New Cases and Deaths at Lowest This Year
Indonesia recorded its lowest new Covid-19 cases and deaths yesterday, Oct 3, with only 1,142 new cases and 58 deaths. The daily positivity rate is also inching closer to 1 percent, and the bed occupancy rate (BOR) has fallen below 10 percent. The Covid-19 Task Force (Satgas) credits these improvements to better compliance with health protocols. Satgas Head of Behavioral Change Sonny B Harmadi said the loosening of restrictions will be accompanied by stricter health protocols.
Related links:
Tax Amnesty II to Start on Jan 1, 2022
The government is to hold a second Tax Amnesty Program, under the discussion of the Draft Bill on the Harmonization of Tax Regulations (RUU HPP). Taxpayers will be able to disclose previously undisclosed net assets, as long as the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) has not previously received information or data regarding the assets. Assets that can be disclosed refer to assets earned from Jan 1, 1985, to Dec 31, 2015. The amnesty period runs from Jan 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022.
Meanwhile, the government also plans to use the National Identity Number (NIK) as the new Taxpayer Identification Number (NPWP). The shift from NPWP to NIK will be done through an inter-ministerial integration process of citizen and taxpayer data. The Ministry of Home Affairs will work closely with the Ministry of Finance to exchange data. These provisions are contained in the Draft Bill on the Harmonization of Tax Regulations (RUU HPP), which was previously known as the Draft Revision Bill on the General Provisions and Tax Procedures (RUU KUP). The final draft of RUU HPP will be discussed in the House of Representatives plenary meeting next week.
Related links:
800,000 Pfizer Vaccines Arrive
Indonesia has received another 800,280 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the US government. This shipment increases Indonesia’s vaccine stocks to 276,960,670 doses. The government is targeting to have 70 percent of the population vaccinated by the end of 2021. The procurement of Covid-19 vaccines has been carried out by the government either through direct purchase or multilateral and bilateral cooperation, said Director General of Public Information and Communication at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics Usman Kansong.
Related link:
Realizing a Healthy Indonesia: Pfizer Indonesia Signs MoU with Ministry of Health
Pfizer Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health on Oct 1, to increase health initiatives under the Indonesia Sehat (Healthy Indonesia) program. The signing was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health and the US Embassy in Indonesia.
The MoU includes efforts to improve health promotion through community empowerment and communication; information and education on pneumonia prevention; metastatic breast and lung cancer; the benefits of immunization for the community; the improvement of the assessment and development of medical biotechnology education; human resources capacity building; antibiotics stewardship programs; and other related fields.
“Promotive and preventive efforts, especially on diseases that are prevalent in Indonesia, is very important. This cooperation is expected to help accelerate the Indonesia Sehat program,” said Secretary-General Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha, representing the Ministry of Health.
“We are honored to have the Ministry of Health’s trust to cooperate in supporting promotive and preventive measures according to our fields, which we will carry out as best as possible in the next three years,” said Bambang Chriswanto, Policy and Public Affairs Director of Pfizer Indonesia.
US Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Kleine expressed appreciation and support for the cooperation between Pfizer Indonesia and the Ministry of Health, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts between the private and public sectors to improve public health.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PRESS RELEASE
AmCham Cares: Grab
Grab has launched a new initiative, the Tech For Good Institute, a non-profit, and independently-run think tank to advance dialogue and action-oriented research focused on the intersection of technology and society in Southeast Asia.
The launch in Singapore today, Oct 4, hosted by Grab, was attended by Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Communication and Information, and coincided with the release of the Institute’s inaugural study on the Platform Economy in Southeast Asia.
The event also featured an esteemed group of speakers:
“Technology has brought boundless opportunities but also new challenges that we must address together as an industry. With Southeast Asia’s digital economy still in its infancy, there is no better time than now for the public and private sectors to come together to jointly drive greater digital inclusion for the region. We are grateful for the advisors who have joined us on this journey,” said Hooi Ling Tan, co-founder of Grab.
Halal Body Has a New Boss
Muhammad Aqil Irham was appointed the new Head of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, on Oct 1. Previously he served as Secretary-General of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor), an Islamic youth organization, and as Deputy Secretary-General of the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) from 2015 to 2020. He is also a permanent lecturer at Raden Intan State Islamic University in Lampung.
The appointment is expected to bring changes and improvements to current programs, Yaqut said. AmCham welcomes Muhammad Aqil Irham into his new BPJPH role and hopes to maintain positive communication with the organization. We also appreciate the continuous support provided by Mastuki, the interim head.
Related link:
Support Independent Journalism: Subscribe to The Jakarta Post
In these difficult times, our hometown English language newspaper, The Jakarta Post, is more important than ever. Given the difficulties of physical circulation and the economic slump, the Post needs to boost its online subscribers – a goal we heartily support at AmCham Indonesia. Quality English language news is vital for our businesses, our home offices, and the flow of information out of Indonesia. It is for this reason, that we are urging all of our members and readers to subscribe to JP! Information is what will help get us through this crisis. Below is information about how to sign up.
JP Premium Digital Subscription Packages
https://www.thejakartapost.com/packages
Monthly subscription – Rp 50,000
Yearly subscription – Rp 600,000
Now is the Time to Join AmCham!
We offer a full slate of meetings, events, and information for our community online. But we can only do this through the support of our members. If you are not yet an AmCham member, please join now.
AmCham Indonesia is open to all companies with an interest in US business relations and we have many non-American members. We are a community and we welcome you!
Reach us at [email protected] or click below!
AmCham Office and Events
The AmCham Office is on the work-from-home status and all face-to-face meetings and events have been postponed. We are having a number of meetings online using the Zoom platform. You will be notified of virtual meetings as they are scheduled.
What is Your Company Doing on COVID-19?
Please let us know what measures your company may be taking in the form of donations and other assistance to help Indonesia during this time of confusion and concern. Contact [email protected] with your news. We would like to publicize the ways that our AmCham companies are pitching in.
Stay well
We urge you to send us press releases and other information that we can pass on to the broader AmCham community. If you have items of interest, please email material to [email protected]. Follow this link to information provided by the US Embassy
Stay safe, call a doctor if you have a high fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Stay healthy above all else.
AmCham Update is AmCham's regular newsletter on developments related to the pandemic crisis and other issues in Indonesia. It is edited by AmCham Managing Director A Lin Neumann and written by the AmCham Staff. Paul L Goddard is the Managing Editor