The wRap Indonesia: Jan. 21, 2015

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The initial findings from the AirAsia crash investigation and the latest developments in the National Police chief controversy lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia today.

1. New safety rules implemented since AirAsia crash, minister says

Indonesian Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan said a number of new rules regarding permits and safety, including health checks for flight crews and air traffic controllers, have been implemented since the AirAsia crash on December 28, 2014. “It is a habit among airlines that they sometimes sell tickets before they have obtained a route permit,” he said. “Now route permits must be obtained 4 months before the flight and airlines will not be allowed to sell tickets before that.” Read the full report from Reuters. The comments were made the same day he announced initial findings showing the fatal flight climbed at speed “beyond normal” before stalling. The full story on that is here.

2. Corruption suspect Budi Gunawan reports KPK commissioners to attorney general

In the latest twist in the growing controversy involving corruption suspect and National Police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, the police general on Wednesday reported the leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) for alleged abuse of authority or omission or coercion. Budi’s lawyer questioned the timing of KPK’s decision to name Budi a suspect, just days after he was nominated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as the next police chief. They’re asking the attorney general to cancel Budi’s corruption suspect status, which would pave the way for Jokowi to immediately inaugurate him as the new police chief, according to Detik.com.

3. For the first time, Indonesia will hold 204 simultaneous regional elections

With the endorsement of the special regulation (perppu) on direct elections, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is now preparing for a monumental task: Holding 204 simultaneous regional elections. Local elections used to be organized separately by each provincial elections commission, but the perppu issued by former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono mandated simultaneous polls to cut down costs. The elections this year will include 8 gubernatorial, 26 municipal, and 170 district-level elections. Read the full Bahasa Indonesia story about the preparations on Rappler.

4. Bandung hotel forced to take down logo after protests from hard-liners 

Is the zodiac sign Virgo offensive to Islam? The budget Hotel Zodiak thought they were just putting up a symbol of the zodiac sign Virgo when they built their Sutami branch in Bandung, West Java, in 2012. But they were shocked on Monday, January 19, when dozens of hard-liners protested in front of their hotel, demanding they take down their logo because it was “offensive” to Islam. The logo, the protesters said, looked like the word “Allah” in Arabic, when written upside down. The hotel took the matter to the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which said they needed a week to study the case, but the hotel management decided to take down the logo on Wednesday morning. However, it still appears in the hotel lobby and on hotel pillows. Read the full story in Bahasa Indonesia on Rappler.

5. Jakarta plans to raise entertainment, vehicle taxes to meet revenue targets

Going out may soon be a bit more expensive for Jakartans, as the city government said it wants to increase entertainment tax from 20% to 30% in order to meet tax revenue targets. But Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said they will make a distinction between educational, recreational, creative and productive arts and culture. In addition, Ahok said they want to increase the vehicle ownership transfer fee to help meet the tax revenue target of IDR45.3 trillion ($360 million) this year, according to BeritaJakarta.com. – Rappler.com