Dumb and Dumber
The Jakarta city administration under Governor Anies Baswedan was heavily criticized for cutting down 191 trees in the process of revitalizing the southern area of the National Monument (Monas). The critics not only consider the project as unnecessary, but also destructive of the environment. Many expressed their anger and dubbed the governor’s revitalization project as dumb. Meanwhile, the opposition party in Jakarta’s legislative council (DPRD) PSI calls for an investigation into the said project.
The Latest Police Job Rotation
The Chief of the National Police (Kapolri) General Idham Azis made another round of job rotation. The rotation affects 665 high-ranking and mid-ranking police officers, including 8 regional police chiefs. It is the largest job rotation in the past few years.
Harun Masiku Case & A Question on PDIP’s 2024 Future
A month has almost passed since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested the Commissioner of the General Election Commission (KPU) Wahyu Setiawan and three other people for bribery. That said, PDIP lawmaker candidate Harun Masiku, the alleged briber, is still missing. Some have begun to compare Masiku with Muhammad Nazaruddin, a former politician from Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) Democratic Party. Will PDIP end up like the Democratic Party?
Gibran & the Surakarta Election: A Challenge to Jokowi
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a closed-door meeting with the Mayor of Surakarta FX Hadi Rudyatmo in Yogyakarta last Friday (Jan. 31). At the heart of their discussion was the 2020 election in the President’s hometown Surakarta (Central Java). The meeting is worth highlighting given that the President’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka is trying to run for mayor of Surakarta.
The Latest Military Job Rotation
The Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto made another round of job rotation. This time, the rotation affects 45 high-ranking military officers of the three military branches, including Maj. Gen. Mar. Bambang Suswantono, former Commander of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Presidential Guard (Paspampres).
The Opposition & the Jiwasraya Case
Two out of the three opposition parties in the House of Representatives (DPR) are pushing for the establishment of a special committee (Pansus) to investigate the corruption in state insurance firm PT Asuransi Jiwasraya (Persero).
Regional Elections to Watch: Kutai Kartanegara
The area in the neighbouring regencies of Kutai Kartanegara (Kukar) and Penajam Paser Utara is the location of the future capital city of Indonesia. For this reason alone the local election in Kutai Kartanegara regency must be noted. The incumbent regent Edi Damansyah, who is now a PDIP politician, is seeking reelection.
The Army Chief & Military Procurement
The Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Andika Perkasa is visiting the United States of America (US). Andika is an important figure to watch in the context of military procurement given that he’s now the commander of the largest military branch in the Indonesia military (TNI), and that he’s the son-in-law of General (ret) AM Hendropriyono, who is an influential retired general in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s inner circle. Like Prabowo’s Gerindra, Hendropriyono’s party PKPI is also a member of the President’s ruling coalition.
Prabowo & Military Procurement (2)
Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto was in his two-day visit in Russia for military procurement. Russia is the ninth foreign country he visited in the past three months. Indonesia’s long-time plan to purchase 11 units of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets was likely at the heart of Prabowo’s visit.
Jokowi’s Second Term: Notes (5)
In his second term, there’s relatively no challenge to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s power. The lack of checks-and-balance from the opposition has become a worrying issue to note. Let’s talk about the opposition.