Little chance of ‘the king of dangdut ’ becoming Indonesian President

In spite of possible support from the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP), it will be a steep climb for the self-styled king of dangdut Rhoma Irama to fulfill his presidential ambitions.

Even if the two parties went ahead with their nomination of Rhoma, he would likely fail to meet the presidential election threshold of 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives, or 25 percent of the popular vote, and rival political parties have expressed their preference for retaining the current cap.

When asked about the prospects for Rhoma in the poll, Democratic Party central board member Saan Mustofa said only that his party would seek to maintain the current threshold as mandated by Law No. 42/2008.

“We feel that we need to maintain the threshold in order to create quality democracy in this country. This doesn’t mean that we mean to shut out minor political parties. It’s just the best way to strengthen our presidential system,” Saan said on Monday.

The PKB has repeatedly said that it is serious when saying that it will nominate Rhoma. Late last week, PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar held talks with Rhoma, reportedly about the latter’s presidential ambitions.

The Muslim-based PPP has also warmed to the idea of nominating Rhoma.

PPP executive Romahurmuziy, said that Rhoma, a card-carrying member of the party, should be given the opportunity to prove himself.

“Even a developed country like the United States was once led by the actor Ronald Reagan. Thus, we don’t yet to know what a dangdut singer like Rhoma could do for this country. He has the largest number of fans as a singer,” he said.

Romahurmuziy said that Rhoma should be allowed to contest the election, in spite of his perceived shortcomings. 

“Let the public vote for their leaders. However, it’s the job of political parties to introduce potential leaders to the public,” Romahurmuziy said.

Other political parties, however, have not been impressed by Rhoma’s move. 

Senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Pramono Anung Wibowo said that Rhoma had nothing to offer to the country.

“Without a doubt he is popular, but I honestly don’t think he could serve the country as president,” Pramono said.

Many have speculated that the moves by the PKB and PPP to create controversy with Rhoma’s candidacy are part of a desperate effort to stay relevant.

Political analyst Hanta Yuda AR of the Indonesian Institute said that the publicity stunt could backfire given Rhoma’s penchant for making ill-advised comments.

“PKB has the right to experiment, but I don’t think that Rhoma will help them get more votes. He doesn’t have a quality that could attract regular voters,” he said.

Rhoma has failed to appear on the list of most popular politicians released by a number of pollsters.

In a list recently compiled by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), Rhoma joined the Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie as one of the least electable candidates.

In the list, compiled from a survey on leadership in the country, former vice president Jusuf Kalla and outgoing Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD were the most popular candidates for the 2014 presidential election.

SD Muhammadiyah 1 Alternative Magelang Indonesian : Pray for Gaza


A total of 250 students of class three, four and five, SD Muhammadiyah 1 Alternative Magelang staged a concern for Palestinians in Magelang Town Square on Saturday (10/1). In the event, they prayed together asking God's protection for the Palestinians and strongly condemned the attack Israeli soldiers.

Head of SD Muhammadiyah 1 Alternative Salamun said, this action is a form of solidarity to the anguish of Palestinians. "With this action, we also intend to remind the entire community to participate pray and provide assistance of any kind to support the struggle of the Palestinian people," he said when met at the sidelines of the action ..

Action concerns also attended by 20 teachers began by making long march a distance of about two miles of SD Muhammadiyah 1 Alternative Way Tidar located in the Town Square Magelang.

Along the way, children are carrying and brandishing a variety of banners and posters, some of which read "Save the Palestine Give Your Child Will Always Pray God Bless Us ', and' Can I Give Especially For you brother Palestinians Unless Prayer Suciku ... '

After arriving at the square, the action concerns two followed by burning the Israeli flag. The teacher and students then take turns saying spontaneous prayers for the Palestinian people.

On the occasion, called for eight Salamun their joint statement on the Israeli attack. In addition to strongly condemn the brutality of the Israeli army, they also expressed their concern over the number of deaths and injuries in Palestine, and urged all countries, especially Muslim countries in the world, providing concrete support to help the Palestinian people.

Although the idea came from teachers, Salamun explained, this action was fully supported by all students. "The students themselves admitted feeling sad and very concerned when I saw and read about the Israeli attacks against Palestinians are widely published and broadcast media," he said.

Previously, the students themselves have also collecting donations for the Palestinians. Donations are excluded from their pocket money is collected reached USD 2.7 million and will be given to the Palestinians by the Central Executive (PP) Muhammadiyah.

Fernanda Adeayu S (9), third-grade students Muhammadiyah 1 Alternative claimed also often watch television on Israeli atrocities. "Seeing it just feels eerie and sad, because the attacked mostly little kids," he said.

J-Lo Dance Again World Tour Concert in Jakarta


This November, the metropolitan capital city of Jakarta will be sparkling with great music, hot dances, and a whole lot of excitement as the US Pop and RnB Diva Jennifer Lopez  is set to stage her first ever show in Indonesia in the Dance Again World Tour Concert at the Mata Elang International StadiumAncol  on 30th November 2012.

Through a short video uploaded on Youtube, the international diva, popularly known as J-Lo greeted thousands of her fans in Indonesia:”Hallo Indonesia, I’ll be in Jakarta for my Dance Again World Tour on November 30th, see you there”.

The Dance Again World Tour will also mark the Diva’s first comeback to a world tour after her last tour in 2007. Collaboratively organized in Jakarta  by Dyandra Production and Stellar Entertainment, during a full one and a half hours J-Lo will indulged all her fans with all time hits including ‘If You Had My love’, ‘Waiting For Tonight’, ‘Let’s  Get Loud’, ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing’, and also hits from her latest Album ‘Dance Again’.

For her performance in Jakarta, J-Lo is said to will be accompanied by a team of 87 persons which consists of Band members, dancers, crew, and a special team to handle visual media features. The promoters stated that the visual media team will use the latest technology which was also used in the London Olympic 2012.

This spectacular show is projected to draw an audience of about 8000. Tickets already on sale since 29 September with prices ranging from IDR800,000 to IDR3,500,000 are being picked up fast, but can still be purchased directly or online.

For tickets and reservations, please visit: http://rajakarcis.com/

Coco Peat tested to Plant Vegetables

Coco powder which in international trade is called coco peat began to be tested as a horticultural growing media in the Riau Islands Indonesian, on Friday (12/10/2012). The soil in the Riau Islands containing bauxite, granite, sand and tin proved to be suitable to use coco peat for horticultural plant growth performance support.

Information received by Reuters late on Friday, said, in addition to its function as a store of water, coco peat also has nutrients that plants need. Tests monitored directly principal engineer at the Center for Land Resources Technology, and Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Dr Ir Agus Kristijono MSc in Tanjungpinang.

Former Director of the Center for the Assessment and Application of Technology of Land Resources and Regions - BPPT is in Tanjungpinang in order to disseminate the technology BiTumMan (Seed Growing Independent) for post-mining land revegetation activities. After delivering a lecture on the use of technology BiTumMan, media grow seed crops that use raw materials engineered coco peat, peat, mycorrhizal fungi arbuskular (FMA), and bacteria rizosfir, Agus took time to view the location of the plantation of horticulture crops in Toapaya, South Toapaya District - District Bintan.

According to the alumni of Texas A & M University, United States, coco peat possesses easy to absorb and store water. This material has pores that facilitate the exchange of air and sunlight. "By using coco peat, the intensity was watering the plants can be reduced," he said.

Based on the results of testing both functional testing in the greenhouse, simulated critical areas, as well as field tests, coco peat has proven reliable performance as an alternative method to overcome the shortage of water in plants. "Research on coco peat is already in BPPT," he said.