Author: yosefardi.com

Three major papers carried Anas-related headlines this morning: Nazar-Anas Company Cost the State Huge Losses (Koran Tempo), Anas Asks SBY Improve Performance (Media Indonesia), and It Depends on SBY (Kompas). Different angles, but probably with similar tones.

The Jakarta Post published an article titled ‘Cabinet power struggle may end in reshuffle’ this morning. Targets of the reshuffle might be those recently reported by cabinet secretary Dipo Alam to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the so-called ‘budget-fixing scheme’. They are ministry of defense, agriculture, and trade.

Going through names of petitioners, who managed to convince seven out of eight Constitutional Court judges to close down BPMigas, people would come up with various theories about their motives. Government officers’ responses might also trigger more theories.

Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is a popular figure in Solo, Central Java. He won 90% votes for his second term as mayor few years ago. He gained national popularity when he ‘endorsed’ the so-called ‘national car’ assembled by students in the city. Some praised his decision to use the car as ‘official car’ for the mayor, others, however criticized.

Most surveys placed Golkar Party ahead of PDI-P and Demokrat for 2014 legislative race. That has lifted optimism of some Golkar leaders that party chairman Aburizal Bakrie could be competitive in 2014 presidential election. They even demand an early nomination of Aburizal in this weekend’s leadership meeting at a resort owned by Bakrie Group.

At 01.00 AM Saturday, finance minister Agus Martowardojo, on behalf of president SBY, approved the amendment of 2012 State Budget. The House of Representatives (DPR) gives government discretion to adjust fuel price in the coming...

Months ago, we said that the chance of Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie aka Ical in the 2014 race is slim for various issues, even without tons of additional bad news that follow his nomination as president candidate. If you ask ordinary people whether they would vote for Aburizal or others, they prefer others (Prabowo Subianto, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Jusuf Kalla and probably new names..).

Lt General (ret) Suharto, former marine commander, filed police report against nine judges at the Constitutional Court. He condemns the Court’s ruling related to the State’s responsibility in bailing out the Sidoarjo mudflow from Lapindo Brantas oil and gas operation since May 2006.

The House of Representatives (DPR) and government have finally approved the establishment of seven new regencies in seven provinces. Few weeks back, they also approved the established of new province, North Kalimantan. That means we will have eight more elections per annum and at least 400 new legislators.

Looks like that energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik can’t enjoy for too long his ‘near absolute’ power over Indonesian oil and gas industry. Other political parties do not want to see the Demokrat politician to keep authorities taken over from BPMigas until 2014 elections.