Prabowo-Rizieq Alliance
Prabowo Subianto met with Amien Rais and Rizieq Shihab in Mecca, Saudi Arabia while on an umrah (a minor haj). Though all of them denied meeting to discuss politics, many believe that they met in connection to 2019.
Law Journal
The trial of the dispute between PT Kawasan Berikat Nusantara (Persero) (KBN) and its subsidiary PT Karya Citra Nusantara (KCN) continues, but the accounts presented to the court so far provide little support for KBN. Separately, the trial of Syafruddin “Syaf” Arsyad Temenggung, former Chairman of the Indonesia’s Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN), who is a defendant in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) graft case, continues after the Panel of Judges decided to reject Syaf’s objection. Meanwhile, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) raided the Bengkalis Regent’s official residence.
SBY & Gatot
The former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met the former Military (TNI) Commander Gatot Nurmantyo at an iftar gathering held in Chairul Tanjung’s residence. In the said gathering, Gatot kissed SBY’s hand. This then led to speculations concerning the 2019 race.
Jokowi’s 2019 & West Sumatera
On Sunday (Jun 3), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, uploaded a video on his personal Facebook account showing a snippet of the life of the recipient of the President’s social assistance program (Program Keluarga Harapan or PKH). The timing of the release of this video is interesting. What is also interesting is the fact that the person highlighted in the video is from Bukittinggi, West Sumatera.
Reading Zulkifli Hasan’s Moves
The Chairman of PAN Zulkifli Hasan, who is also the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), has been very busy. On Wednesday (May 30), Zulkifli met with Aburizal “Ical” Bakrie and then Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), before welcoming the visit of General (ret.) Gatot Nurmantyo and Anies Baswedan at his official residence. What is Zulkifli after?
New People Around Jokowi, Islam Politics, and 2019
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to take the oath of Yahya Cholil Staquf as a new member of the President’s Advisory Council (Wantimpres) to replace KH. Hasyim Muzadi, who passed away two months ago. The inauguration ceremony will take place at the State Palace Jakarta this afternoon (May 31) at around 1:00 PM. Yahya, who was the spokesperson of the late fourth President Abdurrahman Wahid a.k.a Gus Dur, is the latest figure who has made it inside Jokowi’s palace circle after Ali Mochtar Ngabalin and a number of other figures.
Corruption Journal: Kendari, Subang, and Kebumen
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been very busy lately, not only with the ongoing investigations, but also in facing the trials of the perpetrators. And since the cases happens in various regions all over the country, some of the trials are being held in the respective district courts. This week, the KPK attended the trial of the graft suspects in Kendari, Subang and Kebumen.
Jokowi & Islam Politics
The controversial politician Ali Mochtar Ngabalin made his first public appearance with President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo at an event organised by Hamka University, linked to the second largest Moslem organization Muhammadyah, in Jakarta Tuesday (May 29). Hundreds miles away in Madiun, East Java, Jokowi’s ministers inaugurated the newly built low-cost apartment for students of Islamic boarding school Al Hikam.
Politics and the Revised Counter-Terrorism Law
The ultimatum President Jokowi gave to the House of Representatives (DPR) worked. In the morning of May 25, the DPR passed the long-delayed amendment of the Counterterrorism Law No. 15/2003. This amendment is expected to help the Government implement a much more thorough approach in combatting terrorism. But is this a win for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo?
The Counter-Terrorism Law Amended
After almost three years of waiting, the House of Representatives finally promulgated the amendment to the Counter-Terrorism Law on Friday last week. There are several new things mentioned in the amendment, making it a stark contrast compared to the previous law. The Government has not published the final version of the amendment, but the House of Representatives has mentioned the most crucial points in the new law.