From free shipping to hidden costs in online marketplaces

May 7, 2026 | Market

The recent controversy surrounding shipping costs in online marketplaces reveals a more uncomfortable truth. Digital platforms are no longer merely facilitating trade. They are increasingly extracting value from the very sellers they once claimed to empower. This...

Borax, E. coli, and MBG’s fragile oversight

May 7, 2026 | Law, Market

Last month, around 155 people in the Kepulauan Anambas Regency, Riau Islands, suffered food poisoning after consuming meals from the MBG program. The laboratory test results, which were only released recently, revealed traces of borax and E. coli contamination in the...

Cash limits and the fear inside Parliament

May 7, 2026 | Law, Politics

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently renewed its push for the acceleration of the Bill on Restrictions of Cash Transactions (RUU Pembatasan Transaksi Uang Kartal/PTUK), arguing that limiting large cash transactions is necessary to combat money politics...

Latest survey on Prabowo’s approval rating

May 7, 2026 | Politics

A newly circulated survey claims that public satisfaction with President Prabowo Subianto has reached 80.17 percent, the immediate question should not simply be whether the number is accurate. The more important question is: what political purpose does such a number...

Why Telkom yet to release audited FY25?

May 7, 2026 | Market

Leading telco player Telkom (TLKM) is the only major company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) that yet to release its audited financial report for full year 2025 (FY25). It is not entirely clear whether the company can meet the 60-day deadline for the...

Palm oil players in Q1: Weaker margins (3)

May 7, 2026 | Commodities, Market

Elevated energy prices following the Iran war led to the rise of marine fuel costs and inland transportation expenses for most companies, including palm oil producers. The war also contributed to sharp rise of fertilizer prices, particularly the compound fertilizer...

When Haji Isam’s PGUN almost five times of Salim’s LSIP

May 7, 2026 | Market

Haji Isam and Anthoni Salim, two businessmen close to President Prabowo Subianto, are, indirectly, business partners in a newly developed integrated poultry industry. They are also ‘competitors’ in palm oil business. Haji Isam through PT Pradiksi Gunatama Tbk (PGUN)...

CNG vs Gas Pipeline

May 6, 2026 | Commodities, Market

Iran war cost the State budget dearly from higher energy subsidies. While it inevitable for gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, given the circumstances (bigger gap between domestic production and consumption), the country should have long invested in gas pipeline...

Universities as local government partners

May 6, 2026 | Politics

Prabowo Subianto has instructed universities to “assist” local governments in addressing a range of issues, particularly in regional development and environmental management. This directive is intriguing. Will it strengthen the critical role of academics in...

Danantara and GoTo

May 6, 2026 | Market

The government’s entry into GoTo Group through Danantara Indonesia may look modest on paper. The stake is still below 1 percent. Yet politically and economically, the signal is enormous. This changes the nature of the relationship between government and digital...