When “abandoned land” becomes a policy weapon
Government Regulation (PP) No. 48/2025 on abandoned land is meant to send a clear message: concessions must be used productively, or they will be taken back by the state. On paper, the policy sounds logical. Idle land fuels speculation, distorts markets, and deprives the public of economic benefits. But in practice, the regulation risks turning into something far more dangerous: a blunt policy weapon that undermines legal certainty and scares away long-term investment.
Customs scandal that exposes systemic decay
The Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) revelation that customs officials allegedly received up to Rp7 billion in monthly kickbacks is not merely another corruption case. It is a stark reminder that border control system—supposedly the frontline of economic sovereignty—remains deeply compromised from within.
Stuck in the Middle
Indonesia’s economy may look healthy on the surface, with GDP growing 5.04 percent (year-on-year) in the third quarter of 2025. This growth, however, is still largely driven by household consumption that is expanding slowly, while per-capita GDP remains stuck at around US$4,300 – 4,900. It suggests that growth is occurring, but not the kind that sustainably raises productivity or incomes. This is exactly the condition that risks locking the country into a middle-income trap.
When a city chokes on its own waste
The piles of garbage now haunting the streets of South Tangerang in Banten province are not just a public nuisance. They are a political verdict. When waste overflows onto roads, markets and residential areas, the problem is no longer about sanitation. It is about governance failure.
When edtech meets big tech money
The ongoing courtroom revelations in the Chromebook procurement case are no longer just about overpriced laptops. They are becoming a test of how Indonesia manages conflicts of interest in an era where technology founders move into government—and where public policy can intersect with private capital in ways that are difficult to untangle.
Two tax scandals in one month
Tax authority is once again at the center of a corruption storm. Within the span of just one month, two separate operations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have exposed alleged bribery schemes inside tax offices in Jakarta and Banjarmasin. The timing is alarming. It suggests that the problem is not isolated misconduct, but a deeper institutional crisis within the Direktorat Jenderal Pajak (DJP).
Pertamina’s streamlining: How serious?
State-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina has officially merged its downstream subholdings, namely PT Pertamina Patra Niaga (PPN), PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), and the business segment of PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), wherein Pertamina Patra Niaga is the surviving entity.
Coal production cut: Who gets how much? (2)
Amidst lack of disclosure from public listed companies and policy transparency from energy and mineral resources ministry, rumours dominate the conversation in the mining sector about approval of work plan and budget (RKAB) this year. The circulated information about who gets how much cut sparked wild speculations, which could hurt the country’s overall investment climate.
Manipulated stocks: Mixed response (2)
Stocks in the universe of Prajogo Pangestu experienced limited correction following MSCI’s decision. Barito Renewables (BREN), constituent of MSCI Indonesia Large Cap Index, retreated only by 13.7% since January 27, while Petrindo Jaya (CUAN) lost only 3.7%.
Manipulated stocks: Mixed response (1)
Following MSCI’s decision, some inflated or manipulated stocks steadily declined, while others regained grounds. Some, including three stocks controlled by tycoon Prajogo Pangestu, tried to prevent correction, whilst healthy, with buyback programs.