Is this really a white-collar crime?
The corruption trial surrounding former education minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim has entered a decisive phase at the Pengadilan Tindak Pidana Korupsi Jakarta. After the panel of judges rejected the defense’s preliminary objection, prosecutors have begun presenting witnesses and documentary evidence in the case related to the Chromebook procurement program during the pandemic-era digitalization push.
Red and white village
Indonesia’s village fund policy was born out of reformasi’s promise: empower villages to decide their own development priorities. For nearly a decade, Dana Desa has financed roads, irrigation, clean water systems, health posts and small-scale economic initiatives based on deliberations at the village level. It was imperfect, but it was participatory.
More pushbacks, but…
The US-Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) has drawn more pushbacks from the society. The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) sees it a new form of colonialism because provisions in the ART risk weakening the halal system established under the 2014 Halal Product Assurance Law.
Trading away our data sovereignty?
President Prabowo Subianto and Donald Trump sealed the new Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), the headlines focused on tariffs, market access and strategic commodities. But tucked inside the digital trade chapter lies a clause far more consequential than a marginal tariff cut: Indonesia’s agreement to facilitate the transfer of personal data to the United States.
Closing the door on media bargaining
For years, governments around the world have grappled with a difficult question: How should they ensure that global digital platforms fairly compensate local media for the news content that fuels their traffic and advertising revenue?
The Belvin Tannadi case
The recent sanction imposed by the Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) on stock influencer Belvin Tannadi has exposed a darker side of that digital revolution: the thin line between education and manipulation.
Quiet layoffs (2)
Last year was one of the best years for palm oil producers. Astra Agro Lestari (AALI), member of Astra International (ASII), for example, booked net profit of Rp1.47 trillion, an increase of 28% from 2024. Yet, this company reduced its workforce significantly.
Nickel production cut: Not applied to Hengjaya
Pretty much as predicted, Indonesia’s nickel production cut is not applicable across the board. PT Weda Bay Nickel (WBN), a company co-owned by Tsingshan (China), Eramet (France), and Antam (Indonesia), and other nickel miners have received less than 30% of their requested quotas, but clearly not applied to Hengjaya Mine, subsidiary of ASX-listed Nickel Industries Ltd (NIC).
A rare opposition
Prabowo administration’s decision to import 105,000 trucks from India through state company PT Agrinas has finally gained more oppositions, which is rare these days. Analysts, automotive industry association, lawmakers, and even ministry of industry have expressed their criticism to the decision.
Great Deal or Faustian Bargain? (2)
The United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia have on Thursday (Feb 19) signed an agreement on reciprocal trade. Reciprocal might not be the right term because most of the articles in the agreement started with these words…”Indonesia shall” and “Indonesia shall not”.