The fall of Hotel Sultan
The dramatic scenes at Hotel Sultan (formerly Hilton Hotel) on June 18 were about far more than a dispute over land rights. They represented one of the most significant tests of state authority over strategic assets in post-Reformasi Indonesia.
The questions behind North Sumatra’s vape ban
North Sumatra’s decision to prohibit the use of vape products among civil servants and regional state-owned enterprise employees may appear, at first glance, to be a local administrative matter. In reality, it raises a much larger question about the future of policymaking in Indonesia: what happens when regional governments begin regulating legal products more aggressively than the central government itself?
Twenty-five liters and the price of fuel justice
The prosecution of two men in North Sumatra for purchasing approximately 25 liters of subsidized Pertalite fuel may seem like a small legal dispute. Yet at a time when fuel prices are rising and household budgets are under increasing pressure, the case has become a symbol of a much larger policy dilemma facing Indonesia.
A Tracking Device
The discovery of a tracking device on the vehicle used by former UGM Student Executive Board chairman Tiyo Ardianto should concern many regardless of their political preferences. Whether the device was installed by political opponents, private actors, or someone acting independently, the incident revives an uncomfortable question: are critics of power once again being subjected to intimidation beyond the boundaries of democratic contestation?
Update on DSI case
The decision by police to name a former senior official of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) as a suspect in the PT Dana Syariah Indonesia (DSI) case marks a turning point in one of largest fintech scandals. What initially appeared to be another failed investment platform is increasingly revealing itself as a much deeper crisis of governance, oversight, and public trust.
Who has denied — and who has not? MBG corruption scandal
Former National Nutrition Agency (BGN) deputy chief Sony Sonjaya has applied for justice collaborator status and reportedly provided investigators with more than 20 names—eventually growing to 26 names—from executive, legislative, and judicial circles whom he claims are connected to the case. Sony’s lawyer says the list is only a partial disclosure and that additional names may emerge in future examinations.
Trade Minister Regulation No 19/2026 & The digital economy
Newly issued Trade Minister Regulation (Permendag) No. 19/2026 signals a major shift in how the government views the digital economy. What began several years ago as an effort to regulate e-commerce and social commerce has evolved into something much broader: direct intervention in platform pricing, algorithmic rankings, cross-border trade, and even artificial intelligence.
Is Koperasi Merah Putih the next corruption time bomb?
Over the past month, social media platforms have been flooded with allegations questioning the governance of President Prabowo’s signature Koperasi Merah Putih/village cooperatives program (KDMP). The issue escalated after Jakarta’s chapter of the Indonesian Nationalist Student Movement (GMNI) formally submitted a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office alleging potential irregularities worth Rp112 trillion.
Free meal corruption: Sonjaya’s List
Sony Sonjaya, a corruption suspect in the free meal program and former deputy chief of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), has formally applied a justice collaborator (JC) status. Sony, a retired two-start police general, has reportedly told investigators about involvement of over 20 high-profile names in the case.
Regulating platforms, ignoring factories
When the government issued Trade Minister Regulation (Permendag) No. 19/2026 on electronic commerce (PMSE), the stated objective sounded difficult to oppose: give greater visibility to local products, strengthen consumer protection, improve transparency and ensure digital platforms support domestic businesses. The regulation even extends beyond traditional marketplaces to ride-hailing and online travel agency (OTA) platforms, recognizing their growing role in facilitating commerce.