Today’s cabinet reshuffle was a clear signal of President Prabowo Subianto’s ongoing effort to consolidate power and tighten control over the state apparatus.

Hajj management has long been a lightning rod for controversy. Recently, a former Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was implicated in allegations of selling and mismanaging hajj quotas. That scandal not only undermined public trust but also revealed the opacity and political patronage that too often surround pilgrimage governance.

The government, through Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), is currently reviewing a proposal that would limit Indonesians to having only one social media account per person. The idea, pushed by a lawmaker from the Gerindra Party, aims to reduce fake or anonymous accounts that spread hoaxes, hate speech, and online fraud. At first glance, the proposal may sound like a bold solution to clean up our digital space. But upon closer inspection, it is both legally fragile and politically hazardous.

The latest cabinet reshuffle by President Prabowo Subianto has sparked not only speculation about political strategy but also renewed scrutiny of unresolved corruption scandals. The removal of Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo and Cooperative Minister Budi Arie Setiadi exemplifies how political and legal considerations are intertwined in Indonesia’s governance.

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) initially planned to report Ferry Irwandi, CEO of Malaka Project, for an unspecified crime, which was only later disclosed to be defamation against TNI. The police, however, stated that TNI as an institution could not report for defamation. The absurdity surrounding this situation led to speculations on TNI’s motives, particularly considering that Ferry is an activist who has been quite vocal in bringing light to socio-political issues, including the recent riot in Indonesia.

Dismissal of Budi Gunawan as coordinating minister for politics and security is one of major decisions taken by President Prabowo Subianto other than appointment of Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as minister of finance (MoF) to replace Sri Mulyani Indrawati. 

A clarification and apology from the Minister of Religious Affairs should have closed the controversy over his viral remarks about teachers. Yet, according to information from within the Ministry, the fallout is now taking a more concerning turn: an unwritten instruction has reportedly been circulated to leaders of educational institutions under the ministry, urging them to prevent or discourage demonstrations.

On the first week of September, Indonesia witnessed yet another controversy triggered not by policy missteps, but by words. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar was forced to issue a public apology after his statement—“if you want to make money, do not be a teacher, be a trader”—went viral. The clip, stripped of context, circulated widely and sparked outrage among educators who felt demeaned.

The recent meeting on 31 August 2025 between Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and several online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers at the Vice Presidential Palace was intended as an empathetic gesture—just days after the tragic death of driver Affan Kurniawan during protests. Yet rather than healing wounds, the interaction stumbled into a communication crisis that exposed a deeper problem: the distortion between intent and image.

Delpedro Marhaen, the Executive Director of the non-profit civic organization Lokataru Foundation, was arrested on Monday (01/09) for allegedly inciting underaged students to riot. There are some irregularities in his sudden arrest, which led people to believe that this is a repression of free speech. Once again, Indonesia’s democracy has hit a new low.