Who writes the rules for their own retirement?
The Constitutional Court (MK) has quietly issued a ruling that could reshape one of the most entrenched privileges in the country’s political system: lifetime pensions for former state officials. By declaring key provisions of Law No. 12/1980 outdated and partially unconstitutional, the Court has effectively opened the door to a fundamental question that has long gone unasked—why should political elites receive benefits that far exceed those available to ordinary citizens?
Feeding the people—or feeding a new corruption ecosystem?
President Prabowo Subianto has framed his flagship Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program in stark moral terms: better for state funds to feed the people than to be lost to corruption. It is a line that resonates powerfully in a country long frustrated by leakages in public spending. But as compelling as the sentiment may be, the framing risks obscuring a more uncomfortable truth: large-scale welfare programs, if poorly designed, can themselves become fertile ground for the very corruption they seek to displace.
Too many voices, no single message
Recent policy signals on energy conservation reveal less about the severity of the crisis than about the state of its governance. Within days, the government floated the idea of work-from-home (WFH) to reduce fuel consumption, while simultaneously cancelling plans for remote schooling to avoid learning loss. The result is a confusing public narrative: mobility should be reduced—but not entirely; austerity is necessary—but selectively applied.
Gainers of 2025 (3): Charoen Pokphand
Charoen Pokphand (CPIN), the largest integrated poultry player in the country, booked net profit of Rp5.64 trillion last year, surged by 52% from 2024 on improved operating margins, which might have been lifted by President Prabowo Subianto’s free nutritious meal (MBG) program.
Prabowo and his commitments
There is a popular joke in Indonesia that Warung Madura will stay open 24/7, even through the apocalypse. Now, it seems like the MBG program is operating on the same principle. Amid mounting economic pressure from the global crisis, Prabowo Subianto has pressed ahead with his flagship initiative, determined to shield it from efficiency cuts. He may call this unwavering commitment. But that commitment comes at a steep cost, which extends beyond a ballooning state budget.
Indonesia blocks foreign media ownership—but who really controls the narrative?
President Prabowo Subianto’s recent statement that foreign ownership in Indonesia’s media sector will remain restricted has been framed as a firm stand for national sovereignty. At a glance, the policy appears reassuring: in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry and information warfare, limiting foreign control over domestic media seems both prudent and necessary. But beneath this assertion lies a more uncomfortable question—if not foreign investors, then who actually controls Indonesia’s narrative?
Grab’s Taiwan gamble and the hidden cost for Indonesia
Grab’s US$600 million acquisition of Foodpanda’s Taiwan business may look like a bold step toward becoming a pan-Asian platform. But behind the headlines of expansion lies a quieter, more consequential question: who will ultimately pay for this ambition?
Market volatility
We’re living in a post-truth world. Trump’s claim of ‘productive talks’ with Iran to ‘de-escalate’ the Middle East conflicts was enough to drag down crude oil price by more than 10% Monday (Mar 23). Objective facts regarding the ‘talks’, which were dismissed by Iran, were less influential.
The new battlefield of Big Tech
For more than a decade, the defining metric of Big Tech competition was simple: users. Platforms fought aggressively to acquire, retain and monetize as many users as possible. From Facebook’s early expansion to TikTok’s meteoric rise, scale was everything. But today, the battleground is shifting. The fiercest competition is no longer about users—it is about creators.
Telkom vs Starlink
Race to expand internet access is entering a new phase—one that is no longer confined to towers and fiber optics on the ground. With Telkom Group partnering with Airbus-backed AALTO to develop high-altitude platform systems (HAPS), or “flying BTS”, the country is now looking to the stratosphere. But this ambition arrives at a time when Elon Musk’s Starlink is already reshaping connectivity across remote regions. The question is no longer just about access. It is about control.