Indonesia Roundup: Prabowo calls for unity, tsunami risks, money laundering

Prabowo calls for unity

Prabowo Subianto, the president-elect of Indonesia, has vowed to serve all Indonesians and emphasised the importance of unity. His commitment came during a speech delivered at a ceremony on April 24, where he was officially declared the winner of the presidential election held in February. NHK World reported that Prabowo was accompanied by his vice president-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is coincidentally the son of the current President, Joko Widodo. The country's Constitutional Court dismissed claims of election irregularities raised by the losing candidates, paving the way for Prabowo's inauguration in October.

Tsunami risks

Following a few preliminary warnings, Mount Ruang, a volcano on the Indonesian island of North Sulawesi, experienced several intense eruptions on Wednesday, April 17th. In response, authorities raised the alert level to the highest degree, leading to the evacuation of thousands of individuals to safety. The eruptions have rendered certain sections of the volcano unstable, heightening the potential for a tsunami. Indonesia, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire renowned for its geological activity, faces these risks. According to Weather Radar, Mount Ruang's eruption 150 years ago triggered a devastating tsunami that claimed 400 lives.

Money laundering

In a recent report from Antara, President Widodo underscored the concerning magnitude of illicit financial activities during his speech at the 22nd Anniversary of the National Movement for Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prevention. Indonesia has become a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address issues of money laundering and terrorism financing. There is an urgent call for enhanced cooperation among law enforcement entities to tackle evolving techniques of money laundering, with particular attention on enforcing the Asset Forfeiture Bill to identify and confiscate criminal assets.

Water management

An expert from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing has stated that Indonesia will showcase a local cultural perspective on water management at the upcoming 10th World Water Forum (WWF). “Indonesia’s success in encouraging water management through the local cultural approach can be used for learning by the global communities,” Expert Staff of Public Works and Public Housing Minister for Technology, Industry, and Environment Endra S. Atmawidjaja told Antara on Wednesday, April 24. The country's local wisdom practices have proven effective in addressing the water crisis and can serve as a model for global communities. The forum is expected to foster cross-country collaboration to address water-related challenges and Indonesia is ready to lead and push for sustainable water management.

Indonesia discusses blue food

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, has engaged in discussions with Singapore regarding potential partnerships in agriculture, blue food, and cross-border carbon capture storage (CCS). Antara reports Minister Wong's interest in initiating an early study for this collaboration. Pandjaitan also highlighted the opportunity for developing Bali as a wellness tourism destination. This meeting underscores the growing cooperative ties between Indonesia and Singapore.