SKK Migas Case: Trial of Sri Utami
Nearly four years ago the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Sri Utami, officer at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, a suspect of corruption in a case implicating the former Minister of Energy, Jero Wacik, and the former Secretary General of the Ministry, Waryono Karno. The two men were convicted over seven years ago, but the trial of Sri Utami has just started.
When AHY Met Khofifah
The Chairman of Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the eldest son of the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), met with some influential figures, including the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa, in the past few days. The said meetings are worth highlighting, considering AHY is seeking to run in the 2024 presidential race.
The National Food Agency Chief
Apart from swearing in Andi Widjajanto as the new Governor of the respected National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo also made Arief Prasetyo Adi the chief of the National Food Agency (Bapanas). Arief’s inauguration is worth highlighting because the National Food Agency is a new strategic food security agency established by the President. The Agency is tasked with stabilizing food prices in the country.
2024 Race: The Battle of the Governors?
The 2024 race could be a battle of the governors. They dominate the presidential polls held by various polling agencies. Among the top four potential presidential candidates for the 2024 race, three are governors, i.e., the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo, the Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan, and the Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil.
The Employment Guarantee Controversies
On Feb. 2, 2022, the Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, established a regulation regarding the procedures and requirements for payment of the Old Age Security (JHT) benefits. Within a few days of its promulgation, the regulation caused a commotion. The new ministerial regulation (Permenaker) limits JHT withdrawals to only when the age of the participants of the Social Security Administration Agency (BPJS) for Manpower (BPJS TK) has reached 56 years or according to the retirement period. Rallies were carried out by labor unions in various regions protesting this one provision. The current commotion is the result of a prolonged absence of legal certainty.
The New Lemhanas Governor
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is scheduled to swear in Andi Widjajanto as the new Governor of the respected National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) today (Feb. 21). Andi, former Cabinet Secretary back in Jokowi’s first term, will replace Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, who has been inaugurated as the new Indonesian Ambassador for the Philippines.
When Gus Yahya Promotes Khofifah
The Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU), Yahya Cholil Staquf, a.k.a Gus Yahya, highly praises the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa for her leadership at the Muslimat NU, the NU’s female wing organization. But rather than only at the Muslimat NU, Gus Yahya said that Khofifah has to take part at the national level to serve the people nationwide.
Jokowi & Ganjar (4)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo praises the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo for the vaccination program in the province. The President delivered the said praise in a virtual meeting with the Governor and his ranks on Thursday (Feb. 17).
Azis Syamsuddin is Guilty
The disgraced Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Azis Syamsuddin (Golkar) was named a suspect for his alleged involvement in the case brokering scandal in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Six months after the case was uncovered, Azis was found guilty.
Presidential Pairing Talks (2)
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan appeared again with the West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil. Their appearance triggered speculation on the possibility of them pairing up in the 2024 presidential race.