In less lovey-dovey Apple news, its legal battle with Samsung in the European Union continues on like any other day.

Just on schedule, a German court met again to debate whether or not to enforce a ban against the promotion and sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 throughout Europe due to Apple’s patent infringement claims.

Judge Johanna Brueckner-Hofmann found that Apple’s intellectual property rights are probably strong enough to ban sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany. The catch is that this ban is now unlikely to extend to the rest of the E.U. as Apple previously wished.

Bloomberg reports:

“In the court’s view, Apple has a case to keep” the German ban, Brueckner-Hofmann said at the hearing today. “There are a lot of alternative ways to design a tablet device, as the market amply shows. We think Apple’s EU design rights grant a medium range of protection, if not a broad one.”

She added that the German court might not actually have the jurisdiction to issue an E.U.-wide band as Samsung’s German unit is independent. That means the court can’t assume to claim jurisdiction for both the local subsidiary and the parent company.

A ruling is scheduled for Friday, September 9.

Nevertheless, this could still go very badly for Samsung. FOSS Patents’ Florian Mueller writes that Apple probably has this in the bag no matter what:

It also seems that the court isn’t impressed by claims of Apple having misled the court with the photos it presented in its complaint. At some point she told both parties’ lawyers to discuss that kind of matter outside but the court doesn’t seem interested in it. If the judge really had been interested in a face-saving exit strategy, she might have claimed that she felt she was misled. But that judge appears to be firmly on Apple’s side and considers the Galaxy Tab 10.1 an iPad rip-off.

Yesterday, a court in The Netherlands cracked down on Samsung’s Galaxy S and Ace smartphones, handing down an injunction so that these devices cannot be sold throughout most of western Europe if certain changes aren’t made within the next seven weeks. However, Apple hasn’t done enough of its homework and still needs to follow up on some of patent applications in over a dozen countries. Thus, that ruling wasn’t too bad for Samsung.

However, at least one other Galaxy Tab is expected to show its face in Germany next month. Samsung has just revealed that the Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be given a formal introduction at IFA in Berlin in September.

The Award was to commemorate the distinguished career of Elizabeth O’Neill, the Australian embassy’s former press attache who died in service of the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade, in Indonesia on March 7, 2007, according to a press release from the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Monday.

The award is organized by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australia-Indonesia Institute.

The Award builds on her tireless work to foster mutual understanding of Australia and Indonesia through accurate and informed media coverage.

The Award recipient will spend up to three weeks in Australia on a fully-funded program to build a stronger understanding and appreciation of the broad range of issues facing contemporary Australia and relations with Indonesia.

The program will be tailored to the journalist’s area of expertise and reporting responsibilities in such areas as foreign and trade policy, development assistance, people-to-people links and education.

The successful applicants who are working in print, radio, television or online media must be available to travel in December 2010 or between February and March 2011.  (ant )

“Malaysia needs to respect the law which is in force in Indonesia,” Prof Dr Suhaidi, international law observer of the North Sumatra University, said here on Tuesday referring to the recent arrest of Indonesian maritime patrol officers by Malaysian police.

The Indonesian patrol officers were arrested by the Malaysian police after they had nabbed Malaysian fishermen who stole fish in Indonesia waters.

He said that Indonesia should act firmly and may not ignore any violations committed by Malaysian fishermen in its waters, an observer said. “After all, Malaysian patrol police have shot a fire against Indonesian maritime and fisheries patrol boat,” he said.

He said that what was done by the Indonesian patrol officers in arresting Malaysian fishing vessels which were poaching in Indonesia waters was correct based on the law.

The Malaysian patrol police’s act reflected their behaviors which did not respect the Indonesian sovereignty.

“The foreign police should not have interfered in the legal process carried out by the Indonesian patrol officers who arrested the Malaysian poachers,” he said.

In the meantime, Rahadi Zakaria of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) said  that Malaysia, along with other neighboring countries, does had intention to create disturbance in the border areas with Indonesia.

“They always launch a test case to see how far Indonesia is able to protect its territorial sovereignty. Moreover, the latest test case by Malaysia was accompanied by hostage taking of Indonesia’s maritime patrol officers,” he said.

