Latest news with #Sukarno
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Man sleeps in car, eats leftovers from dumpster
IN a deeply personal confession on Threads, a man shared the harsh reality of surviving without family support since 2015—living in his car, relying on discarded food, and juggling part-time work and studies while staying off the grid. The post, titled 'Survival skills utk yg MARHAEN'. ALSO READ: Elderly S'pore man eats leftovers to prevent food wastage 'Marhaen' is a Malay term that refers to the common people, particularly the working class or lower-income group. It originated from Dr. Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, who used 'Marhaen' to represent ordinary citizens struggling under colonial or capitalist systems. The points he outlined in his post were: Eat leftover food from food courts or discarded items Ride a bicycle for daily commuting Shower at hospitals or petrol stations Use the car as a home or find abandoned places to sleep Drink lots of cold water from mamak stalls to feel full Use public libraries to charge your phone and get work done Wash clothes while showering—rotate 8 outfits, clean one set each day 'If you've ever lived like a hobo and are still going through it, we're in the same gang,' he wrote. Not all comments were kind. One user named bghfjvm harshly remarked, ''Disgusting, so dirty!' to which he replied, 'As long as I can survive, boss... If I didn't do all this with just enough salary and no parents to support me, who else is going to give me a subsidy to improve myself? ' At least this way, I've managed to save a bit. I've been living like this since 2015 and I'm still alive.' 'What... No food but must have phone and data?' x89x89_x89 asked sarcastically. 'I study part-time and work as well. Without a phone, I'd be screwed,' the original poster replied. However, some empathised with his situation, offering practical advice and words of encouragement. 'Hi Abang, I hope this is just a social experiment. Otherwise, I really can't bear to see people living like this. If you're in the KL area, around Chow Kit or Masjid Jamek, we have volunteers who give out free meals to the homeless. May Allah protect you and provide sustenance for you and your family,' 2mariamus offered. 'When you speak, be a little more considerate — we don't know what others are going through in their lives. Think first before saying all sorts of things. If he's comfortable living that way, just let him be. There's no need to go overboard condemning everything. You have a brain, so use it,' commented, taking a jab at critics in the comments.
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Man sleeps in car, eats leftovers from dumpster – netizens react with mixed emotions
IN a deeply personal confession on Threads, a man shared the harsh reality of surviving without family support since 2015—living in his car, relying on discarded food, and juggling part-time work and studies while staying off the grid. The post, titled 'Survival skills utk yg MARHAEN'. ALSO READ: Elderly S'pore man eats leftovers to prevent food wastage 'Marhaen' is a Malay term that refers to the common people, particularly the working class or lower-income group. It originated from Dr. Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, who used 'Marhaen' to represent ordinary citizens struggling under colonial or capitalist systems. The points he outlined in his post were: Eat leftover food from food courts or discarded items Ride a bicycle for daily commuting Shower at hospitals or petrol stations Use the car as a home or find abandoned places to sleep Drink lots of cold water from mamak stalls to feel full Use public libraries to charge your phone and get work done Wash clothes while showering—rotate 8 outfits, clean one set each day 'If you've ever lived like a hobo and are still going through it, we're in the same gang,' he wrote. Not all comments were kind. One user named bghfjvm harshly remarked, ''Disgusting, so dirty!' to which he replied, 'As long as I can survive, boss... If I didn't do all this with just enough salary and no parents to support me, who else is going to give me a subsidy to improve myself? ' At least this way, I've managed to save a bit. I've been living like this since 2015 and I'm still alive.' 'What... No food but must have phone and data?' x89x89_x89 asked sarcastically. 'I study part-time and work as well. Without a phone, I'd be screwed,' the original poster replied. However, some empathised with his situation, offering practical advice and words of encouragement. 'Hi Abang, I hope this is just a social experiment. Otherwise, I really can't bear to see people living like this. If you're in the KL area, around Chow Kit or Masjid Jamek, we have volunteers who give out free meals to the homeless. May Allah protect you and provide sustenance for you and your family,' 2mariamus offered. 'When you speak, be a little more considerate — we don't know what others are going through in their lives. Think first before saying all sorts of things. If he's comfortable living that way, just let him be. There's no need to go overboard condemning everything. You have a brain, so use it,' commented, taking a jab at critics in the comments.
