Politics

The tension continues between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and PDIP, the largest political party led by the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The KPK, as we all know, is hunting down Harun Masiku, a PDIP politician who has been a fugitive for four years.

Another two-horse race will likely happen in this year’s gubernatorial election in Banten, home to the supporters of President-elect Prabowo Subianto. Andra Soni-Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah has secured a ticket from a big coalition of seven political parties led by Gerindra, a political party belongs to Prabowo. The contender, Airin Rachmi Diany, has secured the endorsement from Golkar and she’s waiting for additional support from either PDIP or Democratic Party. Whoever wins Banten gubernatorial election this year between Andra and Airin, we can safely say that Prabowo is the real winner because both Andra and Airin as well as political parties behind the two candidates are all his supporters.

The latest development in North Sumatera is pointing to a two-horse race in the gubernatorial election that will be held in the province this year. If the political constellation in North Sumatera stays as it is, we might see the mayor of Medan Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, who is the son-in-law of the outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, to compete head-to-head against the incumbent Eddy Rahmayadi, a retired three-star army general, or perhaps a governor candidate from PDIP. The decision from PDIP will determine whether the incumbent can secure a ticket to enter the race and who will compete against Bobby in North Sumatera.

Shares of PT Intra Golflink Resorts Tbk (GOLF), a company ultimately owned by Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra (youngest son of the late president Soeharto) surged 35% on trading debut at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) this morning. 

Other than Ganjar Pranowo and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama a.k.a Ahok, the matriarch of PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri included some other new names into the line-up of the PDIP’s Central Executive Body (DPP). One of them is Ganip Warsito, a retired three-star army general and former Staff General of the Indonesian Military (Kasum TNI).

Some cabinet members talked about granting tax holidays/facilities to those willing to establish family office in the country, but other members criticised the plan in the midst of a plan to raise tax ratio. Tens of foreign companies, meanwhile, have reportedly deployed audit team for their Indonesian operations following the devastating cyberattack on the national data centre (PDN). 

The gubernatorial election in Central Java this year is still unpredictable since political parties have yet to officially name its governor and vice governor candidates. On the other hand, the aspiring candidates are eager to enter the Central Java gubernatorial election this year and continuing their maneuvers to secure a ticket to enter the race.

In a cabinet meeting at the Jakarta State Palace on Jun. 24, the outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asked the next administration to focus on improving health and education sectors in the country. After the meeting, President-elect Prabowo Subianto who attended in his capacity as the Minister of Defense stated that health and education sectors will become the focus of his administration following the direction from President Jokowi. Therefore, it is interesting to see who will be appointed as the next Minister of Health and the next Minister of Education in Prabowo-Gibran’s cabinet.

Some new interesting names have been mentioned in the list of Prabowo-Gibran’s cabinet that recently circulated on social media platforms. Among them are being rumored to secure the position of Home Affairs Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister, and Defense Minister; the three cabinet positions known as the Triumvirate.