March 24, 2022
Government to take measures over misuse of cooking oil packaging + Indonesia preparing tough new curbs for online platforms + Sungai Watch makes giant drop of water from 3,500 plastic bags + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Thursday, March 24. In today’s edition, we have more news around the increasing cooking oil prices and measures taken against those trying to exploit the shortages. Elsewhere, the government is preparing tough new curbs for online platforms, including a “public order” catch-all provision. Highlighting Bali’s struggles with plastic waste, Sungai Watch made a giant water drop from 3,500 plastic bags—if you’re free this weekend, consider volunteering to help on a cleanup! 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
“Government to Take Measures Over Misuse of Bulk Cooking Oil Packaging” from Antara: Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko confirmed that the government will take precautionary measures against the potential misuse of bulk cooking oil packaged in premium packaging by irresponsible parties in order to derive big profits. "We need to watch out regarding the potential misuse of bulk cooking oil packed in a premium packaging," Moeldoko said on Wednesday. In addition to the likelihood of misuse of bulk cooking oil sold in premium packaging, the government is continuing to monitor and increase awareness of the practice of hoarding these commodities, he said. In an effort to minimize the practice of misuse and hoarding bulk cooking oil, which has the Highest Retail Price (HET) of IDR 14,000, the government will urge the Food Task Force to conduct strict supervision.
Context: Local reports put the price of packaged cooking oil at IDR 48,000 to 51,000. Other local media reports covered queuing and shortages of cooking oil across Bali including from Denpasar (Indonesian), Kuta (Indonesian), Tuban (Indonesian) and Tabanan (Indonesian).
“Indonesia Preparing Tough New Curbs for Online Platforms” from Reuters: Indonesia is readying tough new rules that will allow it to fine and criminally charge internet and social media platforms. The rules, which authorities believe are needed to make platforms remove “unlawful” content quickly, are among the most stringent globally on social media. Some executives of online companies briefed on the plans warned the measures will be hard to comply with, raise their operating costs, and could undermine freedom of expression in Indonesia. The new rules, which build upon internet regulations from 2019, mean companies will be required to take down content deemed unlawful within four hours if a request is designated as “urgent”. Officials told internet companies that “urgent” government requests would include content perceived as sensitive in areas such as “security, terrorism and public order, child protection, and pornography”.
“Sungai Watch Makes Giant Water Drop from 3,500 Plastic Bags” from Kumparan (Indonesian): Sungai Watch made a unique creation for World Water Day commemorations. Namely, a water droplet-shaped installation made from 3,500 plastic bags. "Our team made giant five-meter-high water droplets from 3,500 plastic bags found in Bali's rivers and set to represent the form of the average Indonesian family's annual plastic bag consumption," said Gary Bencheghib, founder of the NGO. Sungai Watch has a mission to protect and restore Indonesia's rivers by developing and designing simple technologies to stop the flow of plastic pollution from entering the sea. Since starting operations in October 2020, Sungai Watch has collected more than 400,000 kg of non-organic waste from Bali's rivers and has installed more than 120 barriers to stop plastic pollution from entering the sea.
Context: Sungai Watch runs regular volunteer-supported beach and river cleanups around Bali. You can see their cleanup schedule here. You can learn more about World Water Day here.
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Other Headlines
“Seven Tourist Areas to be Developed in NTT” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian): The Tourism and Creative Economy Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT) targets the development of seven estate tourism areas by 2022 spread across four islands, namely Flores, Timor, Sumba, Sabu. "The construction of this estate or community-based tourist area to pave the way for the development of tourism potential in areas in NTT," said Ntt Zet Head of Disparekraf Sony Libing on Wednesday. He mentioned the seven tourist areas to be built spread across Flores Island, namely Anakoli Nagekeo Regency, Uma Uta Sikka Regency and Golowori East Manggarai Regency. In addition, in Timor Island, namely Lelogama Kupang Regency and Tuamese North Central Timor Regency, and Waiwuang West Sumba Regency on Sumba Island, and Kelaba Maja Sabu Raijua Regency on Sabu Island. He said the seven areas to be built are currently not widely known or still isolated with limited supporting infrastructure.