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Nuclear option: Indonesia seeks to grow energy, cut emissions
Southeast Asia's largest economy targets net-zero by 2050 JAKARTA: Indonesia is hoping going nuclear can help it meet soaring energy demand while taming emissions, but faces serious challenges to its goal of a first small modular reactor by 2032. Its first experiment with nuclear energy dates to February 1965, when then-president Sukarno inaugurated a test reactor. Sixty years later, Southeast Asia's largest economy has three research reactors but no nuclear power plants for electricity. Abundant reserves of polluting coal have so far met the enormous archipelago's energy needs. But "nuclear will be necessary to constrain the rise of and eventually reduce emissions", said Philip Andrews-Speed, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. President Prabowo Subianto has promised to ensure energy security while meeting a pledge to eliminate coal-powered electricity generation within 15 years. Coal accounts for around two-thirds of electricity generation in Indonesia, which targets net-zero by 2050. The government wants 40-54GW of the 400GW it projects will be generated nationwide by 2060 to come from nuclear. It hopes to kickstart capacity with a reactor on Borneo "by 2030 or 2032", according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. It will be a small modular reactor, which has a lower capacity than traditional reactors but is easier to assemble and transport. The total number of plants planned has not been detailed, but the government has begun scouting locations - a challenge for a country located on the seismically active "Ring of Fire". "Currently, 29 potential locations have been identified for the construction of nuclear power plants," Dadan Kusdiana, acting secretary general of the National Energy Council (DEN) told AFP. All are outside the country's biggest island of Java, in line with government goals to develop the archipelago's centre and east. The sites would also put facilities near energy-hungry mining sites. Ring of Fire While Japan's quake and tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster has stalled nuclear progress in some parts of Asia, proponents say nuclear can be done safely in Indonesia. "North Java, East Sumatra, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are considered as low-risk zones," said Andang Widi Harto, a nuclear engineering researcher at Yogyakarta University. "These low seismic risk regions also coincide with low volcanic risk regions," he added. Countries from Vietnam to Belgium are also growing or retaining nuclear capacity as they struggle to meet net-zero goals to combat climate change. While Indonesia may not be alone in the nuclear pivot, it has little domestic expertise to draw on. It will look abroad for help, said Kusdiana, citing "serious interest" from providers including Russia's Rosatom, China's CNNC and Candu Canada. The Indonesian subsidiary of US company ThorCon is already seeking a license for an experimental "molten-salt reactor". It wants to use shipyards to build small reactors that will be towed to coastal or offshore locations and "ballasted" to the seabed. Kusdiana said DEN has also visited France's EDF SA to explore possible cooperation. French President Emmanuel Macron is due in Indonesia this week as part of a Southeast Asia tour. EDF said there were currently "no discussions underway on nuclear with Indonesia," though its CEO Bernard Fontana will be part of Macron's delegation. A second French firm, Orano, also said it had not discussed collaboration with Indonesia. 'Skeptical' Given the challenges, which also include connectivity issues, waste disposal and potential domestic opposition, some experts warn Indonesia's nuclear timeline is overambitious. "I would join others who are skeptical that Indonesia can deploy nuclear power at any significant scale in the next ten years," said Andrews-Speed at the Oxford Institute. Environmentalists would like to see Indonesia focus more on meeting its clean energy targets with renewable sources. While hydroelectric accounts for over seven percent of Indonesia's electricity generation, solar and wind contribute tiny amounts and could be significantly ramped up, experts say. Cost and "high corruption" are also obstacles, said Dwi Sawung, energy and urban campaign manager at NGO WALHI. "There is not enough left in the government and PLN (state electricity company) budget," he told AFP. The government has not said how much it expects the nuclear ramp-up to cost, but Kusdiana insists the money will be there. "Various potential international investors... have shown interest", including Russia, the United States, Denmark, South Korea and China, he said. - AFP
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Indonesia seeks to grow energy, cut emissions
Agencies Indonesia is hoping going nuclear can help it meet soaring energy demand while taming emissions, but faces serious challenges to its goal of a first small modular reactor by 2032. Its first experiment with nuclear energy dates to February 1965, when then-president Sukarno inaugurated a test reactor. Sixty years later, Southeast Asia's largest economy has three research reactors but no nuclear power plants for electricity. Abundant reserves of polluting coal have so far met the enormous archipelago's energy needs. But 'nuclear will be necessary to constrain the rise of and eventually reduce emissions', said Philip Andrews-Speed, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. President Prabowo Subianto has promised to ensure energy security while meeting a pledge to eliminate coal-powered electricity generation within 15 years. Coal accounts for around two-thirds of electricity generation in Indonesia, which targets net-zero by 2050. The government wants 40-54GW of the 400GW it projects will be generated nationwide by 2060 to come from nuclear. It hopes to kickstart capacity with a reactor on Borneo 'by 2030 or 2032', according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. It will be a small modular reactor, which has a lower capacity than traditional reactors but is easier to assemble and transport. The total number of plants planned has not been detailed, but the government has begun scouting locations - a challenge for a country located on the seismically active 'Ring of Fire'. 