Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Begins Eid al-Fitr Celebrations on May 13 | Indonesia Gives Nod for Reopening of Migrant Workers’ Placement in Taiwan | Covid Positive Filipino Crew Member Dies in Indo

KOMPAS.com - Muslims in Indonesia will begin celebrating the country’s biggest festive holiday Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, May 13 to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Indonesia’s Manpower Ministry plans to reopen the placement of migrant workers abroad, especially in Taiwan but under special conditions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, a Filipino crew member has died at a hospital in Cilacap, Indonesia’s Central Java, after he had tested positive for Covid-19, an official confirmed on Tuesday, May 11.

Below are the editors’ picks stories published on Kompas.com:

Indonesia Begins Eid al-Fitr Celebrations on May 13

Muslims in Indonesia will begin celebrating the country’s biggest festive holiday Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, May 13 to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The announcement was made by Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas after an isbat (confirmation) meeting on Tuesday, May 11 to determine the first day of Syawal month.

“The Islamic Calendar Unification Team at the Religious Affairs Ministry explains that the height of the new moon throughout Indonesia is below the horizon, which ranges from minus 5.6 to minus 4.4 degrees,” Yaqut told a press conference.

The explanation, he added, was also based on rukyat (lunar movement observations) which was conducted by the ministry’s representatives at 88 designated points across Indonesia. The new moon was not sighted. Meanwhile, referring to hisab (astronomical calculations), the first day of Syawal 1442 Hijrah corresponding to May 13, 2021, the minister said.

“So, on Wednesday, Muslims in Indonesia will still observe the fasting month of Ramadan, while takbiran [the eve of Eid al-Fitr celebration] will take place on Wednesday evening,” he said.

The teleconference meeting saw the attendance of the minister of Religious Affairs and his deputy Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi, deputy chair of the House commission on social affairs TB Ace Hasan Sadzily and chairman of Indonesia Ulema Council KH Abdullah Jaidi. Also present were Director General of Islamic Community Guidance Kamaruddin Amin, foreign envoys, and other officials.

(Writer: Sania Mashabi | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/11/19493991/pemerintah-tetapkan-lebaran-2021-jatuh-pada-13-mei-ini-hasil-sidang-isbat.

Indonesia Gives Nod for Reopening of Migrant Workers’ Placement in Taiwan

DOK. Humas Kemnaker Indonesia's Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah speaks during an event.

Indonesia’s Manpower Ministry plans to reopen the placement of migrant workers abroad, especially in Taiwan but under special conditions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said that her office has received a letter from Taiwan’s Labor Ministry regarding the migrant workers’ placement. One of the conditions mentioned that the number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia must be below 5,000 per day for seven consecutive days.

“The government is determined to work hard to reduce the number of Covid-19 transmissions. Alhamdulillah [praise be to God], as of May 9, the number [of new Covid cases] continued to decline to 3,922. If we continue to press the number, the PMI [migrant worker] placement to Taiwan can be reopened soon,” said Ida in a press statement on Tuesday, May 11
Ida further added that the decision of reopening migrant worker placement in Taiwan was based on the meeting held by Taiwan’s Labor Ministry and its Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Besides, the Indonesian government has also taken necessary steps to renew the standard operating procedure for the migrant worker placement during the transition to the Covid-19 new normal. This includes the implementation of strict health protocol before migrant workers leaving for receiving countries.

“If the conditions required by Taiwan have been fulfilled, the Manpower Ministry will immediately inform Taiwan authorities as a basis for reopening the migrant worker placement,” the minister said.

In its preparation, the Manpower Ministry works closely with relevant agencies such as the migrant worker placement companies (P3MI) and associations based on the standard operating procedure.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/05/11/130308574/indonesia-gives-nod-for-reopening-of-migrant-workers-placement-in-taiwan.

Covid Positive Filipino Crew Member Dies in Indonesia Hospital

KOMPAS.COM/FADLAN MUKHTAR ZAIN A cargo ship which sailed from India berthed at Indonesia's port of Tanjung Intan in Cilacap, Central Java. It was reported that 13 out of the total 20 crew members have tested positive for Covid-19.

A Filipino crew member has died at a hospital in Cilacap, Indonesia’s Central Java, after he had tested positive for Covid-19, an official confirmed on Tuesday, May 11.

Cilacap administration secretary Farid Maruf said the crew member identified by the initial DRQ passed away when the 50-year-old was treated in the Cilacap Regional General Hospital.
“The patient had been treated in the Cilacap Regional General Hospital since April 30, 2021, and had died on Tuesday at 02:25 am local time,” said Farid in a statement on Tuesday.

Farid said that currently the body is kept in the Cilacap Regional Hospital as the ship company representative is still coordinating with the Philippine Embassy and the family.

“We are still waiting for the results whether the body will be buried in Indonesia or cremated here before the ashes are taken to the Philippines,” Farid said, adding that following Health Ministerial Decree No. 424/2007, remains of a person who died from an infectious disease cannot be taken out of Indonesia territory.

Farid went on to add that on May 5, DRQ experienced breathing difficulties and low oxygen saturation. He was then transferred to the intensive care unit for treating Covid-19 patients on May 7. But, his condition was unstable and signs of respiratory failure appeared. The health condition has got worse on May 10. The medical team had done maximum care for saving the patient’s life but the patient died.

“At 02:15 am local time, the patient had a sudden cardiac arrest, and actions had been taken to support the heart function, but the patient did not respond. At 02:25 am, the patient was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty,” said Farid.

DRQ was one of 14 Filipino crew members who had tested positive for Covid-19 when berthed at Indonesia’s port of Tanjung Intan in Cilacap, Central Java. Previously, the ship carrying refined sugar sailed from India on April 14, 2021, and arrived at Cilacap on April 25.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/05/11/190334174/covid-positive-filipino-crew-member-dies-in-indonesia-hospital.