According to the movie archive of 21 Cineplex Group, the Trilogi Merdeka (the Freedom Trilogy) produced by Rob Allyn’s Margate House and Hashim Djojohadikusumo’s Media Desa Indonesia was directed by Yadi Gudandi and Conor Allyn. Conor Allyn is Rob Allyn’s son. The cooperation between Rob Allyn and Hashim Djojohadikusumo led many to question the motive of their partnership.[continue reading]
election
Hashim’s Biofuel Business: Potential Conflict of Interest?
NewsroomOne of the policies proposed by the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) in the environment sector is to implement the aren (Arenga pinnata) tree program. The program aims to preserve nature as well as to develop renewable energy program for the nation. This is interesting given that Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the co-founder of Gerindra, through Arsari Group, has expanded expanded his aren tree plantations in various provinces across Indonesia to produce bio-ethanol. [continue reading]
New MataMassa app empowers regular people to help monitor elections
Khabar Southeast AsiaNew MataMassa app empowers regular people to help monitor elections
by: Yositha Nirbhaya
Free mobile application encourages citizens to monitor violations during the election, inviting greater engagement in the democratic process.
A smartphone app offers greater Jakarta area residents a way to help ensure free and fair upcoming 2014 general elections.
The Jakarta branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the ICT Laboratory for Social Changes (iLab) launched MataMassa (“Eyes of the Public”) in November as a way for citizens to monitor and anonymously report administrative, criminal or ethical violations during voting or campaigning.
Those could include installation of campaign banners in houses of worship, highways, or hospitals; vote buying; or other violations as defined by the General Election Committee (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu).
Nelson Simanjuntak, Bawaslu committee commissioner, said the app encourages direct societal participation of the process.
“It needs to be understood that MataMassa really helps us improve the 2014 election,” he told Khabar Southeast Asia.
Users can download MataMassa for free and use it to submit a report of a violation by text, photo or video to AJI Jakarta. Project personnel investigate and submit verified reports to Bawaslu.
Between December 15th last year and March 13th, MataMassa received 1,249 reports, and verified 1,154 of them, according to AJI. Because of limited funding, project personnel could only verify violations in Jakarta and outskirts including Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi, AJI Jakarta Chairman Umar Idris told Khabari.
Direct participation
Renanda Laksita, a Partai Demokrat candidate for the House of Representatives (DPR) wished the app could be more widely used.
“I think this is a new innovation to invite society to participate in our democratic process, as we know that many Indonesian people love to use gadgets. I hope society takes advantage of it,” the candidate from Bali told Khabar.
“It would be better if it is applicable all over Indonesia than greater Jakarta only,” she added.
Stefani Bilwa tried, but failed to submit a violation in the form of a massive poster of a candidate in Setiabudi.
“Unfortunately, I was unlucky in submitting it directly through my iPhone,” she told Khabar. “Therefore I have to submit it through the website, which is not as efficient.” Still, Stefani liked the idea of the app to help deliver a fair election.
Reports can also be submitted through SMS center to 081370202014 or via email at lapor@matamassa.org for people without a smartphone or the app.
Disenchanted with politics-as-usual, Indonesians pine for change
Khabar Southeast AsiaDisenchanted with politics-as-usual, Indonesians pine for change
The face of politics is changing, thanks to a stronger role for the media – and a new crop of candidates who know how to harness it.
With one year to go before the 2014 presidential election, Indonesians appear to be in the mood for change. Polls show a relative newcomer – Jakarta governor Joko Widodo (nicknamed Jokowi) – ahead of other potential candidates, including several well-established figures.
The results reflect an ongoing trend in Indonesian politics, analysts say. The traditional party machinery is losing its potency as a new generation of media-savvy politicians is better able to harness public opinion.
Citizens, meanwhile, are increasingly distrustful of political elites and determined to elect politicians who will remain close to their interests.
In its latest opinion survey, Pusat Data Bersatu (PDB) polled 1,200 respondents from 30 provinces. Jokowi garnered 21.2% support, the largest percentage for all the potential candidates. Behind him were several political veterans — former vice president Jusuf Kalla, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party figure Prabowo Subianto, and Golkar Party Chairman Abu Rizal Bakrie, among others.
Didik J. Rachbini, a political expert at PDB, said the results showed a clear trend.
“Citizens want a new figure for the 2014 presidential election, and it appears that Jokowi is that figure,” Didik told Khabar Southeast Asia.
However, he added, the rising political star will first need to demonstrate a strong performance in his current job, including by taking charge of the flooding situation in Jakarta.
Media appeal becoming crucial
Burhanuddin Muhtadi, a political analyst with the Indonesian Survey Institute (Lembaga Survey Indonesia/LSI), agreed that the electorate wants someone new.
“Citizens are looking for a figure who is firm, has no distance from the citizens, [and is] unpretentious,” he told reporters.
Jokowi’s popularity has swelled since he took over the city governorship, a role which brings frequent media appearances, Burhanuddin said.
Moreover, he added, the governor has received positive coverage of his education and health care initiatives, the Kartu Jakarta Pintar (Jakarta Education Card/KJP) and Kartu Jakarta Sehat (Jakarta Health Card/KJS).
The KJP provides students with as much as Rp 240,000 ($25) per month for education-related expenses such as books, uniforms, and transportation. Bank DKI refills the card every month with provincial government funds. Similarly, the KJS provides free health care access, especially for those in need.
Although previous governors ran similar initiatives, Jokowi has proven particularly effective at making citizens aware of them, Burhanuddin said.
“He knows how to maintain public optimism,” he said.
Jokowi is not the first politician in this mold, the analyst said. Indonesia’s current president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, demonstrated a similar appeal during his campaign eight years ago, relying more on a strong media presence than on the traditional workings of party machinery.
“Back in 2004, President Susilo became a media darling with his personality and intellect. He is also very friendly with the media,” he added. In general, he added, “political parties are no longer able to claim that they are the only funnels to represent the public’s preference”.
Disenchantment grows with politics-as-usual
Muhammad Yusuf, an 18-year-old Pemalang resident, told Khabar he wants a new president who remains close to the people. “I think we need a smart figure and humble, just like Governor Jokowi,” Muhammad said.
Hilary Desuari, a 25 year-old Yogyakarta resident, told Khabar, “I find it difficult to trust the political elite.” Jokowi, she said, may be a viable candidate “because he does real work and solves many problems.”
Willy Bordus Tatag Hastungkoro, a 24 year-old Jakarta resident who originally hails from Central Java, said Indonesia needs a president who has a vision for the country, and not just for a political party.
“I think that we need a figure with a good mindset to protect and develop the public’s interests mandated by Pancasila, our guiding principles,” he said.
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