, unlike us, who can spend the entire day there during holidays. His schedule is packed, so the facility is necessary to save time,' Hasan said on Monday (May 26), as reported by Tribunnews. 'Besides, climbing 12 flights of stairs would leave both presidents sweating and their suits wrinkled, which is not ideal for a state visit,' he added. Hasan stated that the stairlift would be installed between the fifth and eighth levels of the temple. He also assured the public that the installation would follow strict conservation guidelines, with the Culture Ministry closely overseeing the project to ensure the temple's preservation. "There will be no nails or bolts; the stairlift will just be [...] positioned in place. Once the project is finished, it can be easily removed," he said, as reported by Antaranews. Culture Minister Fadli Zon stressed that the stairlift was necessary to improve accessibility at Borobudur, particularly for people with disabilities. "It's about inclusivity. Many iconic ancient sites have installed similar structures, including the Pantheon and the Acropolis in Greece, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica in Italy, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, as well as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China," he said as quoted by Kompas. Unesco recognises Borobudur as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, designating it a World Heritage site in 1991. The temple was constructed in the eighth and ninth centuries during the Syailendra dynasty. The main temple is a stupa built in three tiers around a hill. The structure consists of a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the base a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. On its circular platforms, the temple hosts 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. In recent years, the Borobudur Conservation Center has conducted research on the impact of tourism on the ancient structure. The findings revealed that constant foot traffic has eroded the temple's stone stairs, with some areas showing indentations up to 5cm deep. The centre also reported that acts of vandalism by visitors have contributed to further damage to the temple. Following these findings, the government introduced a daily limit of 1,200 visitors allowed to climb the temple in 2023 to help preserve its structure. Visitors are also required to wear special sandals called upanat, made from pandan leaves and coconut, with soles crafted from EVA foam to reduce friction while climbing the Borobudur stairs. Macron is scheduled to visit Indonesia from Wednesday to Thursday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Paris and Jakarta. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Indonesian Law Ministry narrows amnesty list to 1,000 prisoners
Inmates weaving fishing nets at the Ambarawa Penitentiary in Semarang regency, Central Java, on May 14, 2025. - Antara JAKARTA: The Indonesian Law Ministry has significantly reduced the number of inmates eligible to be granted amnesty by the government to around 1,000 following a comprehensive verification of prisoners' backgrounds. During a meeting with House of Representatives Commission XIII overseeing human rights on Wednesday (May 21), the ministry's general legal administration director general Widodo said the list initially included 44,000 names of inmates provided by the Immigration and Corrections Ministry's correctional facilities directorate general. The ministry is working with various institutions, which include the corrections directorate general, the State Secretary, the Attorney General's Office and the National Police to verify the data. Once completed, the list will undergo an anonymous review by criminal law experts. But the number has decreased throughout layers of verification stages, which already processed up to 90 per cent of total inmates. 'Until now, we are still verifying because the data came from the corrections directorate general, and we only have the authority [to use it],' Widodo told lawmakers on Wednesday. 'The number has dropped from 44,000 to 19,000, and now only around 1,000. But we cannot intervene as [we screen based] on court rulings,' he continued. Widodo added that the ministry focused on four categories of inmates to be considered for amnesty. They are drug users who are not dealers; people jailed for violating the defamation article in the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law; individuals convicted for treason without engaging in armed movements; and inmates with special needs such as elderly people aged above 70 and those with mental disorders. 'Graft convicts are not included,' Widodo said. 'But if there are any proposals, they will be considered for clemency by the President.' Last December, the Law Ministry announced President Prabowo Subianto's plan to pardon 44,000 prisoners across the nation on humanitarian grounds as a measure to help ease overcrowding in the country's jails. The plan was initially expected to reduce prison overcrowding by up to 30 per cent. Commission XIII lawmakers urged the ministry to speed up the verification process, noting the worsening conditions in many overcrowded penitentiaries. Authorities have recorded several jailbreaks and prison riots this year, including a case in April in Sorong, Southwest Papua, when seven inmates escaped from their penitentiary before eventually being recaptured. The Sorong Penitentiary is severely overcrowded as it houses 500 inmates, twice its intended capacity. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Prabowo's community schools for low-income children start selecting students