The hostage taking of the Indonesian patrol officers was not a trivial matter but a serious problem which could serve as bad precedence where Malaysia in support of its international backers (its commonwealth networks with Britain and US neo-colonialism) could become more and more aggressive.

“For me, after seeing several cases, Malaysia is becoming more and more courageous. So, I think, Malaysia has the intention (to disturb) to create provocation in our waters, particularly in areas it thinks is rich in natural resources or economically potential international lanes,” Rahadi Zakaria said. (ant )

Speaking to newsmen in response to the arrest of noted Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Baa’syir for alleged involvement in the training of terrorists in Aceh, he said, ordinary Acehnese had nothing to do with them. Fasil Ali, who is also secretary general of the Acehnese Ulemas Association (HUDA), said ulemas here had agreed that law should imposed on those involved in the acts of terrorism.

However, their presence should not always be linked to Aceh, because the people of Aceh had nothing to do with them. Instead, they had regained a peaceful life since the signing of the Helsinki Peace Accord in 2005 following the long armed conflict.

“Aceh has ever had an inconducive situation following the  prolonged armed conflict. But, in the history of Aceh, the province has never supported acts of terrorism,” Faisal Ali said.

In connection with the arrest of Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, he said it should not be linked to Aceh because none of the groups in Aceh sympathized the terrorists.

He said a group of people had military training in Aceh as recently revealed by the police but those involved came from outside the province.

“The fact is that outsiders used Aceh as their training ground. We are deeply concerned with public opinion that the arrest of every terror suspect is often linked to Aceh.” “In fact, Aceh is only the victim of outsiders,” he said.

Despite the death of nine-year-long wanted terrorist Noordin M.Top of Malaysia in September 2009, the Indonesian police have not relaxed their war on terror.

Last March, the police’s Densus 88 anti-terror unit launched an intensive offensive and sweeping operations in Aceh Province and Pamulang sub-district, Tangerang district , Banten Province.

Highly-wanted terrorist, Dulmatin, along with some other terror suspects were killed in police operations.

Dulmatin himself was shot dead in a raid on an Internet outlet in Pamulang.

About the presence of terror suspects in Aceh, Governor Irwandi Yusuf said they wanted to make Aceh their base of struggle in Southeast Asia.

Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir himself was arrested on Monday (August 9, 2010) for allegedly knowing, supporting and receiving reports about preparations for terrorist attacks.

Police said Abu Bakar Baasyir was believed to have received reports routinely about terrorist plans for bombing attacks in Indonesia.

Indonesia has been fighting terrorist cells in the country since the 2002 Bali bombings that claimed 202 lives, including 88 Australian holiday makers.

Two years before the terrorists attacked the resort island of Bali, Indonesia was rocked by the Christmas eve bombings in 2000. The latest deadly incident happened on July 17, 2009 when two suicide bombers attacked the JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton hotels in South Jakarta. (ant )

“At the director general level, it is still approved,” Government-Private Business Cooperation Development Director of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bastary Pandji said on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Government-Private Sector Partnership for Infrastructure Development 2010 held by UNESCAP and Bappenas in Jakarta Thursday. He said that unless there is a change, on April 17, 2010, an approval of ministerial level will be given followed by the formation of a task force to realize the idea.

He also said that the funding may come from various countries or private banks members of UNESCAP. He said the infrastructure institution may take the form of Bank Infrastructure for the Asia and Pacific.

“This is not yet official, it will be settled at ministerial level on Saturday,” he said.

He added that Indonesia needs 150 billion US dollars in infrastructure funding for the next five years, while the total amount needed reached 750 billion dollars. “The funds are needed for the development of economic power,”Noeleen Heyzer said. ( ant )

However, winning gold medals was not the main purpose, because more important is gaining experience in mixing with the delegations of other countries by exchanges of skills. He said further that those who won a gold medal will receive a  Satyalancana Wira Karya award from the President.

“The gold medalists will also enjoy a scholarship from the state for completion of their study up to the doctorate anywhere you like, like Harvard, or MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology),” he said.  Leader of the team Hendra Kwee said the strongest rivals of Indonesia are Taiwan and China.

