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AFP
02-07-2025
- Business
- AFP
Silver note commemorating Indonesian independence is not legal tender
"BI (Bank Indonesia) releases 80,000 Indonesian rupiah banknote for Indonesia's 80th anniversary," reads a post on SnackVideo shared on June 21, 2025. Indonesia celebrates its independence day on August 17. The post's attached video shows a silver plaque resembling a banknote printed with an image of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, with the number 80 in its top-left and bottom-right corners. Superimposed Indonesian-language text repeats the claim the country's central bank has released an 80,000 rupiah banknote. Image Screenshot of false post captured on June 30, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The same claim was also shared on TikTok here, here and here. Commenters appeared to believe the note was legal tender, with one user asking, "Where can I find it?" Although Bank Indonesia did release a limited edition 75,000 Indonesian rupiah banknote for the 75th anniversary of independence in 2020, the circulating video does not show an official note released in the Southeast Asian country (archived link). The central bank also said in a TikTok post on June 20 that it had not issued a special banknote for the 80th anniversary, warning that the circulating posts were a "hoax" (archived link). A reverse image search on Google found the circulating video was first uploaded to TikTok on June 16, where the user said it showed a "commemorative silver sheet for Indonesia's 80th anniversary" and that it was "not a banknote" (archived link). Image Screenshot of false post (left) and the TikTok post from June 16, 2025 (right) Keyword searches found the sheet was produced by Mint Indonesia, a company offering commemorative coins and notes. The same silver note can be seen in an Instagram video by the company promoting a commemorative coin collection for the 80th anniversary (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the June 16 TikTok post (left) and Mint Indonesia's Instagram video (right) A Mint Indonesia sales administrator confirmed to AFP on July 2 that the silver plate is made by their company. Images of the product's packaging, provided by Mint Indonesia, also state it is for "collection purposes only" and "not legal tender". Image Image of the commemorative silver plate, provided by Mint Indonesia, with disclaimers that it is for "collection purposes only" and "not legal tender" highlighted by AFP AFP has debunked multiple misleading claims about supposed new banknotes here, here and here.
New Straits Times
28-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Man falls to death from PPR unit
KUALA LUMPUR: A 25-year-old man was found dead after falling from the 11th floor of the Beringin People's Housing Project (PPR) at Jalan Miri in Jinjang here last night. Sentul district police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zakaria said the deceased was believed to have been on a phone call with his girlfriend moments before the incident. "Police received a call from the public at 7.39pm alerting authorities to the incident. "Initial investigations at the scene revealed that the victim fell from the corridor in front of his unit on the 11th floor, where a plastic chair was also found," he said. Sukarno said based on accounts from several witnesses on the 11th and 9th floors, the man was heard shouting during a phone conversation prior to the fall. "His mother told police that she saw him speaking on the phone with his girlfriend, a Vietnamese national, at around 5pm before he left the house. "We are now waiting to record the girlfriend's statement, but she has not been contactable." He said the case has been classified as a sudden death report (SDR) pending further investigation.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Why is the Indian Ocean the only one named after a modern country in the world?
Names aren't just labels, they are stories woven in the fabric of history, culture, power, and identity, not only of a person but countries and all the natural landscapes that shape the Earth. That's why the naming of the vast expanse south of Asia, the Indian Ocean , has been a topic of controversy and debates over centuries, especially among neighboring nations that share its shores. As per reports in the 1960s and 70s, Indonesia and Pakistan both raised objections to calling it the 'Indian Ocean,' each feeling the name gave too much prominence to India. To understand why this ocean alone bears a country's name, one must know about the interesting stories that are a combination of instances from ancient empires, colonial explorers, and post-colonial geopolitics. The 1960s and 70s In July 1963, Indonesian President Sukarno instructed his Navy chief, Admiral Eddy Martadinata, to refer to the 'Indian Ocean' as the 'Indonesian Ocean'. This came from Indonesia's long-standing desire to shed colonial-era names and emphasise its national identity. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the conditions were similar. At a 1971 seminar at Georgetown University, Latif Ahmed Sherwani advocated renaming it the 'Afro-Asian Ocean,' arguing that, like the Mediterranean or Atlantic, the ocean shouldn't be named after a single country, according to the report by The Print. These objections continued into the late 1980s, with the defunct Pakistan Times criticising the name as unfair 'link[ed] to this country [India]… heir to the entire history of the subcontinent' The Indian Ocean has roots associated with the Romans and Greeks Going back to the 2nd century BCE, when Indian spices, textiles, and gems flowed into the Roman Empire, Roman geographers referred to the sea south of India as Oceanus Indicus or Indicum Mare, Latin for 'Indian Ocean'. Greeks and Romans also used the name 'Erythraean Sea' for the northwestern regions, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. These early European references laid the foundation for the modern name. Sanskrit influence At the same time, across the subcontinent, Sanskrit texts referred to the waters surrounding India as Sindhu Mahāsāgar, named after the mighty Sindhu or Indus River. 'Sindhu' was the original term for the region that later became 'India.' Over centuries, this Sanskrit title merged with Greek and Roman names, supporting the idea of an 'Indian' ocean. When European explorers entered the Indian Ocean in the 15th century, they called it the 'Sea of India' or 'Eastern Sea'. By 1515, Latin maps had the name Oceanus Orientalis Indicus, literally meaning 'Indian Eastern Ocean,' which evolved into the English 'Indian Ocean.' By the 18th century, this was firmly established in global cartography. Why does the Indian Ocean remain the only one named after a modern country? As per general understanding India dominates the ocean geographically, with the longest coastline, and its Deccan Peninsula, which juts prominently into the sea. Plus, the ocean has always been an important shipping route connecting Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, often centered on India. Ancient and medieval trade also strengthened its central role and, by extension, the name. Post‑colonial objections Despite Indonesia's and Pakistan's concerns, their renaming efforts failed to make an impact. International bodies, naval maps, and most governments continued using the name 'Indian Ocean.' The International Hydrographic Organization maintains the name officially.