'Currently, 29 potential locations have been identified for the construction of nuclear power plants,' Dadan Kusdiana, acting secretary general of the National Energy Council (DEN) told AFP. All are outside the country's biggest island of Java, in line with government goals to develop the archipelago's centre and east. The sites would also put facilities near energy-hungry mining sites. While Japan's quake and tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster has stalled nuclear progress in some parts of Asia, proponents say nuclear can be done safely in Indonesia. 'North Java, East Sumatra, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are considered as low-risk zones,' said Andang Widi Harto, a nuclear engineering researcher at Yogyakarta University. 'These low seismic risk regions also coincide with low volcanic risk regions,' he added. Countries from Vietnam to Belgium are also growing or retaining nuclear capacity as they struggle to meet net-zero goals to combat climate change. While Indonesia may not be alone in the nuclear pivot, it has little domestic expertise to draw on. It will look abroad for help, said Kusdiana, citing 'serious interest' from providers including Russia's Rosatom, China's CNNC and Candu Canada. The Indonesian subsidiary of US company ThorCon is already seeking a license for an experimental 'molten-salt reactor'. It wants to use shipyards to build small reactors that will be towed to coastal or offshore locations and 'ballasted' to the seabed. Kusdiana said DEN has also visited France's EDF SA to explore possible cooperation. French President Emmanuel Macron is due in Indonesia this week as part of a Southeast Asia tour. EDF said there were currently 'no discussions underway on nuclear with Indonesia,' though its CEO Bernard Fontana will be part of Macron's delegation. A second French firm, Orano, also said it had not discussed collaboration with Indonesia.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Nuclear option: Indonesia seeks to grow energy, cut emissions
INDONESIA is hoping going nuclear can help it meet soaring energy demand while taming emissions, but faces serious challenges to its goal of a first small modular reactor by 2032. Its first experiment with nuclear energy dates to February 1965, when then-president Sukarno inaugurated a test reactor. Sixty years later, Southeast Asia's largest economy has three research reactors but no nuclear power plants for electricity. Abundant reserves of polluting coal have so far met the enormous archipelago's energy needs. But "nuclear will be necessary to constrain the rise of and eventually reduce emissions", said Philip Andrews-Speed, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. President Prabowo Subianto has promised to ensure energy security while meeting a pledge to eliminate coal-powered electricity generation within 15 years. Coal accounts for around two-thirds of electricity generation in Indonesia, which targets net-zero by 2050. The government wants 40-54GW of the 400GW it projects will be generated nationwide by 2060 to come from nuclear. It hopes to kickstart capacity with a reactor on Borneo "by 2030 or 2032", according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. It will be a small modular reactor, which has a lower capacity than traditional reactors but is easier to assemble and transport. The total number of plants planned has not been detailed, but the government has begun scouting locations – a challenge for a country located on the seismically active "Ring of Fire." "Currently, 29 potential locations have been identified for the construction of nuclear power plants," Dadan Kusdiana, acting secretary general of the National Energy Council (DEN) told AFP. All are outside the country's biggest island of Java, in line with government goals to develop the archipelago's centre and east. The sites would also put facilities near energy-hungry mining sites. While Japan's quake and tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster has stalled nuclear progress in some parts of Asia, proponents say nuclear can be done safely in Indonesia. "North Java, East Sumatra, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are considered as low-risk zones," said Andang Widi Harto, a nuclear engineering researcher at Yogyakarta University. "These low seismic risk regions also coincide with low volcanic risk regions," he added. Countries from Vietnam to Belgium are also growing or retaining nuclear capacity as they struggle to meet net-zero goals to combat climate change. While Indonesia may not be alone in the nuclear pivot, it has little domestic expertise to draw on. It will look abroad for help, said Kusdiana, citing "serious interest" from providers including Russia's Rosatom, China's CNNC and Candu Canada. The Indonesian subsidiary of US company ThorCon is already seeking a licence for an experimental "molten-salt reactor." It wants to use shipyards to build small reactors that will be towed to coastal or offshore locations and "ballasted" to the seabed. Kusdiana said DEN has also visited France's EDF SA to explore possible cooperation. French President Emmanuel Macron is due in Indonesia this week as part of a Southeast Asia tour. EDF said there were currently "no discussions underway on nuclear with Indonesia," though its CEO Bernard Fontana will be part of Macron's delegation. A second French firm, Orano, also said it had not discussed collaboration with Indonesia. Given the challenges, which also include connectivity issues, waste disposal and potential domestic opposition, some experts warn Indonesia's nuclear timeline is overambitious. "I would join others who are sceptical that Indonesia can deploy nuclear power at any significant scale in the next ten years," said Andrews-Speed at the Oxford Institute. Environmentalists would like to see Indonesia focus more on meeting its clean energy targets with renewable sources. While hydroelectric accounts for over seven per cent of Indonesia's electricity generation, solar and wind contribute tiny amounts and could be significantly ramped up, experts say. Cost and "high corruption" are also obstacles, said Dwi Sawung, energy and urban campaign manager at NGO WALHI. "There is not enough left in the government and PLN (state electricity company) budget," he told AFP. The government has not said how much it expects the nuclear ramp-up to cost, but Kusdiana insists the money will be there. "Various potential international investors... have shown interest", including Russia, the United States, Denmark, South Korea and China, he said.
