Reform or rebranding?
President Prabowo Subianto’s recent call for ministers to dismiss “rogue” director generals has struck a familiar chord in politics: a strong leader promising to clean up a stubborn bureaucracy. The language was unmistakably forceful. Officials who feel “untouchable” must either reform themselves or be removed. On the surface, this sounds like long-overdue resolve.
TNI’s involvement in the Andrie Yunus case
The acid attack on Andrie Yunus has entered a new phase following the arrest of suspected perpetrators. However, the TNI’s involvement raises fresh concerns about where the case is heading. Is this all about uncovering the truth or controlling it from the outset? With overlapping authority between the military and the National Police, the real test now is whether justice will be pursued transparently or quietly contained.
MBG: Corruption and Nepotism
Two heads of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in Ponorogo, East Java, claimed the foundation managing their SPPGs intimidated them into limiting spending to Rp 6,500 per serving. The incident has drawn widespread attention, particularly amid reports that...
The politics of village economies
Government’s plan to recruit 30,000 university graduates to manage village cooperatives under the Koperasi Merah Putih program may appear to be a bold attempt to address rural economic stagnation and graduate unemployment. However, the decision to place the Ministry of Defense at the center of this initiative raises deeper questions about the evolving role of the state in economic and social landscape.
Power, permits and the politics of floods
In political system, defiance rarely comes from within. Yet in Bogor, a regent from the ruling party has done just that—openly challenging the Environment Minister over flood management and environmental enforcement in the Puncak highlands.
Impeaching Gibran?
The recent submission of a letter by a group of retired Indonesian military officers urging the House of Representatives (DPR) to initiate impeachment proceedings against Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has reignited debate over the boundaries between constitutional process and political maneuvering. While DPR leaders have acknowledged receiving the letter, they have also stressed that such a proposal cannot be processed “overnight” — a response that is as political as it is procedural.
‘Tax fines’ on some conglomerates
Some rich families have reportedly agreed to pay ‘tax fines’ to the State, which can be installed several years to come, related to ‘underpayment’, ‘transfer pricing’, ‘tax avoidance’ schemes in the past.
Purbaya vs economist
Economic debate has taken an unusual turn. Instead of technical discussions in academic forums or policy seminars, the latest clash unfolded in the cabinet room—and on TikTok.
AI in classrooms: policy ambition meets fiscal reality
Recently, the government issued a joint decree signed by seven ministries that provides guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in the education sector. The policy is intended to ensure that the technology is used responsibly while protecting children from potential digital risks.
Acid attack on Andrie Yunus and shrinking civic space
The acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus in Jakarta on March 12 has once again forced citizens to confront a troubling question: how safe is civic space in the country’s democracy? Yunus, the deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was reportedly attacked by two unidentified assailants while riding his motorcycle in the Salemba area shortly after attending a public discussion on militarism and judicial review. The attack left him with serious burns and hospitalized in intensive care.