Quoted from official page of Malaysian Embassy on Facebook, his party announced through a press release (Press STATEMENT) in English:

The Embassy of Malaysia in Jakarta has taken note of a video that has insulted Indonesia, which has been claimed to have been uploaded from Malaysia.

The Embassy would like to emphasize that Malaysian authorities are investigating matter.

If it is found that video was uploaded by a Malaysian citizen, strict action will be taken based on existing laws.

The Government of Malaysia strongly condemns any negative provocations that are intended to affect close bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Jakarta December 27, 2020

Indonesia’s national motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which translates to “Unity in Diversity.” Today’s Doodle artwork highlights diversity that shapes a united Indonesia with illustrations such as Sumatran Tiger and Rafflesia Arnoldii flower (which has world largest bloom), just a few examples of abundant variety of fauna and flora indigenous to archipelago.

Also featured in artwork is a depiction of Panjat Pinang, one of holiday’s most popular games that requires teams to work together to reach top of a slippery pole and claim prizes. More than just a game, Panjat Pinang embodies spirit of gotong royong (“mutual assistance”) and emphasizes importance of Indonesian unity.

Here’s to lifting each other up. Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!

Guest Artist Q&A with Martcellia Liunic

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Jakarta-based guest artist Martcellia Liunic. Below, she shares her thoughts behind making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A: Because I’ve lived in Indonesia my whole life!

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A: Knowing that Independence Day is one biggest national holidays celebrated in Indonesia, I thought of how we usually decorate our neighbourhoods with festive and national flags, as well as hold friendly competitions, parades, and a flag ceremony, with national anthem being sung throughout day.

I wanted to portray not just these festivities in my illustration for Doodle, but also importance of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,” which means “unity in diversity.” As one of most ethnically diverse societies, Indonesia consists of 1,300 ethnic groups, with at least 95 percent native to archipelago. So I also aimed to portray Indonesia’s natural beauty with mountains, sea, and some of its remarkable animals like Sumatran Tiger and Rafflesia Arnoldii Flower.

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: That Indonesia is beautiful, diverse, and festive, just like my colorful illustration! (*)

“With this inscription, Indonesia can develop Toba Caldera Geopark via Global Geoparks Network and Asia Pacific Geoparks Network, especially in connection with empowering local communities.” Indonesian Ambassador to UNESCO Arrmanatha Nasir noted in a statement on Wednesday.

The Indonesian government has succeeded in convincing UNESCO that Toba Caldera is a genuine evidence of high geological phenomena and traditional heritage with local communities, especially in terms of culture and biodiversity.

In this context, UNESCO member countries supported preservation and protection of Toba Caldera as part of UNESCO Global Geoparks.

The endorsement to include Toba Caldera on UNESCO Global Geopark List offers Indonesia, particularly local community, an opportunity and responsibility.

It could also help drive local economic growth and sustainable development in region. Developing it as a sustainable geotourism site opens opportunities for local people to promote culture, local products, and create broader employment opportunities.

The final endorsement of Toba Caldera as one of UNESCO Global Geoparks had gone through a lengthy process and various stakeholders, both central and regional governments as well as local community living in Lake Toba region, have made unified efforts to this end.

“The preparatory process to obtain UNESCO recognition for Toba Caldera demonstrates high commitment and sound cooperation from all parties in Indonesia since start of process, right from collecting data to holding various workshops as well as preparing and negotiating nomination documents to be submitted to UNESCO.” The ambassador remarked.

Toba Caldera made it to UGGp list following an assessment and decision by UNESCO Global Geoparks Council at IV UNESCO Global Geoparks International Conference held in Lombok, Indonesia, on August 31 – September 2, 2019.

Toba Caldera in North Sumatra Province was formed from a super volcanic explosion that occurred 74 thousand years ago. The base of caldera is filled with water and is largest lake in Indonesia.

The beauty of Toba Caldera and its rich cultural assets make Lake Toba one of Indonesia top tourist destinations included on “10 New Bali” list.

In addition to Toba Caldera, Indonesia already has four other UNESCO Global Geopark sites: Batur, Cileteuh, Mount Sewu, and Rinjani.

Indonesia also has abundant natural and cultural wealth, including 10 intangible cultural heritage sites, nine cultural and natural heritage sites, and 16 biospheres, that have made it into UNESCO lists.

“We have noted that provinces of West Java, Bali, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, Jakarta, West NusaTenggara(NTB), Central Java, Yogyakarta, and Riau registered largest number of cases.” Dr Siti Nadia Tarmizi, ministry Director of Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, stated during a teleconference via Zoom here on Thursday (9/7/2020).

A total of 10,772 dengue fever cases were found in West Java, followed by 8,930 cases in Bali, 5,948 cases in East Java, 5,539 cases in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), 5,135 cases in Lampung, 4,227 cases in Jakarta, 3,796 cases in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), 2,846 cases in Central Java, 2,720 cases in Yogyakarta, and 2,255 cases in Riau.

The dengue fever outbreak has claimed 459 lives, including 92 in West Java, 56 in NTT, 53 in East Java, 42 in Central Java, 22 in Lampung, 19 each in South Sulawesi and Riau, 18 in Bali, 16 in Banten, and 13 in NTB.

Districts and cities witnessing highest number of dengue fever cases comprised Buleleng in Bali, with 2,677 cases, followed by 2,138 cases in Badung in Bali, 1,748 in West Java’s Bandung City, 1,715 in Sikka in NTT, 1,365 in East Jakarta, 1,349 in West Lombok in NTB, 1,266 in Bali’s Denpasar City, 1,224 in Gianyar in Bali, 1,135 in West Jakarta, and 1,021 cases in Malang, East Java.

