Politics
Dissecting the pulse of the nation’s politics, where power plays and policies collide in a fight for the future.
Indonesia's current politics towards the 2024 elections
Indonesia’s political maturity will be tested again in the 2024 General Elections or at least one-and-a-half years from now as the electoral contestation will begin. The stages of the elections have been carried out, and there have been nonsignificant obstacles, including the expiration of the terms of office of 271 regional heads (governors, regents and mayors) in 2022 and 2023, which have also been handled quite well by the government although they still receive criticism from the Indonesian Ombudsman. Indonesia assessed that there were at least three acts of maladministration that occurred in the appointment of acting regional heads.
Government increases fuel prices, sparks protests across Indonesia
Protests broke out in several cities on September 6, 2022, following the government's decision to raise fuel prices three days earlier. Thousands of workers, grouped under the Labor Party, staged a protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR)/People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) compound in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
KPK arrests Mimika regent for church building graft allegation
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng in Jayapura on September 7, 2022, on corruption allegation on the construction of the Kingmi Mile 32 Church in Kuala Kencana district in Mimika regency, Papua. The regent is currently undergoing examination at the Papua Police Mobile Brigade Headquarters.
VKTR to go public by end of November 2022
PT Vektr Teknologi Mobilitas (VKTR), a PT Bakrie and Brothers Tbk (Bakrie Group) electric vehicle (EV) company, will do an Initial Public Offering (IPO) later in 2022.
National Press Freedom Index improves in 2022
The National Press Freedom index in 2022 saw a 1.86 point growth to 77.88, based on a survey by the Indonesian Press Council and state-owned surveyor firm PT Sucofindo. Press Council Chairman Azyumardi Azra said, despite the improvement, the public should not get complacent and continue to fight for press freedom.
Jokowi’s maritime ambitions
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China on July 26, 2022. Given Beijing's rigorous zero-COVID-19 policy, the meeting came as a surprise.
Current political safari, maneuver
The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Chairman Giring Ganesha and other party officials visited the Golkar Party office on August 23, 2022. Golkar Party Chairman and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto welcomed the visit and said both parties shared similar views, including their efforts to avoid identity politics in the 2024 elections.
Sorghum as a sustainable food source in Indonesia
Sorghum is a potential food source of the future currently being developed as an Indonesian sustainable food source through agribusiness. Its potential, considering the adaptability of the food source with low water requirements, could support the future food security of the country.
Declining public trust on National Police prompts call for reform
Several civil society groups and lawyers called for a total reform on the National Police after a survey showed that the institution had the lowest public confidence in Indonesia. A murder case against a police brigadier by his general has worsened the already tainted police image.
VKTR to provide West Java public transportation firm with electric buses
PT Vektr Teknologi Mobilitas (VKTR), a subsidiary of Bakrie and Brothers conglomeration, will supply electric bus fleet to West Java-owned enterprise PT Jasa Sarana. VKTR Chairman Anindya Bakrie said the company would provide solutions to reduce emissions from public transportation.
One strategy to avoid the government's subsidy burden will be to raise fuel prices
The energy subsidy scheme, which is right on target for the community group, cannot be pushed through because the government's subsidy burden will continue to grow and burden state finances. The magnitude of community-subsidized fuel consumption may be caused by the current subsidy mechanism being open and applied to energy products. "This means that anyone can access the subsidized fuel without restriction," said Bank Permata Chief Economist Josua Pardede in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 30th.
Labor Party and Labor Unions to protest on September 6, 2022, rejecting fuel price increase plan and the Omnibus Law on job creation
The Labor Party and other labor organizations will hold simultaneous actions in 34 provinces on September 6, 2022. In Jakarta, it will be centered in the DPR RI with an estimated attendance of around 5,000 people, while in the regions it will be held at the Governor's Office followed by the recovery of thousands of workers. Protesters in Jakarta came from Jabodetabek with demands to reject the increase in fuel prices, reject the ratification of the Omnibus Law on Ciptaker, and increase labor wages by 10 to 13% in 2023.