Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Calls for Taxpayers to File Tax Returns as Govt Needs $4 Billion for Vaccination Program | Indonesia to Vaccinate 57,000 Elderly Pilgrims: Health Ministry | Jakarta Adm

KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s government urged the citizens to file their annual tax returns (SPTs) as the state needs about 58 trillion rupiahs ($4.03 billion) to pay the country’s mass vaccination program to contain the spread of Covid-19. By paying taxes, the public will also participate in accelerating the economic recovery.

In other news, the Health Ministry had begun the vaccination program for senior citizens who plan to attend the annual haj pilgrimage.

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

Indonesia Calls for Taxpayers to File Tax Returns as Govt Needs $4 Billion for Vaccination Program

Indonesia’s Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said that the country’s mass vaccination program requires a budget of 58 trillion rupiahs ($4.03 billion) to provide vaccines for 185 million citizens to achieve herd immunity.

To help obtain the funds, Suahasil called on taxpayers to file their annual tax returns (SPTs).
“The vaccination program will need approximately 58 trillion rupiahs. And we must vaccinate 185 million citizens, this is not a small number,” said Suahasil during a virtual event titled Spectaxcular held on Monday, March 22.

“The185 million people need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity and tax money is one of the main resources for buying vaccines and implementing the vaccination program,” he explained.

Suahasil said that the government set the 2021 state budget at 2,750 trillion rupiahs ($191.34 billion). Of this amount, about 699 trillion rupiahs ($48.63 billion) were allocated for the national economic recovery and Covid-19 handling, including the mass vaccination program.

By paying taxes, he added, the public will also participate in accelerating the economic recovery. He called on the taxpayers to file their annual tax returns.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/03/22/155642826/negara-butuh-rp-58-triliun-untuk-vaksinasi-rakyat-diminta-patuh-bayar-pajak.

Indonesia to Vaccinate 57,000 Elderly Pilgrims: Health Ministry

KOMPAS.com / KRISTIANTO PURNOMO A photo of Covid-19 vaccine.

Indonesia's Ministry of Health had begun the vaccination program for senior citizens who plan to attend the annual haj pilgrimage while waiting for the Saudi Arabian Government's decision regarding this year's haj.

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi said 465 elderly pilgrims had been vaccinated against Covid-19 at the Wijaya Mukti Stadium, West Java, on Friday, March 19. He said the candidates for haj pilgrims were among those who received the Covid-19 jab.

"Currently, there are more than 57,000 elderly candidates for haj pilgrims who are ready to get vaccinated. If there is an announcement to leave for Haj in 2021, they are ready to go," said Oscar on Saturday, March 20.

Meanwhile, regarding this year's haj quota, the head of the Haj Health Centre at the Health Ministry Eka Jusup Singka said that Indonesia was still waiting for the announcement by the Saudi government.

"In the meantime, we are doing some preparations such as the Covid-19 vaccination and health protocols implementation. This must be the commitment of all parties, "said Eka.

Eka went on to say that all countries that have prospective pilgrims are still waiting for the announcement by the Saudi Arabia government.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/03/22/183248274/indonesia-to-vaccinate-57000-elderly-pilgrims-health-ministry.

Jakarta Administration to Trial In-Class Learning for All Levels

KOMPAS.com/SINGGIH WIRYONO Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria speaks to reporters at City Hall on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said on Monday that as of now the Jakarta Administration is still conducting online learning in schools throughout the capital while monitoring the development of the Covid-19.

“Jakarta has decided to stay implementing online learning. We will see in the next few months along with the increasing number of people getting vaccinated and the decline in Covid-19 cases,” said Riza on Monday, March 22.

However, he further added, the Jakarta administration is currently preparing for limited in-class learning trials in several schools for all levels of education.

The details would later be announced by the head of Jakarta Education Agency Nahdiana. The Education Office will also set the requirements and protocols that need to be done during the face-to-face learning trials.

“Hopefully, it will not be long before we announce the limited trial programs for in-class learning,” said Riza.

Previously, Education Minister Nadiem Makarim said that since January, schools have been allowed to hold in-class learning but must be approved by each local government.

Source: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2021/03/22/17242771/pemprov-dki-siapkan-uji-coba-pembelajaran-tatap-muka.