He said in last year’s event in Thailand, the Indonesia team grabbed only two golds.  This year they are trying to grab two golds. The Indonesian delegation consists of eight students, namely  Ahmad Ataka Awwalur Rizqi of SMAN 3 in Yogyakarta, Ali Ikhsanul Qauli (SMAN 1 in Pamekasan, East Java), Christian George Emor (SMA Lokon St.Nikolaus in Tomohon, North Sulawesi), David Giovanni (SMAK Penabur Gading in Serpong, Tangerang, Banten), Evan Laksono (SMAK IPEKA in Tomang, Jakarta), Kevin Soedyatmiko (SMAN 12 in Jakarta), Muhammad Sohibul Maromi (SMAN 1 in Pamekasan, East Java), and  Podianko Surya (SMAK 1 in Jakarta).

The participants of 11th APhO are Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhtan, Kirgistan, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, and Taiwan. ( ant  )

Speaking to the press here on Thursday, Executive Chairman of the National Council for Climate Change (DNPI) Rachmat Witoelar said although almost all developing nations were opposed to the accord they had planned to discuss several substances of climate change issues in the accord.

“The several issues include preventing the global temperature rise of 2 degree Celcius, REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), adaptation and mitigation,” he said commenting on the results of the climate change talks held in Bonn, Germany on April 9-11.

The developing countries would discuss the substances of climate change issues and bring the results of their discussion to the 16th climate change conference scheduled for December 2010 in Cancun, Mexico, he said.

The former environment minister said the discussion would be held ahead of the Mexico meeting through two sessions under UNFCCC (Ad hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action/AWG LCA) and the Kyoto Protocol (Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol/ AWG-KP). However, the UNFCCC member states had yet to discuss the substances at the Bonn meeting, he said. “Thank God they are willing to gather after they have been disappointed and angry with the results of COP-15 meeting,” he said.  ( ant )

The programs consist of the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Roadmap (2009-2015) to improve relations between the ASEAN member countries, and to enhance regional performance.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan said that he was impressed with the preparations made by Viet Nam in taking over the ASEAN chairmanship. “The new Chair has a clear set of priorities and agenda which are useful as an implementation and support guide for ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Dialogue Partners and other external parties,” he added.

Annual sectoral plans, which have been prepared by Viet Nam well in advance, will be handy for the stakeholders to know what support to provide and how to mobilize resources.  The plans outline a detailed work programme for each ministerial body with clear objectives, activities, goals and targets in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community.

Dr Surin also expressed high appreciation to Thailand for its excellent Chairmanship in 2009 and welcome Viet Nam as the new Chair for the year ahead and hoped for closer cooperation with Vietnam.

Viet Nam’s theme for its Chairmanship is “Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action”, and the year 2010 marks the 15th year of Viet Nam’s accession to ASEAN. ( ant )

President Yudhoyono made the statement in his address to open the 4th Asia Parliamentary Assembly (APA) conference at the Merdeka building on Jl. Asia Afrika here on Tuesday.

“If we make the 21st century a soft power  era, we will be able to realize a different Asia,” the head of state said. Explaing what he meant by “a different Asia”, the president said  Asia should be full of tolerance and partnership networks, peace and prosperity, and be the axis of global development. “In light of all this, Asian parliaments play the most strategic role,” the president said.

The head of state said the key to Asia’s future in peace and prosperity depended on its capability  to develop and to spread  the soft era system.

“We are at present having a great deal of opportunities to make a difference because our world in the 21st century will be absolutely different from the world in the 20th century,” President Yudhoyono said. According to the president, the global economic architecture was changing and the geopolitical order was also changing rapidly.

“In these rapid changes, Asia will become even more relevant and progress in its role,” President Yudhoyono said.

He said the signs for Asia to be one of the world’s powers could  be seen from its efforts to solve the current global economic crisis. “We are  part of the world’s economic solution for various complex problems which are interrelated locally, nationally, regionally, and globally,” the president said.

In this interdependent era, the head of state said, the national interest of each country needed further cooperation and partnership. “Our accountability to our  constituents should be balanced with our responsibility to a common future,” the president said at the opening of the 4th APA conference. ( ant )

“If we have secured the approval and can complete the tender in 2010, oil production of 165,000 barrels per day can be started in 2013  assuming  it takes three years to complete the construction work,” he said.

