Category: Politics

Recently, it is reported that the Board of Professors of University of Indonesia (DGB UI) has submitted a recommendation to revoke Bahlil Lahadalia’s doctoral degree since the beginning of January 2025 due to several misconducts found in his graduation process. The UI Rectorate is responsible for making the final decision, but as of today (03/03) we only know that there will be a coordination meeting between four organs of UI scheduled for this week to discuss the matter. So, nothing is set in stone, and people wonder why it takes them so long to take action.

Another mass protest to refuse the free nutritious meals (MBG) program erupted in Central Papua on Wednesday (26/02). This time, it was students in Deiyai Regency that embarked on a long march, adding to the list of similar mass protests happening in the province within the last two weeks. Their key demands are no different either, for they want the government to prioritize free education over free meals.

Free ‘nutritious’ meal (MBG) is by far the single largest project in Prabowo regime. With initial investment of Rp71 trillion, the project might soon get additional Rp100 trillion. The ultimate target is Rp400 trillion or US$24 billion per annum. Pretty much as anticipated, more volunteers from Prabowo’s presidential campaign involved in the project.

Thousands of students in Paniai Regency, Central Papua province took to streets on Monday (24/02) to protest the free nutritious meals (MBG) program carried out by President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. They urged the government to prioritize granting them access to free education instead of free nutritious meals, particularly since there have been too many food poisoning incidents during the two months of its implementation. Other than the MBG program, protesters also demanded that natural resources exploitation be stopped immediately.

We still have a hope. The Constitutional Court has on Monday (Feb 24) issued an interesting ruling. The Court ordered re-voting for Serang Regency in Banten province because it found convincing evidence about intervention from Yandri Susanto, minister of village affairs in Prabowo’s administration, for the benefit of his wife in the regional head election.

An investigation has been under way for several days into the alleged police intimidation used by Directorate of Cyber Research (Ditressiber) personnel against Sukatani band, which earlier took down its viral song “Bayar Bayar Bayar”. According to the Profession and Security Division of the National Police (Divpropam POLRI), six personnel are still being closely examined as of Sunday (23/02), and therefore no conclusion has been drawn regarding the allegation. On the other hand, a member of Sukatani band was reportedly dismissed from her workplace amidst all this. Is it mere coincidence?

The battle is not over yet. After four days of mass protests in many regions all across the country, which at this point have received global attention, students plan to continue with the “Indonesia Gelap” (Dark Indonesia) rally today on February 21. This time, everyone—not exclusive to students or any groups in particular—is welcome to join in their fight against injustice.

tempo.co reported this morning that PDIP matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri has ordered regional leaders from the party to halt their participation in the retreat arranged by central government in Magelang, Central Java. 

President Prabowo Subianto has on Wednesday (19/02) appointed Brian Yuliarto as the new Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mendikti Saintek) to replace Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro. This marks the first cabinet reshuffle in Prabowo’s administration. Satryo is the first and only minister to be removed from his post after serving for 4 months.

The picture of an emergency warning (Peringatan Darurat) is now trending again on social media platform X, or formerly known as Twitter. This time, however, the blue background beneath our national emblem has turned pitch black...