No less than 600 civilians were reportedly arrested, 150 injured, and one run over by a tactical vehicle during the mass protest in Jakarta yesterday (28/08), all the while our lawmakers had been instructed to work from home. This is, embarrassingly enough, an accurate depiction of the relationship between lawmakers and civilians: people are calling for help, but no one answers. The house is empty. And now the police, who should have provided protection, also came under intense scrutiny after an accident that took someone’s life.

Yesterday’s mass protests, initially from workers unions, but later on flared up by other components, were ugly enough. We don’t expect similar or worse developments from the round of protests planned by the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI) titled ‘Indonesia (C)emas 2025 Part II’ early next month.

The Constitutional Court (MK) sided with majority of Indonesians and civil society group in ending dual roles of deputy ministers, who have in recent months been appointed commissioners of state companies. 

On August 25, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto conferred state decorations upon 141 individuals ranging from politicians and academics to business leaders. The ceremony, intended to recognize extraordinary contributions to the nation, has instead ignited public debate.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially opened the selection of prospective members of the National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) for the 2025–2030 period under a new legal framework: Ministerial Regulation (PMA) No. 10 of 2025. At first glance, this is merely another bureaucratic procedure. Yet beneath the surface, the new regulation reflects deeper frictions between the Ministry and BAZNAS—tensions rooted in longstanding discrepancies over data, audits, and institutional authority.

While President Prabowo Subianto was awarding House Speaker Puan Maharani and the other state officials for their services, people were protesting in front of parliament buildings. Their demand was loud and clear: the House of Representatives (DPR) must be dissolved.

Indonesia is taking a historic step in reshaping the way it manages the annual pilgrimage of its citizens to Mecca. The government and the House of Representatives have agreed to transform the existing Hajj Management Agency (BP Haji) into a full-fledged Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, with a draft law scheduled for ratification in late August.

The arrest of Deputy Manpower Minister Immanuel “Noel” Ebenezer in a graft sting by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) marks more than just a personal scandal. It is a political earthquake that reverberates through the early days of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. For Prabowo, this moment is both a crisis and an opportunity: a chance to prove that his government will not repeat the transactional politics that became the hallmark of his predecessor, Joko Widodo. 

In the 2026 Draft State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN), free nutritious meal (MBG) program is one of the priorities with almost 100% of budget increase from 2025, amounting to more than Rp 300 trillion. People are now questioning the necessity of this plan considering that there have been several problems and complaints regarding the program.

Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Yandri Susanto has officially issued Ministerial Decree No. 10 of 2025 concerning the approval mechanism for village cooperative financing on August 12. It is stated that 30% of the village...