Yesterday: Bongal Site Discovery to KMP Yasmin Passenger Evacuation
A number of interesting news stories from Wednesday (12/8) can be revisited, ranging from findings at the Bongal Site that could potentially alter the map of Islamic history in the archipelago, to the successful evacuation of 106 passengers from the burning KMP Putri Yasmin.
1.) BRIN: Bongal Site findings could change the map of Islamic history in the archipelago
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has revealed that a series of archaeological findings at the Bongal Site in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, have the potential to significantly alter the historical map and the early narrative of the arrival of Islamic civilisation in the archipelago. Head of the Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology Research Centre at BRIN, Irfan Mahmud, highlighted during the Webinar Series on Diversity Forum Series #38 in Jakarta on Wednesday that excavations conducted by the research team have yielded significant results that shift the commonly understood historical timeline.
2.) Sumatran tiger enters BKSDA West Sumatra trap after preying on livestock
A Sumatran tiger entered a trap cage belonging to the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in Kampuang Tengek, Jorong Palimbatan, Nagari Pasia Laweh, Palupuh District, Agam Regency, on Tuesday evening. Head of the Maninjau Conservation Region Division II of the West Sumatra BKSDA, Ade Putra, stated in Lubuk Basung on Wednesday that the tiger entered the trap cage on Tuesday (11/8) at around 7:35 PM Western Indonesia Time.
3.) Central Kalimantan Regional Secretariat’s People’s Welfare Bureau building catches fire
The building used by the People’s Welfare Bureau of the Central Kalimantan Regional Secretariat, located within the governor’s office complex in Palangka Raya City, caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday. The building that caught fire is situated opposite the Al Amanah Mosque, still within the Central Kalimantan Governor’s Office complex.
4.) 106 passengers evacuated from burning KMP Putri Yasmin
The Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) office in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) recorded that all 106 passengers of the KMP Putri Yasmin, which caught fire in the waters of the Lombok Strait, were successfully evacuated to safety at Lembar Port in Lombok and Padangbai Port in Bali. Head of the Mataram SAR Office, Muhamad Hariyadi, explained that the passengers were evacuated by several vessels belonging to SAR, the Indonesian Navy, and the KMP Port Link, which normally serves the Lembar-Padangbai route.
5.) USU Rector: Communication skills are the key to success
Rector of the University of North Sumatra (USU), Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, stated that communication skills are one of the main keys to achieving success, both in pursuing a career and in conveying ideas so they can be accepted by others. ‘Therefore, train the way you convey your ideas, notions, or thoughts to others in a good manner,’ he said while officially opening the Campus Life Introduction for New Students (PKKMB) event at USU in 2026, which was attended by 8,360 new students, in Medan on Wednesday.