He said the project was divided into five packages, including the construction of main facilities, supporting facilities and pipelines.

BP Migas Deputy Head for Planning Achmad Lutfi said the company would require an estimated US$3.6 billion to achieve the full production of 165,000 bpd. “But we are trying to cut the costs particularly drilling and EPC costs,” he said. Exxon is currently hiring production facilities from a third party for three years to produce 20,000 bpd.

Exxon’s early production from the oil field currently stands at 13,000 bpd. Of the total, 12,000 bpd are sold to state oil and gas company Pertamina and the rest to the oil refinary owned by Tri Wahana Universal (TWU). The oil production comes from six wells.   Exxon has targeted to achieve cumulative production of 1 million barrels by December 12, 2009. ( ant )

The exercise that involves all three services of the two forces is part of the continous training and cooperation of the two nations to dispel the threat of terrorism.

Malaysian Armed Forces chief, azizan Ariffin, the joint training that is expected to be in April next year will produce a diplomatic platform from the military aspect.

He said the strong ties between both the forces had very much helped in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries in preparation towards facing various threats to the countries’ security.

“The plan to have the joint training will be forwarded to the General Border Committee (GBC) early next month or in January when the defence ministers of both countries meet,” Azizan told reporters after attending the 7th session of the High Level Committee Malaysia-Indonesia here Friday.

The exercise this time not only puts emphasis on war operations but for the first time also focuses on the aspect of fighting terrorism on land and in the air and water,” he added.

Azizan said according to plan, Malaysia will be the host for the exercise that is expected to be held around the Straits of Malacca.

Meanwhile, TNI chief Jenderal Joko Santoso said the ties of the two countries were strong in any situation and the military ties between ATM and TNI helped to ease bilateral problems.

“I do not dispute that sometimes there are problems between the two countries but the cooperation forged brings many benefits and we desire to give attention to cooperation rather than to negative matters that can lead to disharmony,” he said.

He said the joint training can enhance cooperation and military operations capabilities and open up opportunities for confidence building. “Both countries cooperate a lot in operations, training, education and in socio-economic matters. There is no other optimum cooperation like that between Malaysia and Indonesia,” katanya. ( ant/bernama )

The meeting was attended by among others National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Attorney General Hendarman Supanji, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Economic Affairs Minister Hatta Radjasa, People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar, Home Affairs Minister  Gamawan Fauzi, Communication and Informatics Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, and Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutanto.

Prior to attending the meeting with the President, the Police Chief and the Attorney General  were present at a hearing with the Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR).

They refused to comment on the Team of Eight’s recommendations as they had not received the document from the head of state.

Yudhoyono is expected to present the recommendations to the police chief and the attorney general and to give them two days to learn about the document.

The president will announce to the public on steps to be taken to follow up the recommendations on Monday (Nov. 23).

In its report to the President, the team charged with verifying legal processes of the controversial case of anti graft officials,  presented four conclusions, namely regarding the legal process of anti graft officials Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M Hamzah, professionalism of police investigators and prosecutors, case brokers and institutional reform.

The team has called for the dismissal of officials responsible for the legal process of the case and a reform in the police force and the attorney general office.

The team has also asked the President to continue reform efforts and repositioning of personnel in the police force, the attorney general office, the Corruption Eradication Commission and the agency for the protection of witnesses and victims without necessarily hurting the institutions’ independence. ( ant )

“We are convinced several years to come or in 2012 at the earliest the port could accommodate super tankers and super cargo ships which cannot pass the Malacca Strait,” he said at the handing over of the assets of PT Pelindo to the Aceh administration.He said the opportunity had to be taken well so that it could speed up development of Sabang.

“It is important to be considered because Sabang is very strategic and it all depends on us to do it so that economic development could be spurred to help improve the welfare of the Aceh people in particular,” he said.

Irwandi said he hoped Sabang could be developed as a transit port for tankers and cargo ships to distribute their goods through small boats to various destinations particularly in the Malacca Strait area such as Singapore and Malaysia.

