Indonesia Highlights: Gojek in Merger Talks with Tokopedia | MUI to Complete Halal Audit on Covid-19 Vaccine | 2 Indonesian Seafarers of South Korean Tanker Detained by Iran Are Safe

KOMPAS.com – Two of Indonesia’s startups, ride-hailing and payments giant Gojek and e-commerce pioneer Tokopedia have discussed merging.

The Bloomberg news agency reported that both firms are keen to seal the deal in the coming months. This merger is expected to create an Indonesian powerhouse with a valuation of $18 billion.

Their businesses include delivery services, transportation, payment services, and online shopping.

On the preparations of the Covid-19 vaccine in the country, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is currently finalizing its halal edict on the Covid-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd before a mass inoculation program.

So far, Indonesia has received a total of three million doses of coronavirus vaccine from Sinovac recently.

Below are excerpts from the news in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

1. Gojek in Merger Talks with Tokopedia

Indonesia’s ride-hailing and payments giant Gojek is said to be in discussions about merging with local e-commerce pioneer PT Tokopedia, the Bloomberg news agency reported on Tuesday, January 5.

If the two startups were merged, this would make Tokopedia and Gojek dominate the country’s digital economy market as their business scope would cover delivery services, transportation, payment services, and online shopping.

The merged entity would create an Indonesian powerhouse with a valuation of about $18 billion.

Sources familiar with the issue told Bloomberg that the merger is in line with a planned initial public offering of both firms.

Both startups have signed a detailed term sheet to conduct due diligence of each other’s business, according to Bloomberg.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/01/05/141200126/gojek-dan-tokopedia-dikabarkan-merger-persiapan-ipo-.

2. MUI to Complete Halal Audit on Covid-19 Vaccine

KOMPAS.COM/KIKI ANDI PATI Members of the Indonesian Police and Military escort the Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd in Halu Oleo Airport in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

The Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) fatwa commission secretary, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, said that MUI is finalizing the halal edict on the Covid-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

“The fatwa commission will hold a plenary session to discuss the halal compliance aspects after receiving reports, explanations, and in-depth studies on the Covid-19 vaccine from the auditors,” Niam told State News Antara as quoted on Tuesday, January 5.

Niam said the documents from Sinovac were received via electronic mail on Tuesday at about 2.30 pm local time.

“At the earliest opportunity, the auditors will complete their review and send it to the fatwa commission,” said Niam.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/05/21314211/mui-tuntaskan-fatwa-halal-vaksin-dari-sinovac.

3. Two Indonesian Seafarers of South Korean Tanker Detained by Iran Are Safe

AFP PHOTO/TASNIM NEWS/- A picture obtained by AFP from the Iranian news agency Tasnim on January 4, 2021, shows the South Korean-flagged tanker being escorted by Irans Revolutionary Guards navy after being seized in the Gulf. (Photo by - / TASNIM NEWS / AFP)

Two Indonesian crew members of a South Korean-flagged oil tanker that was seized by Iran in the Persian Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz, are safe.

“The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the South Korean Embassy in Iran ensure all crew members are safe. They ask for an immediate release of the ship,” South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday, January 4 as quoted by Kontan.co.id via the Yonhap news agency.

DM Shipping, the operator, said that the MT Hankuk Chemi oil tanker that was detained by Iran carried a crew of 20, comprising five Koreans, 11 Myanmar nationals, two Indonesians, and two Vietnamese.

In response to the seizure, South Korea has sent its warship carrying members of the Cheonghae anti-piracy unit stationed in the Strait of Hormuz.

The warship was deployed to waters near the Strait of Hormuz where the MT Hankuk Chemi oil tanker was seized.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/01/05/200132574/2-indonesian-seafarers-of-south-korean-tanker-detained-by-iran-are-safe.