From free shipping to hidden costs in online marketplaces
The recent controversy surrounding shipping costs in online marketplaces reveals a more uncomfortable truth. Digital platforms are no longer merely facilitating trade. They are increasingly extracting value from the very sellers they once claimed to empower.
Borax, E. coli, and MBG’s fragile oversight
Last month, around 155 people in the Kepulauan Anambas Regency, Riau Islands, suffered food poisoning after consuming meals from the MBG program. The laboratory test results, which were only released recently, revealed traces of borax and E. coli contamination in the food samples. SPPG Air Asuk, the sole MBG provider in the area, has been temporarily suspended from operating due to this incident. But the problems do not stop there.
Why Telkom yet to release audited FY25?
Leading telco player Telkom (TLKM) is the only major company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) that yet to release its audited financial report for full year 2025 (FY25). It is not entirely clear whether the company can meet the 60-day deadline for the extended non-reliance disclosure event from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Saturday (May 9).
Palm oil players in Q1: Weaker margins (3)
Elevated energy prices following the Iran war led to the rise of marine fuel costs and inland transportation expenses for most companies, including palm oil producers. The war also contributed to sharp rise of fertilizer prices, particularly the compound fertilizer mostly used in oil palm plantation.
When Haji Isam’s PGUN almost five times of Salim’s LSIP
Haji Isam and Anthoni Salim, two businessmen close to President Prabowo Subianto, are, indirectly, business partners in a newly developed integrated poultry industry. They are also ‘competitors’ in palm oil business. Haji Isam through PT Pradiksi Gunatama Tbk (PGUN) and Anthoni through PT London Sumatra Plantation Tbk (LSIP).
CNG vs Gas Pipeline
Iran war cost the State budget dearly from higher energy subsidies. While it inevitable for gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, given the circumstances (bigger gap between domestic production and consumption), the country should have long invested in gas pipeline infrastructure to avoid repeated crisis in cooking fuel (liquefied petroleum gas/LPG).
Danantara and GoTo
The government’s entry into GoTo Group through Danantara Indonesia may look modest on paper. The stake is still below 1 percent. Yet politically and economically, the signal is enormous.
A legal battle over prime land in Menteng
The dispute over a heritage property on Teuku Umar Street in Menteng, Central Jakarta, may appear at first glance to be just another land conflict between a private company and the state. But the ongoing battle between PT Temasra Jaya and the Military (TNI) reveals something far larger: the unfinished legacy of military-controlled assets, the fragility of property rights in Indonesia, and the growing political reach of the armed forces beyond defense affairs.
Windfall tax on nickel
Shares of nickel producers ended mostly lower ground on Tuesday (May 5) even when the commodity gained 2.1% to US$19,635 in the London Metal Exchange (LME) as the government floated a plan to charge a windfall tax on nickel and coal.
Defending rupiah
Bank Indonesia has reduced further the cap to buy US dollars without underlying transactions from US$50,000 to US$25,000. The central bank halved the cap from US$100,000 to US$50,000 last month, but failed to prevent further depreciation of rupiah.