Reform or rebranding?

Mar 24, 2026 | Politics

President Prabowo Subianto’s recent call for ministers to dismiss “rogue” director generals has struck a familiar chord in politics: a strong leader promising to clean up a stubborn bureaucracy. The language was unmistakably forceful. Officials who feel “untouchable”...

Prabowo and his commitments

Mar 24, 2026 | Market

There is a popular joke in Indonesia that Warung Madura will stay open 24/7, even through the apocalypse. Now, it seems like the MBG program is operating on the same principle. Amid mounting economic pressure from the global crisis, Prabowo Subianto has pressed ahead...

Indonesia blocks foreign media ownership—but who really controls the narrative?

Mar 24, 2026 | Market

President Prabowo Subianto’s recent statement that foreign ownership in Indonesia’s media sector will remain restricted has been framed as a firm stand for national sovereignty. At a glance, the policy appears reassuring: in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry...

Grab’s Taiwan gamble and the hidden cost for Indonesia

Mar 24, 2026 | Market

Grab’s US$600 million acquisition of Foodpanda’s Taiwan business may look like a bold step toward becoming a pan-Asian platform. But behind the headlines of expansion lies a quieter, more consequential question: who will ultimately pay for this ambition? The answer...

Market volatility

Mar 24, 2026 | Market

We’re living in a post-truth world. Trump’s claim of ‘productive talks’ with Iran to ‘de-escalate’ the Middle East conflicts was enough to drag down crude oil price by more than 10% Monday (Mar 23). Objective facts regarding the ‘talks’, which were dismissed by Iran,...

TNI’s involvement in the Andrie Yunus case

Mar 23, 2026 | Law, Politics

The acid attack on Andrie Yunus has entered a new phase following the arrest of suspected perpetrators. However, the TNI’s involvement raises fresh concerns about where the case is heading. Is this all about uncovering the truth or controlling it from the outset? With...

The new battlefield of Big Tech

Mar 23, 2026 | Market

For more than a decade, the defining metric of Big Tech competition was simple: users. Platforms fought aggressively to acquire, retain and monetize as many users as possible. From Facebook’s early expansion to TikTok’s meteoric rise, scale was everything. But today,...

Telkom vs Starlink

Mar 23, 2026 | Market

Race to expand internet access is entering a new phase—one that is no longer confined to towers and fiber optics on the ground. With Telkom Group partnering with Airbus-backed AALTO to develop high-altitude platform systems (HAPS), or “flying BTS”, the country is now...

Who is really pushing anti-China e-commerce narrative?

Mar 23, 2026 | Market

Recent remarks by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on the growing dominance of Chinese e-commerce platforms have reignited a familiar debate: Is Indonesia losing control of its digital economy? While the concern appears to be framed as a defense of local businesses, the forces...

Michael Bambang Hartono

Mar 23, 2026 | Profiles

Michael Bambang Hartono, co-owner of Bank Central Asia (BBCA), the most profitable bank in the country, passed away in Singapore last Thursday (Mar 19) at 86 years old. Chairman of Djarum, a diversified business group, Bambang leaves behind a wife and four children....