In view of that at an initial stage he would seek cooperation with Dublin Port of Ireland as a partner to develop the Sabang port. “It means the handing over of assets of Sabang port and various other facilities from PT Pelindo to the Aceh government served as a starting point for the development of the area,” he said.

PT Pelindo had handed over a 180 meter long pier and around 11 hectares of land as well as a warehouse worth Rp16.31 billion to the Aceh government.

A total of Rp4 trillion to Rp5 trillion would be needed to develop the Sabang port. “We hope there will be investors interested to invest in the area,” he said.

According to the masterplan, the pier would develop to reach 2,600 meter long at a depth of 12 meter. Sabang is located at the most western part of Aceh around 16 miles from provincial capital Banda Aceh. Sabang and parts of Aceh Besar and Banda Aceh have been declared as a free trade and port area based on Law Number 37 of 2000. ( ant )

“Art cannot be separated from the social sciences and is very important in conflict resolution,” the visiting Australian scholar said at a seminar at the Syiah Kuala university.

According to him, communication equation is also needed to overcome misunderstandings.  Relating to art as an important factor in conflict resolution, he explained the case of children in Hiroshima, Japan, who became victims of the atomic bomb who  poured out their feelings in  drawings.

“The children poured whatever they felt in  drawings so we know what they are feeling , although not expressed in words and this is very effective,” John Synott said.

He also said that the community will continue to change so that peace education is necessary for all days to come.  In addition,  peace education should be focused on the younger generation but also involve the entire community, he said. ( ant )

In a written statement by the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Saturday, Dr Surin said that Peru is the first Latin American country to have been  accredited to ASEAN.

Peru is a member of MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market), considered to be very useful by which ASEAN is preparing a Region-to-Region Roadmap and Action Plan on mutually agreed areas of cooperation.

Ambassador Vita’s appointment will open up more opportunities for ASEAN to cooperate closely not only with Peru but also with MERCOSUR,  Dr. Surin Pitsuwan said. Both ASEAN and Mercosur at the end of 2008 reached agreement on a coordinated approach to overcome the negative impact of the global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Vita said that Peru is also interested in building a strong relationship with ASEAN, given the important role it had played in the Southeast Asian region in promoting regional peace and security, social justice, human rights and international trade.

“I thank Canada for its continued support for ASEAN. The dialogues between ASEAN and Canada are certainly growing, both in the area of politics, security and economy, and with Ambassador Clugston on board, ASEAN and Canada can advance on this already well-built relations,” Dr Surin Pitsuwan said when receiving  Ambassador Clugston.

Canada, a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN since 1977, cooperates with ASEAN under the ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan (JCWP) 2007-2010, which aims to assist ASEAN in ASEAN community building efforts.

On the economic front, ASEAN and Canada are working towards the conclusion of the ASEAN-Canada Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to enhance trade and investment relations.

“I am honoured to become Canada’s representative to ASEAN at a time of increasing Canadian concentration on this important region. On the political as well as trade fronts, Canada and ASEAN have an active dialogue and share many common pursuits, and I look forward to help strengthen this relationship during my time as Ambassador,” said Ambassador Clugston.

Both are concurrently the Ambassadors to Indonesia and Timor Leste Under the ASEAN Charter, non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations may appoint Ambassadors to ASEAN. So far, 27 countries and the European Commission have accredited their Ambassadors to ASEAN. ( ant )

Based on written information from the  ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Saturday, Dr Surin Pitsuwan also urged the ASEAN Foreign Ministers to assist the two ASEAN Member States to settle their bilateral dispute amicably and as soon as possible.

Dr Surin, in a letter to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers dated Friday, 6 November 2009, informed them that he has received many inquiries and expressions of concern from ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners and friends over the apparent deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand, as evidenced in the recalling of their Ambassadors earlier this week.

Noting that the dispute could damage the credibility of ASEAN, Dr Surin said, “We in ASEAN can not be seen apart even more so before the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the upcoming historic meeting between the ASEAN-US Leaders in Singapore this month.”

Dr. Surin pointed out that in line with the spirit of the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 1976, all of the other member countries in ASEAN are required to offer assistance to fellow Member States to help resolve bilateral disputes.

