Category: Deputy V

Jakarta – The Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Moeldoko, has expressed his enthusiasm for the growing partnership between Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During a meeting with the Chairman of the Iran Trade Organization and his delegation at the Bina Graha Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/5), Moeldoko expressed his support for bolstering the trade volume between the two nations.

Highlighting the pivotal role of the Executive Office of the President (KSP), Moeldoko affirmed its readiness to serve as a conduit for enhancing cooperation between Iran and Indonesia. Leveraging its role as a central communication hub for all ministries and institutions, the Office  aims to foster seamless dialogue and exchange.

Moeldoko further stressed the need to establish an Indonesia-Iran Cooperation Committee to facilitate intensive communication and ensure the realization of mutual goals. He, who also heads the Indonesian Farmers’ Unity Association (HKTI), expressed unwavering confidence in the potential of strengthening agriculture trade ties between the two countries.

Despite the current modest level of trade cooperation, valued at USD 257.2 million in 2022, there are several promising areas of collaboration. Notably, the Chief of Staff underscored the potential in the urea fertilizer trade, given Iran’s stature as a global producer with abundant gas reserves.

Additionally, with Iran’s prominence as an exporter of fruits and agricultural products, Moeldoko highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange in the agricultural sector, where Iran’s advanced technology could greatly benefit Indonesia. He also expressed his aspiration for cooperation in cutting-edge fields like electric vehicle (EV) technology.

This comes on the heels of a significant event as President Joko Widodo welcomed Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi to the Bogor Presidential Palace on Tuesday (23/5). President Raisi’s visit to Indonesia marks a landmark moment, as it is his first official visit since commencing office in August last year. Both nations are now more committed than ever to strengthening their bilateral relations, which have deep historical roots dating back to 1950.

Alireza Peymanpak, Chairman of the Iran Trade Organization, commended Indonesia’s pivotal role as a key hub in bridging Iran’s ties with ASEAN nations. Highlighting the mutual affection between Iran and Indonesia, Peymanpak emphasized that the bilateral relationship extends beyond mere diplomatic connections, focusing on fortifying people-to-people ties and enhancing economic cooperation.

He expressed gratitude for Indonesia’s warm reception of President Raisi and the Iranian delegation, while affirming Iran’s unwavering commitment to monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the Indonesia-Iran Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed by the two leaders.

Jakarta – The Executive Office of the President emphasizes President Joko Widodo’s unwavering commitment to resolving past religious social conflicts, as showcased by the recent repatriation of Sampang survivors.

Rumadi Ahmad, Senior Advisor to the Executive Office of the President, highlighted the significance of this event, which signifies the government’s dedication to achieving reconciliation and fostering social harmony.

Historically, On Aug. 26, 2012, a religious conflict broke out in Sampang between Shia and anti-Shia groups. The conflict, which claimed the lives of two people and resulted in the injury of dozens of others, caused hundreds of Shia followers to be driven out of their villages in Sampang regency, Madura, East Java.

Up to date, President Jokowi’s government had ruled out the second phase of repatriation which took place on Thursday (4/5), with 265 individuals from 62 households of Sampang survivors, victims of religious conflicts, being brought back to their hometown.

This follows the initial move on April 29, 2022, which involved 53 individuals from 14 households. With the recent repatriation, there are now only 25 individuals from 5 households remaining in the Jemundo evacuation center in Sidoarjo.

Rumadi Ahmad stressed the importance of the gradual repatriation process, which symbolizes the government’s commitment to reconciliation and creating a conducive environment for the affected Sampang residents. He acknowledged the challenges involved in the reconciliation process and expressed gratitude to all parties, including the local government officials and relevant ministries, who played a pivotal role in fostering trust and initiating positive changes.

“The reconciliation process for Sampang residents who were affected by religious conflicts and subsequently displaced is not an easy task. It requires patience, perseverance, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved,” stated Rumadi Ahmad during a press conference at the Bina Graha building in Jakarta.

Rumadi further emphasized that without the collective effort to rebuild trust among the affected parties, the reconciliation process would not have been possible. He acknowledged the courage of Regent of Sampang, Slamet Junaidi, and other individuals who took the initiative to promote dialogue and understanding among the conflicting parties.

The Sampang conflict serves as a valuable lesson for the nation as a whole, urging all citizens to embrace maturity and respect in dealing with differences. Rumadi Ahmad called for the preservation of Indonesia’s diversity and the continuous cultivation of tolerance, which he believes are crucial for maintaining social harmony and preventing future conflicts.

The government’s commitment to resolving past religious social conflicts and promoting reconciliation demonstrates President Jokowi’s dedication to fostering unity and harmony among the diverse communities of Indonesia. By addressing the wounds of the past and working towards a more inclusive society, the nation takes a significant step forward in its journey towards peace and social progress.

Chief of Staff to the President Dr. Moeldoko has emphasized the importance of clear and practical action in the 2023-2024 National Strategy for Corruption Prevention (Stranas PK). 

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the commitment to the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Action Plan, Moeldoko called for the swift dissemination of information about the program to officials at all levels of government.

“President [Joko Widodo] does not like it [when things are overly ceremonial],” Moeldoko stated. 

