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Rabu, 10 Maret 2010

Indonesian Meat Balls Can Indonesia Get Patent on 'Bakso'?

Senin, 8 Maret 2010 | 11:49 WIB

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Department of Culture and Tourism advised the Indonesian Noodles and Meatballs Merchant Association (Apmiso) to trace the history of 'bakso' (meatball, usually served with broth) before claiming it as a unique Indonesian cuisine.

"We've ask for its history (of bakso) to be traced first before claiming it as a traditional Indonesian cuisine," said the director general for tourism destination development of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Firmansyah Rahim, Jakarta, Monday.

The statement was addressed for Apmiso, in regards to its plan to claim bakso as an Indonesian cuisine and to go international with the idea.

Apmiso has been lobbying so that bakso can be served to the US President Barack Obama during his visit to Indonesia in March. With that maneuver, bakso can be branded as an international menu, like the Vietnamese noodles, Pho Ga, that has gone international since it was served to Bill Clinton during his visit to Vietnam.

"Please be careful, because to our knowledge, bakso isn't originally Indonesian," said Firmansyah.

He stated that the Indonesian menu should be made of ingredients easily found in the country. Bakso on the contrary is served with noodles, which are made of grain. Grain so far is wholly imported in Indonesia.

"We're worried that we might be accused of stealing another country's menu."

Despite that, the ministry supports the effort to raise the income and welfare of the five million noodles and bakso merchants all over Indonesia who are members of Apmiso.

A quick search on the internet would reveal that the word bakso is derived from Chinese, 'bak' meaning pork and 'so' for noodles or soup/broth. This dish is known world wide with various names and serving methods. (Hertanto/Antara/C17-09)

The 2010 State Budget Amendment Boycotted Due to Sri Mulyani?

The 2010 State Budget Amendment Boycotted Due to Sri Mulyani?
Rabu, 10 Maret 2010 | 04:42 WIB


Indonesias Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (R) chats with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa at palace in Jakarta. Indonesias president on Thursday called for calm as he battled to save his fragile coalition following parliaments call for a criminal probe into a controversial bank bailout.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — There is a growing concern that the discussions on the 2010 State Budget Amendment might not run smoothly if the presence of the Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is boycotted due to her implications in the Century case. Chief of budgeting bureau, Harry Azhar Aziz, stated that the boycott will be done if there is a formal decision from the House plenary.

"If it's a decision from the plenary, then the meetings with the finance minister are threatened," Harry said to Kompas.com, Jakarta, Tuesday.

Harry admits that the boycott plan is spreading among members of the House. At the budgeting bureau the plan has been mentioned informally during meetings. "One or two spoke about it. But now more and more are talking about it."

If the issue escalates, then Harry believes it will be discussed during the plenary on April 5, 2010. If the plenary agrees on boycotting then the discussion on the 2010 State Budget Amendment scheduled for April 9, 2010, could be off. "But this is all hypothetical. But it's possible that the boycott plan will come up at the plenary on April 5 after the House has had recess."

Harry pointed out that despite the boycott possibility, the 2010 State Budget Amendment can still be saved if the president appoints a deputy finance minister. Then the deputy minister can discuss the amendment with the House.
"That's just if the president appoints a deputy finance minister. Then we don't necessarily have to deal with the finance minister." (ANI/C17-09)