Indonesia Highlights: Survey Exposes Criticism of President Joko Widodo | Indonesia Strikes Deals With Japan | Indonesian Defense Chief Prabowo Subianto Talks Sale of Typhoon Jets with Austria

Jakarta, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's first dealings with new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has gotten off to a promising start during the latter's first ever state visit to Indonesia.

Suga pledged to give Indonesia a Rp. 6.95 trillion [$473,885,055] fiscal loan to help the country deal with Covid-19's effects on the economy. Jokowi and Suga also agreed to open a travel corridor for business travelers between both countries.

“I encouraged Japan to participate in the Sovereign Wealth Fund for its investment in Indonesia,” Jokowi said. “I am glad to note increased investment by Japanese investors like Denso, Sagami, Panasonic, Mitsubishi Chemicals and Toyota.”

Suga maintained that Japan will work closely with Indonesia on infrastructure. “The infrastructural projects included the next stage of the MRT’s development, the semi-fast train route between Jakarta to Surabaya, East Java, and the development of ports and [Indonesia’s] outer islands.”

Source:

https://go.kompas.com/read/2020/10/21/012404674/president-joko-widodo-welcomes-japanese-pm-suga-to-indonesia?page=all#page2

TRIBUNNEWS/JEPRIMA Indonesian President Joko Widodo ahead of his annual 17 August speech before Parliament (14/8/2020)

The Indonesian public's confidence in President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'aruf Amin has dropped significantly a year into his second term. A recent poll by Kompas showed 39.7 percent of respondents remain confident in the president's track record, in contrast to 46.3 percent of dissatisfied participants.

The unfavorable results were reflected by the respondents’ bleak outlook of the economy. “40.3 percent of participants said they are satisfied with the state of the economy...while the 49.7 percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied,” Kompas noted.

The respondents reserved their most scathing verdict for law enforcement. “54.4 percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied with the Jokowi administration’s track record on law enforcement." In contrast, 30.2 percent of respondents said they are satisfied with the government’s handling of law enforcement. 

Source 

https://go.kompas.com/read/2020/10/21/210003974/indonesian-public-critical-of-president-jokowis-second-term?page=all#page2.   

eurofighter.com The Eurofighter Typhoon and its array of weaponry

“Today I met face to face with my Indonesian counterpart [Prabowo] to discuss about [Indonesia’s intent] to buy the Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the Austrian Air Force,” Kronen Zeitung quoted Tanner as saying in its October 21 edition. “Prior to that, most of our communication was only carried out through letters.”

Prabowo and Tanner are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and an Umbrella Agreement for future collaboration in the defense industry. Prabowo’s plan to purchase the 15 Eurofighter jets from Austria have encountered opposition from parliament and human rights groups ever since he announced the transaction last July. 

Prabowo's Austrian trip came in the wake of a stormy working visit to the United States that was widely opposed by Amnesty International and other groups who voiced concerns about Prabowo’s past human rights violations. However, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stood by Prabowo's efforts to support Indonesia’s bid to modernize its armed forces. They also signed deals for the education and training of Indonesian officer cadets, and the repatriation of the remains of US servicemen who died in Indonesia during World War II.

Source:

https://go.kompas.com/read/2020/10/21/231939774/indonesian-defense-chief-prabowo-in-austria-for-purchase-of-typhoon-jets?page=all#page2.