Hi folks, the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix Formula E race has come and gone, with Jaguar Racing driver Mitchell Evans emerging as the winner. The controversial event had left a mostly positive imprint among the general public and racing fans alike, despite issues surrounding sponsorships, funding, legitimacy, and bureaucracy over the past several years. Back to back successful international races with the Mandalika MotoGP may have propelled Indonesia into more serious placements on global motor racing calendars in the future.
Meanwhile, lots have been happening elsewhere, adding to the national outrage count.
A Hike Over Borobudur
Entering the famed Borobudur temple will be a lot more expensive, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said over the weekend. Ticket prices for foreign tourists jacked up four-fold from US$25 to US$100 while those for local tourists goes up 1,500% from Rp50,000 to Rp750,000.
Luhut did not divulge when the new prices will come into effect but promised that prices will remain the same if you’re just strolling around the compound and not climbing up the steps of the Buddhist temple. So that’s good news if you’re just looking to just take a selfie in front of the 9th Century temple.
The government is trying to make the Borobudur area a premium tourist destination and one of the so-called “10 New Balis” after the world-famous resort island.
The Maritime Minister, whose ministry oversees anything from investment and mineral resources to transportation and tourism (go figure), is also expressing concerns about the bad behaviors of tourists who like to do all sorts of idiotic things they’re not supposed to like climbing up the stupas and slip some trash among the cracks of the reliefs.
Things got so bad the temple management often had to close sections of the temple for public, like what happened in February 2020 just before the pandemic hit the country. Mind you that this is a UNESCO world heritage site and more importantly a place of worship, so some respect is rightfully due.
Conservationists have said ideally there should only be 123 people entering the temple at any given time. This would allow the 80 officials manning the temple to keep a close eye on the tourists. During the holiday season, 56,000 people visit the temple daily. You do the math.
But is it worth that 750k price tag tho? If we pay a premium will we get a premium service? Will people even come? What about worshippers? Do they get a special price?
Now, Luhut said the Rp750,000 and US$100 entrance fee is still up for discussion. He even suggests that there will be a special rate for residents of Central Java and Yogyakarta and students need only pay Rp5,000. So expect to hear more about this over the next few days.
When Cops Look After Each Other
Last week, the cops made headlines for all the wrong reasons AGAIN. This time, for refusing to sack an officer who has been convicted of corruption and secretly still employing him for the past one and a half years.
Anti-graft group, Indonesian Corruption Watch was the first to blow the lid off of this fact, forcing the National Police to admit that AKBP (equivalent to a lieutenant colonel) Raden Brotoseno is in fact still an active police officer. Brotoseno, the cops said, now serves at their IT and Communications Division.
Brotoseno was found guilty in 2016 for receiving Rp1.9 billion in bribes from a criminal suspect and sentenced to five years in prison. He was released early in September 2020 for good behavior.
The National Police argued that they had staged an internal ethics hearing against Brotoseno and the committee ruled that he should be demoted and issue an apology to leaders of the force. The cops decided not to fire him because of his “achievements”.
Experts and activists immediately lambasted the cops with many highlighting statements made by then police chief Tito Karnavian who promised to fire Brotoseno if he was sentenced to even two years in prison.
The Parliament’s legal and security commission said they will grill the current national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo about the issue during a hearing slated for this week and ask him just what kinds of achievements does Brotoseno have that would make the force ignore the guilty verdict and five years or imprisonment.
Doing it All for TikTok Views
A couple of hospital workers stole the spotlight this week when their TikTok videos went viral (as how most things are these days).
In the first one, a female nurse was talking about her experience attaching a catheter on a male patient, with a fire and a woozy face emoji, typically used for being inebriated, smitten, or infatuated.
Another video had someone cuddling, touching, and squeezing the faces of random newborns in the neonatal ward, with the caption, “They think babies are safe with me”.
As if the sexual implication of the first video wasn’t clear, the comments were filled with thirsty, envious commenters wishing to be in the same situation, along with others who condone the act, saying it’s no big deal, that it’s just for fun or for content.
The next day the Wonosari General Hospital where the nurse had been interning, released a statement on Instagram condemning her actions and that they are investigating the matter. Aisyiah University in Yogyakarta confirmed that she is their student and has been pulled from the hospital, awaiting disciplinary actions.
In a press conference on Thursday, a Deputy Dean at the University said while the student has had experience attaching catheters previously, the video was made without the insinuated context, implying that there was no actual patient involved. The student had defended her actions saying the video was meant for educational purposes.
An Indonesian National Nurse Association (PPNI) representative said that she violated the ethics code. The university has yet to decide what punishments should be handed to the student, currently suspended from her postgraduate internship.
The second video had taken place at the neonatal ward of Santa Anna Maternity Hospital in Bandar Lampung. After the public found out that the video was taken at the Santa Anna Maternity in Lampung, the hospital apologized publicly and condemned the video, but said nothing of the person. According to the PPNI, the person who was in the video is not a registered nurse, which means she might be a health worker of another category, with access to the ward.
Parliamentary members have called for an audit of health workers in light of these recent cases. Last year a male ob/gyn was reprimanded after his TikTok video went viral, in which he was simulating a birthing sequence with his face making inappropriate expressions.
Quick Reads
A Painful Goodbye
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil bid a painful goodbye to his son Emmeril “Eril” Khan Mumtadz who was swept away while swimming at the Aare river in Switzerland more than a week ago.
The family has resigned to losing their eldest son after rescuers failed to find him within seven days. The Governor returned to Indonesia this past weekend although the search continues. Mosques across West Java and Jakarta staged prayers for Eril last Friday.
Casual Tuesdays in Bogor
Bogor City Mayor Bima Arya signed an ordinance for casual Tuesdays for the city’s civil servants. The ordinance requires civil servants to wear casual outfits from local brands to help local entrepreneurs get a leg up in the industry. According to the Mayor, the nearly 7,000 city employees should provide enough of a platform to boost their bottom line and offer a showcase for local fashion entrepreneurs.
We’re curious as to how they will enforce the local brand requirement. Will there be a squad of fashion police checking for brands?
High Times
The National Narcotics Agency destroyed a 5 hectare marijuana field in Gayo Lues, Aceh. And this being Indonesia, the agency opted to use the questionable yet legally approved method to dispose of drugs by burning the plants which all in all are estimated to weigh 10 tons.
Marijuana plants are commonly grown across the shariah province despite repeated raids and blazings. Back in February the BNN destroyed 6.28 hectares worth of marijuana in North Aceh weighed at 40.3 tons, also by burning the plants.