Cities and district recording highest death rate comprised Tasikmalaya, West Java, with 16 people succumbing to dengue fever, followed by 15 in Sikka, NTT! 11 in Cirebon, West Java! nine each in Belu, NTT, and Bandung City, West Java! eight in Jambi City! seven each in Kupang City, NTT, and Pacitan, East Java! and six each in Bengkalis, Riau, and Bandung District, West Java.

During January-July period this year, number of dengue fever cases was higher than 35,101 cases recorded during corresponding period in 2017, and 21,861 cases in 2018.

However, number of cases in 2020 was lower than 112,954 cases during January-July 2019 period.

Meanwhile, 459 fatalities were recorded during this year January-July period, much higher than 243 in 2017 and 158 in 2018. However, figure was lower than 751 in 2019.

The ministry has appealed to people and business entities to maintain cleanliness to eradicate aedes aegypti mosquito.

Dengue occurs year-round in Indonesia, with peak transmissions in rainy season, from November through April.

“In detail release was carried out by BOS Foundation of six orangutans, followed by 15 orangutans by International Orangutan Foundation and five orangutans carried out by YIARI,” LHK Minister Siti Nurbaya said in a joint meeting of House of Representatives Commission IV in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/7/2020.

In addition, She said, during 2020 or until June as many as six orangutans had been born with details of four orangutans in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, one in Lamandau High School and one in Gunung Palung National Park.

In addition, there were also rescue orangutans in various regions during 2020 and to date there have been 16 orangutans. The rescue was first carried out precisely on January 3 in Central Kalimantan and finally on June 15 in North Sumatra.

A total of 16 orangutans were rescued by eight Central Kalimantan BKSDA UPTs, North Sumatra BBKSDA three orangutans, East Kalimantan BKSDA two orangutans and three orangutans by BTN Tanjung Puting.

“In addition to orangutans, elephants, tigers, rhinos and dragons need to be considered.” She said.

Related to this, She said that during 2020 rescue of Sumatran Tiger and Sumatran Elephant was also carried out. Until now, seven rescues have been recorded for Sumatran Tiger, which includes KSDA centers in South Sumatra, Aceh, Riau and West Sumatra.

While for Sumatran Elephant, there were four rescues, namely two in Riau in January and two in Aceh in February 2020. The rescue included medical treatment for treatment of snares, providing vitamins and releasing them while remaining under supervision of respective BKSDA.

SHe added that for distribution of Sumatran Elephant conflict specifically in Lampung, two GPS Collars were now attached to elephants so that they could be detected when animal moved anywhere.

In essence a similar system, he said, was also applied to Ujung Kulon Rhinoceros by installing camera traps which could be inspected once every 12 days. “So actually every step of rescue has been done but it still needs to be intensified.” She said.

In collaboration with Balikpapan Madani College of Economic Community Service (STIE), activity was followed by management and members of Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), training was also witnessed by Head of Department of Youth, Sports and Tourism (Disporapar) of Balikpapan City, Irma Nurmayanti and Ahmad Mauluddin, Lurah Manggar Baru.

Pertamina DPPU Sepinggan Operation Head, Wisnu Fajar Baskoro said that Bay Floating Resto 1000 program is a CSR assistance from Pertamina DPPU Sepinggan in collaboration with City of Balikpapan Tourism Office. “This program is result of collaboration between Ministry of PUPR program, Department of Housing and Settlements (Disperkim) and Disporapar Balikpapan City and Pertamina DPPU Sepinggan CSR program,” continued Wisnu.

Wisnu added that CSR program was carried out after seeing natural potential, availability of supporting facilities and most important thing was potential of human resources in Manggar Baru area. “The Teluk 1000 Floating Resto is one part of Teluk BUGARBA (Teluk Seribu Manggar Baru) CSR Program, which is Manggar Baru community development program in developing natural tourism potential of Teluk 1000 Mangrove river and mangrove forest as well as efforts to improve economy of surrounding communities through creation of Floating Resto as a part of an effort to introduce tour “, said Wisnu.

This organizational management training as a briefing to improve skills of administrators and members of Gulf 1000 Pokdarwis who will later manage Floating Resto and Nature tourism of Gulf 1000. “It is hoped that through this training, Pokdarwis will form a professional, innovative and productive organization,” concluded Wisnu.

In his remarks representing Government of City of Balikpapan, Irma expressed his appreciation for CSR contributions of Pertamina DPPU Sepinggan. “We of Balikpapan City government certainly cannot work alone in fostering all Pokdarwis in City of Balikpapan, therefore we need collaboration from various parties, in this case we are very grateful to Pertamina for their attention and assistance to Teluk 1000 Pokdarwis”, continued Irma.

The construction of Colorful Bay Floating Restaurant in Teluk 1000 itself began in June and currently has reached 50% in form of foundations and support poles built using state budget, while CSR contributions of Pertamina DPPU Sepinggan in form of floating Floating Resto such as making kitchens, roofs and equipment supply cooking, restaurant equipment, and supplies of human resources incorporated in Pokdarwis and program assistance.

The BUGARBA Gulf Program is also one of leading CSR programs of Sepinggan DPPU in its efforts to PROPER Gold, after winning for three years in a row Green PROPER in environmental compliance assessment assessment conducted by Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Republic of Indonesia. **