Politics
Dissecting the pulse of the nation’s politics, where power plays and policies collide in a fight for the future.
Conflicting reports by Sri Mulyani and Mahfud MD money laundering and suspicious transaction worth IDR 349 trillion
Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Human Rights recently formed a Money Laundering Task Force (Satgas TPPU) tasked with unravelling allegedly suspicious transactions with a total value of IDR 349 trillion (US$ 23.7 billion). The task force examines 300 letters and receipt and plans to complete its investigation by the end of 2023.
Indonesia grapples with rising cases of human trafficking in online gambling industry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recorded 1,800 cases of illegal human trafficking of Indonesian migrant workers (Pekerja Migran Indonesia - PMI) between 2020 and 2023. It is known that 1,000 of them departed for Cambodia.
Chevron out, Italian ENI set to take over Indonesia Deepwater Development project
Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, announced that the Italian oil company ENI, will become the new operator of the Indonesia Deepwater Development (IDD) project starting from the end of May 2023. ENI would replace the position previously held by Chevron.
Indonesia cuts tax incentives to limit investment in lower quality nickel products
Indonesia has reduced tax incentives to restrict investment in lower-quality nickel products, including nickel pig iron (NPI) and second-class nickel ore processing products. The government has made the decision to make the most of its abundant nickel reserves and to encourage more high-value investments in the downstream.
U.S. investigates the venture between Ford, China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and PT Vale Indonesia
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio asked the Biden administration to investigate Ford Motor Co's plan to partner with PT Vale Indonesia, and China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt in a $4.5 billion nickel processing facility in Indonesia for the production of EV batteries.
Government establishes task force to investigate suspicious IDR 349 trillion transactions in Finance Ministry
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD announced that the government has officially formed a high-level task force to supervise the handling and resolution of suspected money laundering in suspicious transactions worth IDR 349 trillion within the Finance Ministry.
DGT efforts to increase Indonesia's tax ratio up to 15%
The Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) intends to raise the present tax ratio to 15%, aligns with the global average. Indonesia's current tax ratio of 10.4% is still below the global average of 13.5%, as per the DGT. Indonesia is also trailing behind other nations in the ASEAN region; for instance, Thailand's tax ratio is at 14.5%, the Philippines at 14%, and Singapore at 12.9%.
Golkar shows signs of joining with Gerindra and PKB
As the 2024 Presidential Election draws closer, spokesperson for the Golkar Party Tantowi Yahya, stated that the party may join the coalition with the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). The indication was apparent following a meeting between Golkar Party Chairman Airlangga Hartarto, Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto, and Golkar senior politician Aburizal Bakrie.
Survey reveals PDIP electability increases following Ganjar's nomination
Despite having suffered from low electability score, a recent survey conducted by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) revealed that the electability score of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) increases after announcing Ganjar Pranowo as the party's presidential candidate.
RSIS: Indonesian pro-IS terrorist groups less lethal, radicalization through offline propaganda
The current study from S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) analysed that nowadays, pro-Islamic State (IS) terrorist groups in Indonesia pose a significantly less lethal threat compared to the recent past.
Rise of illegal cigarettes sparks concern among businesses in Nusa Tenggara
The circulation of illegal cigarettes has increased in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara as of May 2, 2023. The rise of illegal cigarettes has caused unrest among the public, especially cigarette businesses who are losing money.
South Korea’s POSCO to build US$441 million nickel refining facility in Halmahera
POSCO Holdings Inc. stated that it is spending US$441 million to build a nickel refining facility in Indonesia as it pushes to beef up its supply chains of the key secondary battery material.