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (centre) talking with South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sualiman (left) and Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin (right) when inspecting a potential location for community schools in Makassar, South Sulawesi on May 8, 2025. - Antara JAKARTA: The government continues to work to prepare for the establishment of Sekolah Rakyat (community schools), President Prabowo Subianto's flagship programme aimed at low-income families, as authorities start to select potential students ahead of their nationwide opening slated for this year. After months of finalising the project, the administrative selection stage for prospective students has started, according to Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf. At least 8,000 student hopefuls have so far registered to enrol in regions where the schools have been slated to open. Sekolah Rakyat will utilise either buildings owned by the Social Affairs Ministry or halls run by local administrations. 'We have started [the process] by visiting one of the prospective students in Bandar Lampung today,' Saifullah said during his visit to the Lampung provincial capital on Monday. On his trip across provinces to inspect the schools' locations over the week, local authorities also helped the minister assess the students' houses to collect data on their families' social and economic conditions. Prospective students will have to come from households that are included in the 'poverty' and 'extreme poverty' categories in the government's Single National Social and Economic Data (DTSEN) system to be considered for the school. After it finishes collecting the students' data, the Social Affairs Ministry will perform a health examination on the students before finalising their enrollment. Saifullah stressed there would be no academic test for the students. Officially announced by President Prabowo in March, Sekolah Rakyat will be free of any cost. The boarding-school programme will cover elementary, junior and senior high school levels. In a limited interview with media leaders, Prabowo said the boarding school system would teach discipline and provide good meals to the impoverished children, while giving them a proper education to break their families' chains of poverty. The President aimed to open a total of 200 Sekolah Rakyat across the nation, with at least 53 planned for the first phase, and are scheduled to open in the upcoming academic year starting in July. Around 1,000 students are expected to enrol at each school. The schools that are ready for the July opening have since grown to 65, according to Saifullah, after confirming that more buildings are available for use. Education observers have generally applauded the project, with many highlighting its importance while also stressing the need for the government to guide the students after they graduate. The Social Affairs Ministry is considering providing scholarships for Sekolah Rakyat graduates who want to continue their studies in the higher education level. 'We want to direct these future Sekolah Rakyat graduates to continue paving their future according to their passions,' Minister Saifullah said on Monday. He added that the ministry would provide graduates with planning to enter a specific job market or upskilling course, although he did not elaborate further on the plan. 'Essentially, we want to provide these students opportunities to either continue their education at university level or to work immediately.' Despite the warm response, some experts have been critical of the project, with Anggi Afriansyah of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) previously urging extra attention and 'cultural sensitivity' in providing education for students coming from impoverished environments. Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti, whose ministry is assisting the Social Affairs Ministry in the project, previously said the schools' curriculum would allow its students to reach their academic goals at their own pace. The schools ministry is also in charge of recruiting teachers for Sekolah Rakyat, with the recruitment drive having opened in April. Mu'ti said the teachers recruited for the programme would have Teacher's Professional Education (PPG) certification and would teach more than one subject. Minister Saifullah added that English and mathematics would be introduced in the early phase of the learning process. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
11-05-2025
- The Star
Saudi Arabia nabs 30 Indonesian 'pilgrims' for visa violation
An employee places a special shoulder strap on the luggage of haj pilgrims on May 6, 2025, at the Donohudan haj dormitory in Boyolali, Central Java. - Antara JAKARTA: Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested 30 Indonesian travellers at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah for entering the country to go on haj without the appropriate visa. Instead of the visas issued specifically for the haj and umrah (minor pilgrimage), the group had arrived on a type of visit visa known as ziarah, which allows foreign nationals to enter Saudi Arabia for a certain period to pursue non-pilgrimage activities, such as visiting family or travelling to historical sites. The entry date for holders of the ziarah visa ended on April 13, after which only haj visa holders may enter to complete the pilgrimage. But ziarah visa holders can still enter Saudi Arabia for non-pilgrimage activities. 