Article 16 of the TAC in particular to provide other State Parties to offer “all possible assistance” to help resolve bilateral disputes that could threaten regional stability and regional harmony. Moreover, the article further stipulated that parties to the dispute should be well disposed towards such offers of assistance. he added. ( ant )

“I think the religious affairs minister should issue the regulation  soon so that first-time hajj pilgrims would not wait for their turn too long,” Sayed Fuad Zakaria of the Commission 8 of the House of Representatives (DPR), said here on Saturday.

He made the remarks in response the discourse on how to overcome the problem of waiting lists of would-be hajj pilgrims. Zakaria said that with the hajj registration that could be done any time, the number of prospective hajj pilgrims had continued to swell in a number of provinces, including Aceh.

“So, those who have paid a hajj pilgrimage should be banned from paying hajj again, or be given a time restriction for example five or ten years after which they could be allowed to go to the Holy Land again,” the legislator said.

For this year’s hajj pilgrimage season, Indonesian hajj pilgrimage groups have begun leaving for the Holy Land on Friday. Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali on Friday morning at the Soekarno-Hatta international airport saw off the first batch of the country’s would-be hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The first batch of  would-be hajj pilgrims flown by Garuda Indonesia airplanes on Friday morning was part of the 192,835 people in this year hajj season. ( ant )

It was his first problematic task  as the new religious affairs minister in the United Indonesia Cabinet for the 2009-2014 period.  Suryadharma Ali was previously state minister for cooperatives, small- and medium-scale enterprises in the United Indonesia Cabinet for the 2004-2009 period.

The first batch of  would-be hajj pilgrims flown by Garuda Indonesia airplanes on Friday morning was part of the 192,835 people in this year hajj season.  Part of the total hajj pilgrims or in 302 batches of departures are scheduled to be flown by Garuda Indonesia airplanes and the other part reportedly to be flown by Saudi airplanes.

“Garuda Indonesia will fly 114,094 hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia starting on Friday,” the Garuda Indonesia’s vice president for corporate communications, Pujubroto said in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Friday.

Pujobroto in a press statement in Makassar city said that the hajj pilgrims would depart from 10 embarkation points, namely Jakarta, Makassar, Solo in Central Java, Surabaya in East Java, Medan in North Sumatra, Banda Aceh in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Padang in West Sumatra and Palembang in South Sumatra.

Departures would last until November 21 while arrivals of the hajj pilgrims would begin on December 2 to January 1, 2010, Pujobroto said, adding that the pilgrims would be flown using wide-bodied aircraft consisting of nine A330-300s, four B-747s, one B-767-300Ers and one B-777-200.

All of the planes were made after 1990 such as the A-330-300 which was made between 1996 and 2009, he pointed out.

Pujobroto said around 770 cabin crew had been made ready to serve the hajj pilgrims and some of them hailed from the embarkation point regions especially to serve pilgrims who could only speak local languages.

In a bid to conduct the health service for the hajj pilgrims, the government also assign a total of 1,740 medical personnel. Each batch of flights or popularly called Kloter has one doctor and two nurses who accompany all the pilgrims starting from their departure until they return to their home land.

Aside from that the lodging problem has also happened after the Saudi Arabian government reportedly issued and enforced unilaterally the new regulation requiring four-floor houses (lodging) must have emergency exits.

Otherwise, 30 percent of the dwellers (hajj pilgrims) should get out of the houses as a sanction.

In responding to the Saudi’s lodging regulation, minister Ali said the Indonesian religious affairs ministry had already rented houses for the pilgrims long before the Saudi government issued the regulations on the pilgrimage season this year.

He, however, said that the government has prepared the rented houses in the Holy Land for the accommodation of 19 thousand pilgrims.

“We hope the regulation is applied next year, so the owners of the lodgings in Saudi Arabia can prepare houses in accordance with the rules,” the minister said.

In accordance with the rules, the Ministry of Religious Affairs had already prepared one percent of the total lodging capacity as a lodging reserve in case there is a lodging problem, the minister said.

