Yesterday's politics: France agreements and lawful state budget for kurban
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Various political events yesterday (May 29) attracted attention, from President Prabowo’s visit to France resulting in four new agreements to the use of the state budget for kurban being deemed lawful for public welfare. Here is ANTARA’s summary of yesterday’s political news worth revisiting:
- Prabowo’s France visit yields four new agreements
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that the official state visit by President Prabowo Subianto to the French Republic on Thursday (May 28) resulted in four new commercial agreements focused on energy security, trade, and defence cooperation.
Teddy, when confirmed in Jakarta on Friday, said the achievements were concrete outcomes of President Prabowo Subianto’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
“Four new commercial agreements were reached in energy security, trade, and defence cooperation,” Teddy said.
- DPR member: Crack down on environmental-damaging mining investors
DPR Commission I member Mulyadi called for law enforcement agencies, supported by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), to take immediate action against those financing illegal mining activities that damage the environment.
He stressed that such environmentally destructive practices must not be allowed to continue. His request, he said, has been conveyed to the Defence Minister, TNI Commander, and service chiefs to tackle illegal mining, particularly in West Sumatra.
“Let the TNI’s role be effectively realised to address illegal mining that has remained unregulated for years,” Mulyadi stated in Jakarta on Friday.
- Menko Polkam urges IPDN cadets to champion people’s rights
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago urged IPDN (Institute of Home Affairs) cadets to enhance integrity and sensitivity in advocating for people’s rights.
“This must be done so that future IPDN officials can develop policies that favour the public,” Djamari said during a briefing for IPDN cadets in Jatinangor, West Java, on Friday.
According to Menko Polkam Djamari, IPDN cadets are there to serve the public, not to be served, and must never harm the people’s feelings.
- TNI AD says ‘Pesta Babi’ film is a form of freedom of expression
Army Public Information Office Chief Brigadier General Donny Pramono stated that the screening of the film “Pesta Babi” is part of freedom of expression and speech that must be respected.
“We respect freedom of expression and creative freedom in democracy, but every information product also carries moral responsibility to avoid fostering hatred or distorting state institutions,” Donny said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
According to Donny, much of the film’s content is inaccurate and risks exacerbating social tensions.
- State budget for kurban deemed lawful for public welfare
Deputy Chairman of KORLABI (Command for Islamic Defence Reporting) Novel Bamumin stated that using state funds for presidential kurban (sacrificial animals) is justifiable if intended for public interest and conducted through legitimate budgetary mechanisms.
Novel, in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, said the practice of using state funds for kurban has a fiqh basis and can be positioned as public welfare.
“In the modern Indonesian context, the state budget (APBN) is considered a Baitul Mal, so the kurban is conducted in the name of the state, not individual officials,” Novel said.