March 16, 2022
Stage 2 of Sanur Beach renovation goes to tender + Koster responds to WALHI protests over toll road + Indonesia to scrap caps on cooking oil & introduce subsidy to ensure supply + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Wednesday, March 16. In today’s edition, Stage 2 of the Sanur Beach redevelopment is going to tender while concerns around the quality of work in Stage 1 linger. Governor Koster has responded to WAHLI’s statements regarding the new toll way, saying it is “their duty” to protest. Nationwide, the cooking oil juggling act continues, with price caps being swapped for a subsidy. Scroll down for the full wrap on what has been happening in Bali and Indonesia since you last heard from us.
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National Figures
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The Big News
“Stage 2 of Sanur Beach Renovation Goes to Tender” from Bali Post (Indonesian): Sanur Beach structuring program Phase I worked on by BWS Bali-Penida was completed on December 31. Now, Denpasar City government will continue the continued arrangement of Phase II on the beach. Kabid Tata Bangunan Office of Public Works and Spatial Planning Denpasar City, I Wayan Dirgayasa said on Monday the project has entered the tender stage. At least 43 bidders have signed up, with the project having a ceiling value of IDR 28,840,000,000. The board hopes that the quality of Phase II is better than that of Phase I. Members of Commission III said they strongly support the continued plan of restructuring the Sanur Beach area, but it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the work. Because during this time, the community saw the quality of jogging track arrangements carried out so far, there is much to note.
“Koster Responds to WALHI Bali Protests About Toll Roads: Their Task Is So” from Kumparan (Indonesian): Governor I Wayan Koster responded to the statement from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Bali regarding the Denpasar-Gilimanuk toll road project. He said he didn't really mind it. "WALHI khan is indeed their duty (to criticize), but I also have the task of building a community economic center," he said on Tuesday. However, regarding WALHI's statement that the land that will be converted due to the construction of the toll road reaches 1,300 hectares, according to him, it is not correct. "That we need land, yes, but not that much," explained Koster. According to Koster, most of the land used is in the form of fields, not rice fields. Regarding subak, he was adamant that in the future water canals would be built so that the water supply for the residents' rice fields would not be disturbed. "Most of it is farmland, not rice fields, later a special Subak channel will be made. All of that has been taken into account," said Koster.
Context: Earlier reports suggested the exact route of the toll way is yet to be determined (Indonesian). More on WALHI’s position can be read here (Indonesian)
“Indonesia to Scrap Caps on Cooking Oil Price, Introduce Subsidy to Ensure Supply” from CNA: Indonesia will remove retail price caps for packaged cooking oil and will subsidise bulk sales to try to ensure supply at retail markets after previous price controls resulted in a scarcity, senior officials said on Tuesday. Global prices of crude palm oil, which Indonesia uses for cooking oil, have surged to historic highs this year amid rising demand and weak output from top producers Indonesia and Malaysia. The war in Ukraine has squeezed the supply of other vegetable oils, pushing prices of palm oil higher. Indonesia has also restricted palm oil exports to try to ensure domestic supply, which further fed the price upswing. Under the latest measure, Indonesia will allow cooking oil to be priced according to its market price for packaged oils, chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said. The government will raise the price cap for bulk cooking oil to 14,000 rupiah per litre, from 11,500 per litre previously, and provide subsidies, he said.
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Other Headlines
“Voting Date for 2024 Elections Already Agreed Upon Says House Speaker” from Antara: The Indonesian Government, the House of Representatives (DPR), and the General Elections Commission (KPU) have reached an agreement on the voting date for the 2024 general elections, House Speaker Puan Maharani said. "The government, DPR, and KPU have agreed that the general elections will be held on February 14, 2024," Maharani said on Tuesday. However, she stopped short of commenting on the discourse on the postponement of 2024 general elections. The elections will be held in accordance with the schedule that the relevant institutions have agreed upon, she said. Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar had proposed that the 2024 general elections be postponed, arguing that the public did not want post-pandemic economic recovery to be disrupted if the elections were held in February 2024.
