From unicorn dreams to prison time: The eFishery reckoning
Startup ecosystem has long thrived on a seductive mantra: grow fast, tell a compelling story and worry about the numbers later. The conviction of Gibran Huzaifah, former chief executive of eFishery, should finally bury that illusion.
The hidden risk in KPK leadership reform
The Constitutional Court of Indonesia (MK) partially granted a judicial review on the eligibility requirements for leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission, it appeared to offer a pragmatic fix. By reinterpreting the requirement from “resigning” to merely “becoming inactive” from prior positions, the Court arguably lowered the barrier for qualified candidates to step forward. But beneath this seemingly technical adjustment lies a deeper institutional risk—one that may quietly erode the very independence the KPK was designed to protect.
Corrupt tracks, deadly crossings
The latest summons of businessman Billy Haryanto by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should not be read as just another corruption probe. It signals a deeper systemic problem: how compromised procurement in Indonesia’s railway sector may be directly linked to persistent safety risks on the ground.
From viral governance to criminal liability: The fall of Arinal Djunaidi
Arinal, who served as Governor of Lampung from 2019 to 2024, has been named a corruption suspect in the alleged misuse of Participating Interest (PI) funds from the Offshore South East Sumatra oil and gas block. The case, involving hundreds of billions of rupiah, centers on the management of regional entitlement funds—money that should have strengthened local development but is instead suspected to have been diverted through questionable arrangements involving region-owned enterprises.
Digital market, analog regulation
Digital economy was built on a promise: empower small businesses, connect them to millions of consumers and remove traditional barriers to entry. For years, that promise held. Platforms like Tokopedia and Shopee became gateways for micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) to scale beyond their neighborhoods.
Childcare without control
Komisi Perlindungan Anak Indonesia did not uncover the daycare abuse case in Yogyakarta. Nor did local inspectors. Nor did routine government audits.
Hajj quotas and hidden brokers: Returning the money—but not the truth
When Khalid Basalamah returned Rp 8.4 billion to the Corruption Eradication Commission, the gesture was framed as cooperation. But in long history of corruption cases, returning the money rarely closes the story. More often, it is where the real questions begin.
Parliamentary threshold: A cartel in democratic clothing
The debate over revising Election Law has once again returned to a familiar battleground: the parliamentary threshold. On paper, it is a technical mechanism—currently set at 4 percent of the national vote—to determine which parties qualify for seats in the House of Representatives. In practice, however, it has evolved into something more consequential: a subtle but powerful instrument of cartelization among political parties.
A missing link in the Chromebook case
In the latest hearing in the Chromebook case, held on Monday (20/04), three Google executives testified as defense witnesses for Nadiem Makarim, the former Minister of Education. They denied any connection between Google’s investment in GoTo and discussions with the Ministry of Education and Culture regarding Chromebooks. While the case continues to unfold, one crucial link remains missing: Jurist Tan, who is still on the run.
KIP-K Implementation Issues
The participation rate of Indonesian high school graduates and their equivalents who continue to higher education remains relatively low, with economic constraints as one of the primary barriers. Amid these challenges, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently uncovered multiple issues, including indications of bribery and corruption, in the implementation of the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah (KIP-K) program, a government assistance scheme strictly dedicated to prospective students from disadvantaged backgrounds.