“I emphasize that the pilgrimage managing officials must be able to overcome any such problems. I will monitor directly from the field later the situation of accommodation, transportation including consumption,” said Suryadharma Ali who would leave for the holy cities as this year’s “Amirul Hajj”, or the highest ranking official  managing the country’s pilgrims.

In the meantime, Indonesian consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dr. M. Syairozi Dimyathi said, transportation of the pilgrims from their lodging (houses) to the Grand Mosque of Mecca would run smoothly because his side had prepared buses as needed.

“Insyaallah (God willing) no problem anymore,” the Consul General of Indonesia told the press in Mecca, Friday (Oct. 23),  disclosing that 325 buses have been prepared.

The smooth transportation of the would-be hajj pilgrims from their quarters in Mecca had been feared because such issue of the pilgrimage season this year is no longer handled by the government of Saudi Arabia, but left to individual countries, including Indonesia.

According to him, his office has cooperated with Muasassah (the organizer of pilgrim services in Saudi Arabia) to prepare the buses including at peak of the Hajj pilgrimage service.

Minister Ali said, different problems always happen in the implementation of pilgrimage every year, including problems of hostels, transportation, consumption and other issues.

Although problems always happen in the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage every year, all circles involved in organizing the Hajj pilgrimage as the last point of the Islamic five pillars should strive to overcome the problems.  ( ant )

Its group managing director, Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, said the contribution will be used by Mercy Malaysia, among other things, to provide medical and hygiene support to the quake victims.

“Proton Edar, through its subsidiary in Indonesia, is also providing three units of its multi-purpose vehicle, the Exora, for Mercy Malaysia’s transportation needs to help the victims.

“The Exoras will be used as Mobile Clinics to ferry doctors directly to the victims for immediate medical aid.

“Proton will also support the petrol expenses as well as the drivers for the three vehicles and all other expenses incurred by the vehicles,” he told reporters after presenting a mock cheque worth RM50,000 to Mercy Malaysia acting general manager, Mohd Shaharuddin Asmani at a simple ceremony, near here Friday.

Syed Zainal Abidin also said that Proton will be setting up a Relief Fund in both Malaysian and Indonesian offices for collection among its employees.

Meanwhile, he said that Proton’s dealer in Padang also suffered losses due to the earthquake and he is looking into ways to assist the dealer concerned to restore his business. (ant/bernama)

Referring to the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change report, ASEAN chief Dr Surin Pitsuwan stressed that the cost of action now would only be 1 percent of the world’s income while inaction would cost more than 20 percent in the future.

Pitsuwan, according to a press release from the Asean Secretariat on Saturday (10/10), also underlined the loss of human life and suffering which cannot be economically compensated.

The ASEAN chief made the remarks during a breakfast dialog on Friday (Oct 9) with the heads of delegations and other senior representatives from ASEAN Member States attending the Bangkok Climate Change Talks from 28 September to 9 October, 2009.

“The key message from the recent G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh is that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December 2009 must succeed. For this, there should be demonstrable progress made at this Bangkok Climate Change Talks,” said Dr Surin.

He emphasized that the grave concern expressed and bold political commitments made by the world leaders should find its way into the on-going negotiations.

The concern would create a fair and equitable outcome could be reached in Copenhagen, with the participation of all countries based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities.

On the regional level, the ASEAN Leaders had issued a declaration at the Bali Climate Change Talks in 2007, and are preparing to issue a Joint Statement at the forthcoming Conference in Copenhagen.

The Secretary-General further called upon the ASEAN negotiators to speak with one voice on issues that are common to ASEAN so that the region’s interest will be protected.

Dr Surin said that while the whole world would suffer, ASEAN is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The ASEAN region possesses unique natural ecosystems and resources which feeds the world and sustains the global environment.

“We are suffering even now, with storms, floods, earthquake and other natural calamities. We do not have to make these calamities even worse”, said the Secretary-General, who just visited the earthquake affected areas in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

The Secretary-General also offered to use his good offices to promote work on climate change in the longer term.

“I will ensure that there is a greater focus on enhanced cross-sectoral collaboration, more region specific studies to support targeted action, and to work with our partners from outside the region to forge global partnership in implementation,” he added. (ant)