Prophet Cartoon by Anonymous Indonesian Blogger Sparks Controversy

I am grateful to wordpress.com which acted quick enough to close down the controversial blog on the Prophet cartoon comic strip written by –who else?–an anonymous irresponsible blogger. Otherwise, the Indonesia government would have closed down the entire Indonesia’s wordpress.com community as stated by Indonesia’s Communication Minister Muhammad Nuh:
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How Important True Identity for Blogger

Since first time blogging, I discouraged anonymity and anonymous blogging. I call this attitude irresponsible - if you fear the heat dont enter the kitchen., and be a good kid. I wrote several posts on the important of clear identity for any blogger to earn credibility of whatever one writes in his or her respective blogs.

There are times when clear identity is not obligatorily required, and anonymity is forgiven and understood by the readers.
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Indonesia’s Rupiah Weakening

Indonesia’s Rupiah tumbles

Indonesia’s rupiah had the worst week since May 2006 after authorities shut the stock market for three days.

The time I write this post, U$D 1 equals to IDR 10,800. Indonesians, however, should not be worried, said the head of Indonesia’s centralbank (Bank Indonesia, BI) Tuesday.
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Blogger Indonesia of the Week (86): Agni Amorita

When I was looking for a blog post on Hari Raya Idul Fitri 2008/1429, I found an interesting article on mudik tradition written by Agni Amorita aka Mbak Rita thus:

If I were a linguist, I will put mudik (going home) as the newest entry for the encarta dictionary. I mean, mudik is going to be a hot new international term.. Because the mudik phenomenon here is so powerful, and big and heartbreaking… this term, mudik, will be suitably needed to explain as a nationally special exodus from big cities once a year, no matter how hard the obstacle is.

Idul Fitri 2008 1429

Idul Fitri (Eid-ul Fitr, Eid al-Fitr) 2008 / 1429 is three days away. For Indonesian Muslim (and non Muslim alike) it’s the biggest holyday as some offices remain closed for about a week. Many Indonesians who work in the capital or anywhere outside one’s original place are supposed to do mudik or pulang kampung (going home) to meet their respective families, old-days friends and some have a “hidden agenda” of showing off one’s success (in terms of career, achievement, wealth, etc).

In short, Idul Fitri holiday is the most awaited and celebrated days in Indonesia. And for you all, I wish you a Happy Eid and Holyday. Selamat Lebaran. Mohon Maaf Lahir Batin and Happy pulang kampung too.
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Most Corrupt Countries 2008

Being a frontrunner in a good thing is a dream comes true for any achiever. It’s true also if such achievement or underachievement is awarded to a nation or country. An award which is actually not personal but could affect a mixed feeling for any person in earch country ranked by Transparency International yearly report through its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2008 as being the less or most corrupt. Each individual is happy to see one’s country being in the cleanest category and is ashame to see otherwise. Among ASEAN countries, Singapore people should be proud to be at no. 4 in the world followed by Malaysia (47), Thailand (80), Vietnam (121), Indonesia (126) [1], Philippines (141), Timor Leste (145), Laos (151), Cambodia (166), Myanmar (178). The lower the number stands for the less corrupt a country is and vice versa.
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Pornography Bill

The Indonesia pornography bill–back then called anti-porn bill (anti pornografi dan porno aksi in Indonesian) – which draft had been diluted the first time it’s introduced in 2006 followoing some public outcry seems reemerge again now with stronger message: it will be passed. Hence, another outcry and protests especially from those whose interest might be distracted by this new law if realised. It gains support from parties that may get credit for the enactment of the bill.
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Who’s the Best Indonesian President?

On 9 April 2009 another general election will be held in Indonesia after which we will have another new democratically elected president. Since gaining its Independence from Japan in 1945, and sucessfully defended the Dutch attack in 1949, Indonesia-barring Suharto and Habibie- has democratically elected six presidents. All presidents of course has their own plus and flipside. Having said that, there should be one or two who one thinks had the best performance & capability as the head of state of the country.
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An Indonesian Among 153 Killed in Spain Plane Crash

A Spanish airliner bound for the Canary Islands at the height of the vacation season crashed, burned and broke into pieces Wednesday while trying to take off from Madrid, killing 153 people on board, officials said. There were only 19 survivors of the mid-afternoon crash, Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez said.[....]

An Indonesian named NGUNI TOKA RONDONUWU (written RONDONUWU/NGUNI TOKA in the list below) was among those who were killed in Spain worst crash since 1983.
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