Indonesia Highlights: Countries Struggle to Get Covid-19 Vaccine Supply, Says Indonesian Minister | Indonesian Coast Guard Warns Greek-Flagged Tanker for Loitering in Maluku Waters | Indonesia’s Villa

KOMPAS.com - Indonesia is one of the countries that are in a race to get the Covid-19 vaccine as the supplies are incredibly scarce amid an increasing coronavirus caseload.

However, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the government has been working closely with four vaccine producers to ensure there will be sufficient supply for the covid-19 vaccine in the country.

The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) patrol ship KN Singa Laut-402 has issued a warning to the Greek-flagged tanker following loitering activities in Maluku waters on Friday, April 16.

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

Countries Struggle to Get Covid-19 Vaccine Supply, Says Indonesian Minister

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that Indonesia is one of the countries that are in a race to get the Covid-19 vaccine as the supplies are incredibly scarce amid the increasing coronavirus caseload.

“We know that all countries are in a race [to get the Covid-19 vaccine] as the struggle for vaccines is getting tighter,” Budi said in a virtual discussion on Sunday, April 18.

Budi said that the daily caseload in India - the world’s biggest vaccine producer - is increasing. Therefore, its government decided to embargo the Covid-19 vaccine as they prioritize their citizens given the high rate of virus transmission.

Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom conduct vaccine export restrictions.
“This causes other countries outside India, especially the producers of the raw materials used by the Indian vaccine producers, to implement countermeasure. So, it has become complicated,” Budi said.

But, he is grateful for sufficient supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia because since the beginning the government has developed cooperation with four vaccine producers such as Sinovac from China, AstraZeneca from the UK, Novavax from the US and Canada, and BioNTech-Pfizer from Germany.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/04/18/15271421/menkes-vaksin-covid-19-jadi-rebutan-seluruh-negara-makin-lama-kian-keras.

Indonesian Coast Guard Warns Greek-Flagged Tanker for Loitering in Maluku Waters

Bakamla RI The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) patrol ship KN Singa Laut-402 has issued a warning to the Greek-flagged tanker following loitering activities in Maluku waters on Friday, April 16.

The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) patrol ship KN Singa Laut-402 has issued a warning to the Greek-flagged tanker following loitering activities in Maluku waters on Friday, April 16.

The warning came after the agency’s command and control center spotted the vessel entering the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The MT MGD ship entered the Maluku waters in changing directions.

"Upon receiving the information, the patrol vessel in Maluku waters KN Singa Laut-402 immediately approached the target ship to inspect the MT MGD," said a spokesperson for the Bakamla Colonel Wisnu Pramandita in a statement Saturday, April 17.

At 08:00 local time, KN Singa Laut-402 managed to detect the ship's presence with a speed of 4.7 knots. Commander of KN Singa Laut-402 Lieutenant Colonel Hermawan then ordered an approach of up to 200 yards to carry out further checks by radio communication.

The MT MGD carries out sea passage from China to Australia. However, it was seen that the vessel’s bow was not suitable for its purpose and was loitering in Maluku waters. The crew said it was because they adjusted the time of arrival in Australia.

However, said Wisnu, these activities further aroused suspicion because they had the potential to disrupt shipping traffic. The KN Singa Laut-402 firmly ordered the ship to change its direction to the south and immediately sailed towards Australia without stopping or circling.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/04/18/230200274/indonesian-coast-guard-warns-greek-flagged-tanker-for-loitering-in-maluku-waters

Indonesia’s Village Head in Central Java Provides Free Rice to Villagers amid Pandemic

Suyamto and residents harvesting at Tumpukan Village, Klaten Regency, on Friday, April 16.

The usual principle law of the harvest may not apply to Suyamto, a farmer in Klaten regency in Indonesia's Central Java. When farmers will reap what they sow, the story of Suyamto, who is also the head of Tumpukan Village, turns out otherwise.

Since the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has spread globally causing economic impact to many people, including the livelihoods of the farmers in Suyamto's village, he decided to share the harvest yields produced from the land that is part of the village assets with other villagers.

The 63-year grassroots leader is delighted to share all of the harvest yields from the village treasury lands that are allocated for the village head.

"I plant the paddy rice, but others will harvest them and they can take [the rice] home sufficiently," TribunSolo quoted Suyamto as saying on Friday, April 16.

So far, this has happened five times since the first harvest as he wants to help lessen the burden on the villagers who are affected by the pandemic. "I've given all of the harvest yields five times to the villagers to help their economy," he said.

Over the past year, Suyamto saw that the pandemic hit the economy of the people badly. His heart was touched then he decided to give free rice as part of the religious charities.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/04/18/184702974/indonesias-village-head-in-central-java-provides-free-rice-to-villagers-amid.