Questioning the construction of 1,000 village cinemas
A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) has proposed allocating funds in the 2027 State Budget (APBN) for the construction of 1,000 village cinemas, with the stated aim of supporting the regional film industry. Yet amid fundamental problems still facing villages, it is only fair to question whether this project truly deserves to be treated as a priority.
Back to where they belong
Shares of Chandra Asri Pacific (TPIA), a petrochemical company venturing into upstream (oil refinery) and downstream (gas station), dropped further by 11.75% to Rp1,765 Monday (May 25). It is the lowest position since November 2021 after MSCI kicking out the stock from its Global Standard Index.
The politics of blaming customs
The government’s latest signal that some functions of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise may eventually be shifted to the newly formed Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI) is more than a bureaucratic adjustment. It reflects a deeper political strategy unfolding inside the state.
Garuda’s SAP gamble reflects digital dependency
The decision by Garuda Indonesia to modernize its core systems with SAP has been framed as a major milestone in the airline’s post-restructuring transformation. On paper, the move makes sense. Airlines are complex businesses that depend heavily on integrated systems for finance, maintenance, procurement, crew management and operational efficiency.
Oil and Gas Journal
Brent crude oil declined further to US$97 per barrel this morning as the US and Iran moved closer to a deal, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Aljazeera.com reported that a high-level Iranian delegation is currently in Qatar to discuss the most sensitive issues that still present barriers to a deal to end the war.
Satgas PKH’s new ‘acquisitions’
President Prabowo’s Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) has recently seized nearly one thousand of hectares from two plantation companies, one controlled by SGX-listed Wilmar International Ltd and the other was previously owned by Malaysia’s Sime Darby Plantation but now linked to one of Indonesian conglomerates, and one coal mining firm.
The viral ‘armed ghosts’ terror
Over the past week, social media has been flooded with reports of “armed ghosts” (or pocong bersajam in Indonesian), allegedly a new modus operandi for robberies. What first emerged in Tangerang soon spread to several cities across East Java. In each case, the police have confirmed that the so-called terror was a hoax deliberately designed to provoke public panic. Yet amid the country’s current economic turbulence, the boundary between misinformation and orchestrated narratives has become difficult to discern.
Domestic issues weigh on rupiah, stocks
Composite index of IDX (IHSG/JCI) moved zig-zag this morning when peers in Asia positively responded to a closer US-Iran deal, which led to five percent correction in crude oil. The index returned to red zone one hour into trading, while rupiah weakened to Rp17,732 per USD.
Further pressures on Cinema XXI
Shares of PT Nusantara Sejahtera Raya Tbk (CNMA), operator of Cinema XXI outlets, opened higher by 2% to Rp96 this morning on broad market sentiment, but the stock is not even half of the initial public offering (IPO) price three years ago.
Data economy behind new digital game platforms
Gaming industry is no longer just about entertainment. It is quietly evolving into one of the country’s most powerful data economies.