“Therefore, I ask the ministries/agencies and local governments that have signed the commitment to prevent corruption today to immediately socialize the program to their subordinates. Don’t just sign without understanding its contents. This is my message.”

Moeldoko also emphasized that the anti-corruption efforts must be seen as a practical solution to real issues faced by the public, such as illegal levies on basic services like education, healthcare, and administration. To this end, Moeldoko suggested that the channels for reporting corruption and illegal levies be strengthened.

The Chief of Presidential Staff also stated that anti-corruption efforts must be relevant to the various indices used to measure government effectiveness, such as the Corruption Perception Index, the Government Effectiveness Index, and the Anti-Corruption Behavior Index. He also revealed that President Widodo was unhappy with Indonesia’s current Corruption Perception Index ranking and had ordered corrective measures to be taken.

Moeldoko also shared five directives from President Widodo related to the prevention of corruption that must be implemented by government officials: strengthening the corruption prevention system, prosecuting major corruption cases, improving the professionalism of law enforcement officers, tracing and recovering assets, and strengthening anti-corruption regulations, particularly the Asset Seizure Bill.

Moeldoko urged prompt action, saying that there was little time left and the public was expecting bold moves. The Stranas PK is a national policy direction that outlines the focus and targets for corruption prevention, serving as a reference for ministries, institutions, local governments, and other stakeholders involved in anti-corruption efforts in Indonesia.

The Stranas PK is coordinated by five ministries/institutions: the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Presidential Staff Office, the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, the National Development Planning Agency, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The implementation of the Stranas PK has resulted in improvements in the corruption prevention system, such as the improved accuracy of the Social Assistance Distribution Targeting System (DTKS) based on ID numbers, which has resulted in savings of approximately IDR 1.79 trillion.

Furthermore, the Stranas PK has facilitated reforms in 14 ports through the digitalization of business processes, resulting in reduced turnaround time and more efficient cargo handling. According to Moeldoko, this initiative must be continued, especially with regard to the supervision and business processes of customs and quarantine.

Jakarta – Moeldoko, Chief of Staff to the President, expressed his optimism about the consistent development of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) as an increasingly professional institution that prioritizes human rights. Various survey institutions have placed TNI as the institution with the highest level of public trust in Indonesia.

“Since the reform era, TNI has positioned itself very well by educating its soldiers to become professionals that are highly respected by the Indonesian people. Human rights and humanitarian law issues are serious guidelines for TNI leadership in developing professional soldiers in the field who respect human rights,” said Moeldoko during the opening of the seminar entitled “Mitigating Risks of Danger for Civilians” in Jakarta on Monday.

In the seminar held by the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) in collaboration with the United States Department of State, Moeldoko emphasized the need for training in mitigating risks of danger for civilian populations during military operations. This is because TNI is a key component of national defense that has an obligation to protect the right to life and the right to a sense of security for all Indonesian citizens.

As the Commander of Indonesian Military from 2013 to 2015, Moeldoko also assured that the training and preparation of TNI soldiers in military operations comply with international humanitarian law.

“I hope that seminars like this will be a process of mutual learning that contributes to the distribution of knowledge and experience. We need to learn from the experiences of the United States, which have fought in various countries. Indonesia also has extensive experience in military operations. So, if we combine the experiences of these two countries, hopefully it will be beneficial in the future,” added Moeldoko.

It is worth noting that since 1957, Indonesia has been actively involved in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions and has made significant contributions to world order, in accordance with the constitution. Indonesia consistently ranks among the top ten contributors of UN Peacekeeping Forces.

The Executive Office of the President continues to promote cooperation between Indonesia and the United States, especially in ensuring stability and peace in the region through various collaborations in defense, education, and other fields.

Jakarta – Deputy Chief of Staff for Politics, Law, Defense, Security and Human Rights of the Presidential Chief of Staff, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, said that the Protection of Domestic Workers Bill (RUU PPRT) works to build a more positive environment for workers, employers and recruiters.

“The bill is in accordance with one of the President’s priority agendas in 2023, which is about strengthening legal, social, political and economic protection for the people,” said Jaleswari, at the Bina Graha building, Jakarta, Thursday (5/1).

The bill is now listed on this year’s National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) as the House of Representatives’ initiative bill. The Executive Office of the President (KSP) has set up a special task force to support and to oversee the legislative process of the nearly two-decade bill. Among other things, the office will encourage collaboration between ministries/agencies and civil society organizations.

“This collaboration is being carried out through a Task Force which involves eight ministries/agencies. This task force is expected to continue of the success strategy used to pass the Sexual Violence Law,” she said.

“The task force, itself, has navigated a strategy for public communication and political communication, while continuing to receive input from civil society organizations,” she said.

Previously, A Civil Society Coalition expressed their views and hopes for the bill through The Executive Office, on Wednesday (4/1).

On that occasion, Sri Siti Marni, one of the representatives, hoped the bill would soon be legalized and it would stand to protect domestic workers. She, herself, had experienced violence at work.

“The Protection of Domestic Workers Law will prevent violence from happening as it provides protections. No one shall experience violence as I did. We hope the President’s support will accelerate the bill’s passage to be expedited by the House,” Sri said.