Context: In related news, while Minister Luhut thinks a prolonged term is a good idea, 71% of survey respondents rejected the idea of a postponed election.
Vaccination Update
“Govt Relaxes Pandemic Curbs, Promises to Boost Vaccination Rollout” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government has further relaxed COVID-19 curbs for more regencies and cities in Java and Bali but promises to accelerate its vaccination and booster shot rollout amid the country’s still relatively high death rate. The country reported 9,629 COVID-19 cases on Monday – the first time in 10 weeks the daily caseload was below the 10,000 mark – but saw 14,408 new cases on Tuesday. The moving seven-day average for daily cases has also dropped to around 20,000 cases, from just under 30,000 the week prior.
More...
Province: “Bali Task Force: Covid-19 Booster Vaccination Coverage Reaches 36%” from Republika (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Indonesia Has Passed Omicron Peak Says Task Force” from Antara: The spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, has said that Indonesia has passed the peak of Omicron transmission. "Indonesia has successfully passed the Omicron peak, which is shown by the improving trend of overall cases data," he said on Tuesday. Weekly COVID-19-positive cases showed a 64% decrease after reaching the highest peak in mid-February 2022 earlier, Adisasmito said. The number of fatalities also showed a decreasing trend of up to 10% compared to the previous peak. As of March 6, the number of active cases in the country was recorded at 475,951 or 8.28%. However, as of March 13, there were only 342,896 active cases or 5,82%. A downward trend was also seen in the hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR). On March 6, the figure stood at 29.28%, and by March 13, the figure had fallen to 21.61%.
Context: Elsewhere, discussion continues regarding the endemic status of Covid-19.
More...
Nation: “Gov't Urged to Continue Stricter Health Protocol Monitoring Says Expert” from Antara
Nation: “Health Ministry Launches New Feature on Pedulilindungi App” from Antara
Jembrana: “Teenager Dies, Suspected of Being Infected With Rabies” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Dozens of Layoff Victims Return to Hotel in Sanur” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Dozens of employees who experienced termination of employment unilaterally took action to visit the hotel located in Banjar Semawang, Sanur on Tuesday. As many as 25 former employees came with the Federation of Independent Workers Union (FSPM), held a peaceful protest and demanded justice from the hotel management. They were closely guarded by the police in front of the hotel so that the crowd did not enter the hotel. FSPM Action Coordinator Ida I Dewa Made Rai Budi Darsana said that this peaceful demonstration was the fourth time this had been carried out. “The reason behind this action is that the hotel management always plays tricks on us. Then in the third action some time ago, when it was witnessed by Jro Bendesa Adat Intaran as well, the management stated that they would revoke the layoffs for employees," said Budi Darsana.
Context: The hotel concerned is not named in the story.
More...
Nation: “Kalimantan Native Laments New Capital Project Over Alleged Land Conflict” from Tempo
Nation: “Passenger Activity at Lombok Airport Increases by 150%” from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: “Ukraine War May Bring Windfall to Indonesia's Trade Balance” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Garuda Indonesia Resumes Umrah Flights From Surabaya” from Antara
Nation: “Exports Pick Up in February as Coal Ban Ends, Commodities Surge” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Bali Reopening
“Bali to Extend Visa on Arrival to China, India” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): The government plans to extend the visa on arrival (VoA) to Bali program to Chinese and Indian nationals, among others, to boost foreign tourist arrivals. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Monday the plan had been mutually agreed upon in a limited Cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta earlier that day. “[The tourism ministry] proposed to add several countries to the VoA list, including China and India, and it has been approved during the limited meeting today,” said Sandiaga on Monday. “Hopefully the [updated] list will be officially announced soon.”
Context: In related news, Governor Koster suggested China’s quarantine policies for returning citizens made it unlikely many would visit (Indonesian).
Of Interest
“Austrian Man Found Dead by the Pool in Tegallalang Villa” from Coconuts Bali
“American Tourists Victimized by Villa Break-in in Denpasar” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“Australian Dies in Sanur, Allegedly Fell Over and Hit in Head” from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
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