March 23, 2022
Cooking oil prices in Klungkung monitored + Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road threatens rice production + Few tourists in Buleleng despite international flights being open + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Wednesday, March 23. In today’s edition, we start with ongoing concerns around the price of cooking oil, featuring a fruitless police hunt for mafia elements and suggestions the island has sufficient stock for one month. More details are emerging regarding the Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll way, particularly regarding the environmental impact of the project. In North Bali, few foreign tourists have appeared so far, highlighting the perceived lack of balance when it comes to where foreign tourists go in Bali. 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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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
The Big News
“Cooking Oil Prices in Klungkung Monitored” from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): To ensure the availability of cooking oil and anticipate hoarding, police officers from Klungkung Police carried out monitoring of cooking oil prices in the market. The latest activity was carried out in several traditional and modern markets in the Galiran Semarapura Klod area on Tuesday. The results of the officer's monitoring, premium packaging cooking oil stock or 1 and 2 liter packaging for Semarapura Subdistrict are still safe. However, for the stock of bulk cooking oil until now is still empty, especially in the Semarapura area. Klungkung Police Chief, AKBP I Made Dhanuardana, S.I.K., M.H., said that from the results of the monitoring of officers in the field the price of cooking oil is quite varied. Starting from IDR 14,000 to 24,000 per liter.
Context: Concern centers of the inflationary pressure of a significant rise in cooking oil prices, and local media are covering the topic heavily with stories tracking price rises in individual regencies. Police have reported there is at least one month’s worth of stock (Indonesian), while other stories have reported on allegations the price rises are due to hoarding by mafia elements (Indonesian), though Denpasar police say they have found no cooking oil mafia (Indonesian). Elsewhere, PLN is getting lambasted on social media for suggesting people use an air fryer.
“Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road Threatens Rice Production” from Kumparan (Indonesian): Plans to transfer agricultural land functions for the Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road project in Bali threaten grain production of more than 1,130 tons per year. This was revealed in the presentation meeting and discussion of the Amdal document on the Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road construction plan on Tuesday. At the time of exposure there are two versions of the potential loss of grain production due to the transfer of agricultural land functions. The Amdal version said the transfer of land functions covering an area of 188.38 hectares of rice fields with production reaching 1,130 tons per year. The second version, presented by Wahana Lingkungan, suggested the transfer of land functions covering an area of 488.13 hectares with grain production of up to 2,883 tons. In addition grain production, Amdal Document Drafting Team Leader Rachmatullah M. said other impacts include noise, disruption to irrigation canals, and disruption of wildlife habitat in West Bali National Park.
“Few Tourists in Buleleng Despite International Flights Being Open” from Kumparan (Indonesian): International flights to Bali have opened on March 7, but in March, tourism circles in Buleleng have not felt the positive impact. "I asked PHRI members here that there were no bookings, later in April there were already several people," said Chairman of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) Buleleng, Bali, Dewa Ketut Suardipa. "It's still around 10% and 20% of the occupancy rate. We expect in July and August to start (to increase). That, from Germany, France, there are already a few. Especially the level of star hotels, three-star four stars," he said.
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Other Headlines
“Easing of Covid-19 Travel Curbs an Economic Boon but Timing Needs Calibration” from CNA: The recent moves by the Indonesian government to ease travel requirements have had a positive impact on the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, but there are concerns that they may have been introduced too quickly. Hermawan Saputra, an advisor at the Indonesian Public Health Expert Association, said that the declining number of cases is no excuse to eliminate some of the measures entirely. He also viewed with concern that the number of people tested for COVID-19 has sharply declined since it is no longer required for domestic travel. Beforehand, Indonesia was testing around 250,000 people per day but that figure declined to around 100,000. Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Intellectual Association Azril Azahari questioned why the government needed to introduce so many relaxations all at the same time. “We still need to exercise caution because we still have many challenges and shortcomings in our COVID-19 mitigation efforts.” he said.
Vaccination Update
“BPOM Issues Permit to Use Sinopharm as a Booster” from Antara: The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) issued a permit for using Sinopharm vaccine as a heterologous booster regimen or different type of booster vaccine from the primary vaccine. "After previously being introduced as a homologous booster dose in early February 2022, the BPOM has now released a heterologous booster regimen for Sinopharm," Head of BPOM Penny K. Lukito said on Tuesday. Lukito remarked that issuance of the regimen had complemented six types of booster vaccines, both as heterologous and homologous boosters, with various regimens in Indonesia.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Central Lombok Government Says No Covid-19 Cluster at MotoGP” from Republika (Indonesian): The Regency Government of Central Lombok has stated that no Covid-19 cluster appeared in the MotoGP event. "Allhamdulilah no new cases of Covid-19 have been found," said Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Central Lombok, Lalu Firman Wijaya on Tuesday. He said all spectators who can enter must be fully vaccinated and use masks. "So far there is no information of any COVID-19 clusters found in the 2022 Indonesian MotoGP event," he said. Meanwhile, for positive cases of Covid-19 in Central Lombok, there are currently no isolated or zero, after previously Covid-19 cases increased dramatically to 251 patients. "Our positive cases of Covid-19 are no longer there or zero," he said.
More...
Province: “Cases Continue to Decline, Complete Vaccinations and Boosters Are Absolutely Necessary to Control the Pandemic” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“Bambang Susantono Talks of Fate of Indigenous People in New Capital Areas” from Tempo: Bambang Susantono, the head of the new capital authority, said the government will be fair in treating and open a dialogue with indigenous people residing in areas within the new capital zone. “Hopefully, [we will act] as fair as possible,” said Bambang on Tuesday. Bambang expected no eviction against indigenous people and hoped they will become part of the plan or design of the development. “Let them be more advanced along with the progress of the civilization,” he said.
Context: In related news, the government is exploring the potential of crowdfunding as one of the channels for financing the construction of the new capital.
More...
Nation: “Activists Face ‘Danger’ Amid Shrinking Civic Space” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Sri Mulyani Raises Income Tax on Rich to 35%” from Tempo
Nation: “Indonesian Women Playing Leading Role in SMEs Says W20 Chair” from Antara
Nation: “Agriculture Minister Claims Safe Food Availability Ahead of Ramadan” from Tempo
Nation: “Why Many of Indonesia's Best Tech Minds Are Staying Abroad” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Education
Nation: “Jakarta Still Awaiting Central Govt Regulation on Offline School” from Antara
Bali Reopening
“For 21 Days, 13,275 International Passengers Were Served at Ngurah Rai Airport” from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): The number of international flights through Ngurah Rai airport continues to grow. From data released by the airport, the number of passengers who have been served until March 21 was 13,275 passengers. There were 8,950 arrivals and 4,325 departures of passengers. Meanwhile, for the number of aircraft, there were 138 movements.
Context: In related news, 2,000 foreigners have reportedly arrived in Bali (Indonesian) using Visa on Arrival.
More...
“AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur-Bali Officially Back in Action. Up Next? Bangkok-Bali” from Coconuts Bali
“Jetstar Asia Adds Bali Singapore VTL Flights” from TTR Weekly
Of Interest
“Sneaky Man Arrested for Stealing Tvs From Hotels and Villas” from Coconuts Bali
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