The Star
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Prabowo slams corrupt Indonesian officials, warns foreign NGOs
JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (pic) used a national holiday address to deliver a sharp warning to the country's political elite, urging underperforming public officials to step down or face removal. The president, speaking Monday (June 2) at a state ceremony to commemorate Indonesia's founding state ideology, Pancasila, blamed many of the country's struggles on self-serving leaders and others that fail to act in the nation's interest. "One of our biggest weaknesses is the mentality of the national elite,' Prabowo said in a fiery, half-hour speech in front of several hundred military personnel, police and cabinet members in Jakarta. "There are still too many abuses, too much corruption, too much manipulation - and it's happening inside the government.' Any official unable to fulfill their duties, he added, should "step down before I remove them.' He did not name specific targets or agencies in his remarks. The speech marks one of Prabowo's strongest public criticisms of Indonesia's bureaucracy since taking office in October. The president, a member of Indonesia's upper classes who married into the family of former dictator Suharto, has relied heavily on a familiar rhetorical theme: that a corrupt and ineffective elite is weakening national unity and squandering the country's vast resources. Less than a year into his term, Prabowo has positioned himself as a populist leader seeking to lift living standards across an archipelago of more than 280 million people. His administration is rolling out free meals for many students across the country, and last week unveiled plans to lower transport and power costs as part of efforts to boost consumer spending. His big-spending programme and sharp policy shifts raised concerns among investors earlier this year, though sentiment has since stabilised. Prabowo has also portrayed himself as tough on graft, a long-standing problem in South-East Asia's largest economy. Indonesia ranked 99 out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, and public confidence in oversight institutions is relatively low. The president also warned of foreign interference, another familiar refrain, accusing unnamed international actors of funding civil society groups to divide Indonesia under the guise of promoting democracy and human rights. "They've been doing this for decades,' he said. "With their money, they fund NGOs that pit us against one another. We must not be manipulated by any nation.' Prabowo delivered his speech at the Pancasila Building in central Jakarta - the same site where the country's founding president, Sukarno, first laid out what he envisioned as a unifying ideology for Indonesia's diverse population in June 1945. Just over two months later, Indonesia declared independence from Dutch colonial rule. Among those in attendance Monday was Sukarno's daughter, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, leader of the main opposition party. It was the first time the two appeared together in public since Prabowo's election victory, though they had a closed-door meeting in April this year. - Bloomberg
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Remembering sacrifices of forgotten war heroes
PETALING JAYA: While it is well known that Malaysia and Indonesia share a long and sometimes uneasy relationship, not many people are aware that lives were lost during the insurgency at the height of the Confrontation period in Malaysia's early post-independence years. The Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva) said this episode remains a relatively underexplored part of the country's history, often downplayed or omitted by mainstream accounts. The association added that had Indonesia's first president Sukarno remained in power, the Confrontation might have escalated further, posing serious challenges for a young Malaysia still establishing itself as a nation. 'Something happened in Indonesia, which was then under Sukarno's control. Then came a coup d'état. Sukarno was overthrown, and the entire regime collapsed. 'I believe God saved Malaysia. It was a critical time,' said Lt-Kol (Rtd) Dr Liew Ngoh Chin. 'When we talk about this part of history, you won't find it in academic books. 'In fact, many university historians aren't even aware of the incident,' said Liew, author of Memoirs – Malaya and Borneo at War (Memoirs 2)', published by Macva, during the book's launch at M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The book is a sequel to the association's first publication, Memoirs of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans (Memoirs 1), released in 2020. Both books document the experiences of armed forces personnel during some of the country's most challenging times. Also present were Macva president Lt-Kol (Rtd) Wong Ah Jit, better known as A.J. Wong and his predecessor Kapt (Rtd) Datuk Lee Kwang Lock. Lee said he hopes the publications will raise awareness among Malaysians, especially the younger generation, about the sacrifices made by armed forces veterans in defending the nation's sovereignty. 'These two books were produced to create awareness. Especially for the younger generation. Imagine if your generation isn't aware, what about future generations? 'If we don't publicise it, the public won't know or understand what we've been through, especially now that things are so peaceful,' he said. Lee added that Macva also aims to highlight the contributions of non-Malay veterans, in a bid to encourage greater participation from non-Malays in the armed forces. 'I was in charge of the Recruit Training Centre in Johor from 2004 to 2007. Every intake, we would get 700 recruits. If I got one or two Chinese to join the Navy, it was a blessing. As for Indians, we had maybe three or four. Too few non-Malays are joining the armed forces. That's the sad part. 'There's nothing wrong with joining the army; we know, because we've lived that life. It's a good life. Not rich, but comfortable,' he added. Wong expressed hope that historians would now take note of the events left out of the nation's official narrative, and that these stories may one day be included in history textbooks. Sunday's Memoirs 2 book launch drew nearly a thousand attendees, including army veterans, their families and military enthusiasts.
