A legal battle over prime land in Menteng
The dispute over a heritage property on Teuku Umar Street in Menteng, Central Jakarta, may appear at first glance to be just another land conflict between a private company and the state. But the ongoing battle between PT Temasra Jaya and the Military (TNI) reveals something far larger: the unfinished legacy of military-controlled assets, the fragility of property rights in Indonesia, and the growing political reach of the armed forces beyond defense affairs.
Viral justice and the business of political law
The assault case involving Ronald Aristone Sinaga, better known as Bro Ron, is more than a sensational altercation inside a Jakarta law office. It reflects a deeper transformation in Indonesian public life: the rise of politicians who simultaneously operate as lawyers, media personalities and online influencers, turning legal disputes into political theater and viral content.
Fast refunds, selective capitalism
As Finance Minister introduced Peraturan Menteri Keuangan (PMK) Nomor 28 Tahun 2026, the government framed it as a long-overdue response to one of the private sector’s loudest complaints: slow tax refunds. By accelerating the return of overpaid taxes, the policy promises to improve business liquidity, reduce bureaucratic delays and signal a more business-friendly tax administration. On the surface, it is a reform that seems both rational and necessary.
Teddy vs Amien Rais
Recent remarks by Human Rights Minister, Natalius Pigai, suggest a troubling shift in how the state interprets dissent. By framing statements made by Amien Rais as potential “human rights violations” and implying that only cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has the standing to report them, the government appears to be redrawing the boundary between criticism and criminality.
Who owns political parties: the state, the courts, or the members?
Party system is once again exposing a familiar fault line: who ultimately decides which faction within a political party is legitimate? A recent petition to the Constitutional Court (MK) seeks to strip the Kementerian Hukum dan HAM (Ministry of Law and Human Rights) of its authority to formally approve party leadership structures, reducing its role to mere administrative registration. At first glance, this appears technical. In reality, it strikes at the core of Indonesia’s political power architecture.
From unicorn dreams to prison time: The eFishery reckoning
Startup ecosystem has long thrived on a seductive mantra: grow fast, tell a compelling story and worry about the numbers later. The conviction of Gibran Huzaifah, former chief executive of eFishery, should finally bury that illusion.
The hidden risk in KPK leadership reform
The Constitutional Court of Indonesia (MK) partially granted a judicial review on the eligibility requirements for leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission, it appeared to offer a pragmatic fix. By reinterpreting the requirement from “resigning” to merely “becoming inactive” from prior positions, the Court arguably lowered the barrier for qualified candidates to step forward. But beneath this seemingly technical adjustment lies a deeper institutional risk—one that may quietly erode the very independence the KPK was designed to protect.
Corrupt tracks, deadly crossings
The latest summons of businessman Billy Haryanto by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should not be read as just another corruption probe. It signals a deeper systemic problem: how compromised procurement in Indonesia’s railway sector may be directly linked to persistent safety risks on the ground.
From viral governance to criminal liability: The fall of Arinal Djunaidi
Arinal, who served as Governor of Lampung from 2019 to 2024, has been named a corruption suspect in the alleged misuse of Participating Interest (PI) funds from the Offshore South East Sumatra oil and gas block. The case, involving hundreds of billions of rupiah, centers on the management of regional entitlement funds—money that should have strengthened local development but is instead suspected to have been diverted through questionable arrangements involving region-owned enterprises.
Digital market, analog regulation
Digital economy was built on a promise: empower small businesses, connect them to millions of consumers and remove traditional barriers to entry. For years, that promise held. Platforms like Tokopedia and Shopee became gateways for micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) to scale beyond their neighborhoods.