Vaccination Update
“BIN Bali Pursues Target of 270,000 Doses of Covid-19 Vaccination” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): Bali's Regional Intelligence Agency in collaboration with the Indonesian Islamic Da'wah Institute (LDII) of Bali Province is pursuing a target of COVID-19 vaccination of 270,000 doses for March 2022. "So far, the target has reached 73%. And by the end of March 2022 it must be 100%," said Head of BIN Daerah (Kabinda) Bali Brig. Gen. Pol Hadi Purnomo on Wednesday. He said, for the whole of Bali is targeted at 9,000 people per day and for the LDII Bali office is targeted at 1,000 per day. A total of 270,000 doses are provided not only for booster vaccinations but also for the first and second vaccinations. Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of LDII Bali Haji Kafilari said all people both from Bali and from outside Bali can participate in this COVID vaccination.
More...
Nation: “Booster Dose Recipients Reach 18,070,929 People” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Govt Allows Thrice-vaccinated People to Make Eid Homecoming Trips” from Antara: The government will allow people who have received the first, second, and booster COVID-19 vaccines to make Eid-al-Fitr homecoming trips this year. “People will be allowed to make Eid-al-Fitr homecoming trips if they have received two vaccine shots and one booster shot,” President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said on Wednesday. In addition, they must also comply with stringent health protocols during their homecoming trips. The government has decided to allow Eid-al-Fitr homecoming trips this year on account of the improving pandemic situation in the country. “(Also) this year, Muslims can perform congregational tarawih (Ramadhan night) prayers at mosques by following the health protocols,” Widodo said.
Context: In related news, on the same day, the spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccinations at the Ministry of Health said booster dose requirements were still being assessed. The Vice President meanwhile, said mudik travelers will not have to present a negative Covid-19 test to travel.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Transitioning From Pandemic to Endemic Stage Says BIN” from Antara
Economy & Infrastructure
“WALHI Bali Calls ANDAL Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road Legally Flawed” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Wahana Lingkungan Lingkungan (WALHI) Bali reiterated that ANDAL (Environmental Impact Analysis) Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road is legally flawed. They said this happened because the initiator could not explain the location of the replacement land for the agricultural land that was used in the ANDAL document. Director of WALHI Bali, Made Krisna Bokis Dinata explained that based on the data and findings owned by his party, there was a difference in data between WALHI and ANDAL documents. Chairman of Commission III of the Bali Provincial Dprd, Anak Agung Ngurah Adhi Ardhana said that the study from WALHI would be a guideline in the next process, namely ANDAL RKL-RPL, including land procurement by the initiator including the government.
More...
Nation: “Illegal Mercury Trade Must Be Tackled Promptly Says Environment Minister” from Antara
Nation: “China Plane Crash; Garuda Indonesia Takes Layered Inspection on Boeing 737-800” from Tempo
Nation: “Indonesia Pushes Electric Vehicle Use at G20 Side Event” from Antara
Bali Reopening
“Foreign Tourists Asked to Comply with Prokes” from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Entry to Bali by foreign tourists is getting easier thanks to visa on arrival (VoA), however, tourists are asked to still comply with health protocols. "Health protocols for tourists remain in place. It is non-negotiable," said Regional Secretary of Bali Province, Dewa Made Indra in Denpasar, on Wednesday. He said the elimination of quarantine rules for tourists does not necessarily relieve them of the obligation to comply with health programs. This is done so that foreign tourist visits do not have an impact on the increase in Covid-19 cases. According to him, tourists who come must also follow the arrival process such as PCR test obligations three times. The test is done before leaving, when arriving, and the third day after arrival.
Of Interest
“Owl Tower Bali Has An Owl Conservation Mission” from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
“Accused of Stealing in His Own Company, Uzbek National Sentenced to 2 Years” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Balinese Man Steals 21 Motorbikes to Fund Online Gambling Bender” from Coconuts Bali
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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