Google Indonesia Failed to Resolve Tax Issue
The negotiation between the Government of Indonesia and Google Asia-Pacific (an entity based in Singapore) regarding the latter’s back taxes was supposed to be settled in mid-December 2016. Google, however, reportedly offered a too small amount of payment for the settlement and the Indonesian Government is not amused. The Government is now trying to process the issue as a criminal issue based on the applicable taxation law. Will this threat work?
A Look Back on the Attorney General’s Office’s Performance (Part II)
We talked about the AGO’s performance in 2016 based on their achievement in the examination process and in the stage of prosecution. The data show that the AGO’s performance is anything but satisfactory. What may have caused this?
A Look Back on the Attorney General’s Office’s Performance (Part I)
After two years of running under the leadership of Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo (who was a prosecutor and a cadre of the National Democratic party) the performance of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is still far from satisfactory. Last year’s performance was marked with a lot of unfinished investigations and/or inquisitions. The AGO was unable to meet public expectation on the continuation of stalled cases. What about 2016?
Sariwangi Escaped Bankruptcy Again
PT Sariwangi Agricultural Estate Agency (Sari Wangi AEA Co Ltd – Sariwangi) and its subsidiary PT Maskapai Perkebunan Indorub Sumber Wadung (Indorub) first escaped bankruptcy in September 2015. Since then the Companies also escaped a lawsuit to cancel the peace agreement in mid-2016. But the Companies had to once again face a lawsuit to cancel the peace agreement filed by its separatist creditor PT Bank Panin Tbk (PNBN) in October 2016. Luckily, the Panel of Judges of the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court decided to decline said lawsuit on December 19, 2016. And so Sariwangi has managed to escape bankruptcy once more.
Sumatera Persada Energi is Bankrupt
PT Sumatera Persada Energi (SPE), the subsidiary of PT Asiabumi Petroleo is finally bankrupt after the Panel of Judges of the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court decided to accept the lawsuit to cancel the 2014 peace agreement filed by PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk (BNGA). SPE, however, is actually in the middle of their second PKPU process. So what does this actually mean for the Company?
Ahok versus Sumarsono
As we all know, Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is currently on leave. The man filling in his shoes is Soni Sumarsono, the acting governor of Jakarta. Nearly two months have gone by since Sumarsono began his duties as acting governor of the Capital City. And so far, we’ve seen just how much an acting governor like Sumarsono can do. Sumarsono has tweaked the budget, stopped projects, and is now planning to appoint and dismiss officials. Can active governors do such things and make such decisions?
A Look Back on Jokowi’s Economic Policy Packages (Part III)
The Government of Indonesia lacked focus when first attempting to release their economic policy package series. But after publishing ten Economic Policy Packages (PKE), the Government started to gain confidence in their stride towards policy/regulatory reform. Of all the regulations to be reformed or amended, the Government only encountered few difficulties, be it as a result of internal coordination problems or external rejection. By June 2016, the Government published two more policy packages.
Corruption in Bakamla
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted its latest Sting Operation (OTT) on December 14, 2016. Four individuals were arrested and named as suspects the following day. The Deputy for Information, Law and Cooperation in the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Prosecutor Eko Susilo Hadi is the alleged receiver of bribe.
A Look Back on Jokowi’s Economic Policy Packages (Part II)
Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s government’s first series of Economic Policy Package (PKE) attempted to address many things at once, causing confusion as to what the Government really intended to achieve. But following the released of the First Economic Policy Package (PKE 1), the Government seemed to have regained focus. The PKEs released thereafter were more focused in nature, and it began clear that the Government look at these PKEs as products in progress. After the publication of the third package (PKE 3), the Government became even more focused, herein we go through the Fourth to the Tenth Economic Policy Package.
A Look Back on Jokowi’s Economic Policy Packages (Part I)
The Government began releasing series of Economic Policy Package (PKE)s since September 2015. To date, 14 PKEs have been published covering a variety of issues. This series of articles will review the published PKEs and their implementation so far. In this article we will go through PKE 1 to 3.