BGN & the scaling up of corruption

Apr 20, 2026 | Market

The use of BGN’s budget has once again come under scrutiny. It is not about the contract value. It is about accountability of funds managed by BGN for the free ‘nutritious’ meal (MBG) program, given the scaling up to over Rp335 trillion this year from Rp71 trillion...

Hashim’s “normal “and the illusion of oversight

Apr 20, 2026 | Market, Politics

Hashim Djojohadikusumo described food safety failures in the government’s Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program as “normal,” he may have intended to contextualize the challenges of scaling a massive initiative. But taken together with his remarks about...

E-catalog: Digital, but not intelligent

Apr 20, 2026 | Market

Public procurement system has gone digital. Through the platform managed by LKPP, ministries and agencies now purchase goods with a few clicks, bypassing layers of opaque tender processes that once defined state spending. On paper, this is progress: transparency...

Fast Food Indonesia: Improved, but still in red

Apr 20, 2026 | Market

PT Fast Food Indonesia Tbk (FAST), co-owned by the families of Gelael and Anthoni Salim, recorded net loss of Rp366 billion last year, fell 54% from 2024 despite almost zero growth in sales revenues. FAST, operator of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets, generated...

Shaky ceasefire

Apr 20, 2026 | Market

WTI crude futures plunged 11.45% to below US$83.9 per barrel on Friday after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial traffic during the ceasefire period. Brent crude futures also fell 9.07% to US$90.4 per barrel. But, this morning WTI...

When watchdogs become brokers

Apr 17, 2026 | Law, Market

The arrest of Hery Susanto, chairman of Ombudsman Republik Indonesia, over alleged bribery tied to a nickel mining dispute should not be read as just another corruption case. It reveals something more troubling: the quiet monetization of state oversight. According to...

FITT, from hotel to mining

Apr 17, 2026 | Industries, Market

Shares of PT Hotel Fitra International Tbk (FITT) jumped 24.73% Tuesday  (April 14) to make market capitalization of Rp605.18 billion after the company announced plans to move into the mining sector. The rally continued Wednesday and Thursday, but retreated this...

From tax holidays to tax credits

Apr 17, 2026 | Law, Market

Government plans to shift from traditional tax holidays—full corporate income tax exemptions—to a more constrained system of tax credits. At first glance, this may seem like a technical adjustment. In reality, it marks a structural turning point in how Indonesia...

Nepotism: Easy money from meat import quota

Apr 16, 2026 | Market, Politics

Lutfi Hasan Ishaaq, then president of Islamic party PKS was sentenced 16 years prison in 2013 for his role in bribery related to allotment of import quota for beef. This was possible because PKS cadres controlled ministry of agriculture for 10 years (2014-2024). Will...

BGN’s new offices

Apr 16, 2026 | Market, Politics

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) plans to expand its organizational structure this year by establishing regional offices and service offices (KPPG) across Indonesia. The regional offices will handle coordination at the provincial level, while the KPPG will operate...