The politics of proximity
When does hospitality become political capital? And when does access turn into advantage? These questions resurfaced after Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar attended the inauguration of a religious facility linked to politician Oesman Sapta Odang (OSO), traveling on transportation provided by the host. Much of the public debate has centered on the optics of the trip. But the deeper issue goes beyond one flight or one ceremony.
Another General at the Helm of a Civilian State Body
The appointment of May. Gen. (ret.) dr. Prihati Pujowaskito as president director of BPJS Kesehatan marks more than a routine leadership transition. It reinforces a pattern that has gradually taken shape under President Prabowo Subianto: the placement of retired military officers at the helm of key civilian state bodies.
DPR draws the line for judicial ethics
The House of Representatives (DPR) have publicly pressured the Constitutional Court’s Ethics Council (MKMK) not to process a complaint related to the appointment of Constitutional Court justice Adies Kadir. Their argument is simple: the MKMK has no authority to examine a political process carried out by the legislature.
Prabowo’s Visit to the U.S.
President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to meet with his counterpart in Washington on Thursday 19, local time. In addition to advancing economic cooperation with the United States–including the signing of a Reciprocal Trade Agreement–the president will also attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by Donald Trump as part of broader efforts to stabilize the conflict in Gaza.
Behind the Polri SPPG
Recently, Indonesian social media has been abuzz with discussions about the implementation of President Prabowo’s free ‘nutritious’ meal (MBG) by the Indonesian National Police (Polri), which has established more than 400 operational SPPG (central kitchen) units across the country. A significant number of these units are managed by Yayasan Kemala Bhayangkari, an organization representing the wives of police officers. Given its close ties to the state apparatus, this arrangement has inevitably sparked concerns over potential conflicts of interest and accountability.
High approval & public discontent
A recent survey by Indikator Politik Indonesia finds that 79.9 percent of Indonesians approve of President Prabowo Subianto’s performance. At first glance, this suggests strong public support. Over the past year, however, the country has witnessed nationwide protests, heated fiscal debates, and growing unease among the urban middle class. This contradiction raises a pressing question: if approval ratings remain high, why does public discontent feel so visible?
When cooperatives meet the barracks
The Red and White Cooperative, is increasingly shaped by an unusual actor: the military. What began as a state-driven effort to accelerate rural logistics and food distribution has now openly enlisted the Indonesian Military (TNI), including its territorial apparatus, to help establish cooperatives across villages. The justification is efficiency. The consequence, however, may be far more political.
When student leaders become targets
The latest intimidation reported against the chairman of the Student Executive Board (BEM) at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) should alarm anyone who still believes universities are the last bastion of free expression in Indonesia. According to media reports, the student leader received threats after speaking out about the tragic suicide of a child in East Nusa Tenggara, an issue he framed as a failure of the state to protect basic rights.
Shelter Crisis Before Ramadan
Nearly three months after the disaster in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, thousands of survivors remain stranded in emergency tents. They are expected to vacate these shelters before the holy month of Ramadan begins, yet the government’s promised temporary housing (huntara) is still not ready. This leaves survivors trapped in an impossible position where they are told to leave, but having nowhere to go.
Trapped in a never-ending cycle
Recent data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) shows that Indonesia’s workforce increased by 1.2 million people in November 2025 compared to August 2025, yet it remains dominated by workers who have only completed elementary school or less. Not only does this expose an unequal access to education in the country, but also a systemic failure that reproduces low skills, traps workers in low-productivity sectors, and sustains a cycle of low wages and chronic economic vulnerability.