Politics

The House of Representatives (DPR) is starting to discuss the Bill on the special status of Jakarta (DKJ) along with the central government. The discussion is worth monitoring, and one crucial issue being discussed in the bill is regarding the election of Jakarta governor and vice governor.

The message from House Speaker Puan Maharani, who is the daughter of the PDIP matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri, that was read out during the latest plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) has been a subject of speculations. Puan, as we’ve reported before, was absent from the plenary session because she is still overseas. Let’s talk a bit about Puan.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined Hasyim Daeng Barang, director for mineral and coal downstream industry at ministry of investment related to the issuance of mining permits in the North Maluku province. This is a follow up of investigation into bribery case implicating the disgraceful North Maluku governor Abdul Gani Kasuba. 

Prabowo Subianto has on Tuesday (Mar. 5) given a speech in the Mandiri Investment Forum held at the Fairmont Hotel in Central Jakarta. Prabowo’s speech in the event is truly worth highlighting because he talked about democracy. From his speech we can also learn about his relationship with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. 

The House of Representatives (DPR) has on Tuesday (Mar. 5) held its first plenary session after returning from its recess period due to 2024 elections. What happened during the plenary session is worth highlighting to help us measure how serious the motion from some political parties is in pushing the DPR to use its inquiry rights (Hak Angket) to investigate what they claim as a structured, systematic, and massive election fraud. If anything, it might also tell us about the future configuration of the ruling coalition and the opposition. 

Responding to this week’s investigative report from Tempo magazine about nickel tentacles of Bahlil Lahadalia, minister of investments, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it will soon seek clarification from Bahlil. Some politicians, in the meantime, have mounted pressures to immediately investigate Bahlil, key member of Prabowo-Gibran campaign.

Anies Baswedan, a losing presidential candidate based on quick count from various pollsters and ongoing real count conducted by the General Election Commission (KPU), talked about a scenario of making all political parties become a part of the ruling coalition that will support the next administration. Similar to Anies, his closest ally, Sudirman Said, has earlier shared his concern on it.

Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla addressed some important issues, including his potential meeting with the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is the matriarch of the ruling party PDIP, and the rumor that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo might join Golkar Party. Kalla’s statement is worth highlighting given that he is former chairman of Golkar and also political mentor of Anies Baswedan.

Trapped in debts from fintech services? Sky high rice and other staple food prices? Medium-term global economic slowdown? Well, these are not serious issues for the president. He cares only about completion of some buildings and related facilities in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara. He seemed annoyed by questions from journalists on Monday (Mar 4) about sky high rice price. “Please don’t continue asking me that (rice price hike)….Do check (the market) by yourself,” President Joko Widodo basically responded to public outcry about the main staple food.

Chief of the National Police (Kapolri) General Listyo Sigit Prabowo recently instituted a job rotation affecting 11 high-rank and middle-rank police officers, including some regional police chiefs and deputy chiefs in two provinces. The rotation in the Police and the Military (TNI/POLRI) in the coming months is truly worth monitoring in relation to the dynamics between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, who based on quick count and real count will likely become the next President.