One country, many EV policies
Electric vehicle (EV) transition is no longer a unified national project. It is becoming a patchwork of provincial experiments—each shaped less by strategy than by fiscal pressure. With new rules issued via the Ministry of Home Affairs, regional governments are no longer required to keep EV taxes at zero. They can now impose or reduce levies such as vehicle ownership tax (PKB) and transfer fees (BBNKB) at their own discretion.
Hajj quotas and hidden brokers: Returning the money—but not the truth
When Khalid Basalamah returned Rp 8.4 billion to the Corruption Eradication Commission, the gesture was framed as cooperation. But in long history of corruption cases, returning the money rarely closes the story. More often, it is where the real questions begin.
Questioning MBG’s digital backbone
In addition to procuring 28,300 Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 tablets, it was also revealed that BGN allocated Rp1.2 trillion on IT needs. However, according to BGN Head Dadan Hindayana, the actual expenditure amounted to Rp749 billion, comprising approximately Rp 199 billion for managed services to Internet of Things (IOT) devices and Rp 550 billion for the development of the SIPGN application.
Squeezed margins at Data Center Indonesia
PT DCI Indonesia Tbk (DCII), involved in data centre business, reported 10.9% increase in sales revenues to Rp858 billion in the first quarter of 2025, but net profit dropped nearly 10% to Rp377.8 billion.
More pressures in the financial market
Composite index of Indonesia Stock Exchange/IDX (IHSG/JCI) ended substantially lower by 2.16% Thursday (Apr 23), dragged down by multiple factors, including further sliding of rupiah, the rise of crude oil, and correction in inflated stocks like Barito Renewables (BREN) and Dian Swastatika Sentosa (DSSA).
Missed opportunities at Freeport Indonesia
Temporary suspension of operations at the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine following last September mud rush incident led to downfall of copper and gold production at PT Freeport Indonesia in the first quarter of 2026.
Double down on MBG: Subsidized housing for SPPG employees
Following the controversy over the electric motorcycle procurement, reports surfaced that the Ministry of Housing and Settlement (PKP) planned to allocate a quota of 1,000 subsidized housing units for SPPG employees, specifically SPPI graduates. Although both BGN and BP Tapera have denied this, given the chaotic coordination between government agencies, it is not impossible that this “rumor” could eventually evolve into a concrete plan.
From assistant to observer: When AI starts watching your screen
When OpenAI quietly introduced its new “Chronicle” feature inside Codex, the headline sounded deceptively simple: an AI that can “see” your screen to better assist you. But beneath that promise lies a far more consequential shift—one that could redefine the relationship between humans and machines.
Waskita yet to see the light
Waskita Karya (WSKT), the troubled state EPC firm, booked net loss of Rp678 billion in the first quarter of 2026. It fell 45.5% from the corresponding period last year, but mostly due to non-cash gain from debt restructuring of Rp411 billion.
Rupiah undervalued?
Rupiah opened lower at Rp17,220 this morning even after Bank Indonesia declared the currency is undervalued, which prompted the central bank to splash billions of US dollars of the country’s foreign exchange reserves in recent months to defend rupiah.