'They paid Rp 150 million [US$9,090] for the visa, despite being fully aware that their visa cannot be used for haj,' Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah Yuson B. Ambary said on Thursday, as quoted by Yusron said the consulate general in Jeddah had previously received a notice from Saudi immigration authorities that 50 Indonesians had tried to enter the country for haj using the seasonal worker visa and were immediately deported. Hilman Latief, director general of haj and umrah organisation at the Religious Affairs Ministry, repeatedly warned potential pilgrims that they would not be allowed to enter Mecca without the haj visa. 'Be careful of parties offering [visa] services without legal clarity to avoid potential fraud,' Hilman said on May 1 during the send-off ceremony for the first group of Indonesian pilgrims, as quoted by Local officials noted that some travel agencies offered a more affordable haj package compared to the government's and promised easier processing, but had provided customers with tourist visas instead. Foreign visitors caught attempting to go on haj without the proper visa can face sanctions such as a maximum fine of 10,000 Saudi Arabian riyal (Rp 440 million), detention or deportation. Riyadh has increased patrols and surveillance in a clampdown on illegal pilgrims for haj 2025, which runs from June 4 to 9. It has granted Indonesia a quota of 221,000 pilgrims this year. An estimated 1.8 million Muslims from across the globe are expected to travel to Mecca for haj this year. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Indonesia mulls controversial vasectomy plan for those seeking govt assistance
West Java governor-elect Dedi Mulyadi (centre) believes that limiting the number of children among underprivileged individuals would help ensure that government assistance is distributed more equitably. - Antara JAKARTA: The Social Affairs Ministry is considering a controversial proposal by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi to make vasectomy a requirement for individuals seeking government assistance and scholarships. A vasectomy is a procedure in which a man's tubes that carry sperm are cut or blocked to prevent pregnancy, effectively making a man sterile. It is considered a permanent form of birth control, although in some cases, it can be reversed through another surgical procedure, though success rates for reversal are not guaranteed. "Integrating family planning in the government assistance programme is a good idea, but we still need time to study the proposal in detail. There's a set process for distributing government aid, and we can't change it on a whim," Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said on Wednesday (April 30), as reported by Kompas. Dedi recently proposed the idea to Saifullah, highlighting that many underprivileged families have numerous children despite struggling to provide for their basic needs. "I met a child selling cakes at a town square in Majalengka Regency. When I spoke to his father, he was unemployed, had 10 children and his wife was pregnant with their eleventh," he said on Monday. "[...] If they can't provide a decent standard of living for their children, they should stop having more," he added. Dedi further stated that limiting the number of children among underprivileged individuals would help ensure that government assistance is distributed more equitably, rather than being concentrated on families with many children. 'We want all government assistance to be tied to family planning. If your children want to apply for a government-funded scholarship, you must be using contraception. To qualify for housing repair subsidies, you must also practise family planning if you are of reproductive age,' he said. He also argued that vasectomy would be an ideal form of contraception for underprivileged families, explaining that "men should also bear responsibility for reproduction," and that women sometimes forget to take their contraceptive pills. Dedi also announced that men who agree to undergo a vasectomy would receive an incentive of Rp 500,000 per person. However, Abdul Haris, the Deputy Head of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), criticised the proposal, calling it discriminatory and a potential violation of human rights. "Requiring a vasectomy to qualify for government assistance is overly burdensome for underprivileged families. If the government enforces this policy, it could infringe upon human rights. Vasectomy should be a voluntary decision," he said on Thursday as quoted by Tempo. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued a statement declaring vasectomy haram (forbidden) for Muslims if the intention is to permanently sterilise a man. "It is only allowed under very strict conditions, such as when an individual has a specific medical condition. Even then, there must be a guarantee that the man can regain his reproductive capacity," said Asrorin Niam Sholeh, Head of the MUI Fatwa Committee, on Thursday. "However, since at the moment vasectomy reversal surgery cannot fully guarantee the restoration of a man's reproductive function, it remains haram," he added. Success rates for vasectomy reversal can vary, with studies suggesting that sperm return to semen in 70 per cent to 90 per cent of cases. Factors such as the time since the procedure, scar tissue and the surgeon's skill can all affect the success rates. Asrorin said the government must be objective and transparent in educating the public about vasectomy, including the risks and expensive reversal procedure. He also remarked that contraception should not be used to permanently prevent individuals from having children. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
