Rebuilding trust after the attack
The image of Gibran Rakabuming Raka being turned away from visiting Andrie Yunus is more than a moment of awkward protocol. It is a stark signal of something deeper: a widening trust deficit between the state and civil society. In today’s Indonesia, even gestures of sympathy from top officials are no longer automatically welcomed. They are questioned, scrutinized and, in this case, rejected.
Indonesia’s Acquisition of Giuseppe Garibaldi
The Italian Senate has recently given the green light for Indonesia’s acquisition of the retired carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Classified as a grant, the Indonesian government has framed the move as a cost-effective way to support the national armed forces’ military operations other than war (OMSP). However, the long-term maintenance costs may be far less economical than initially anticipated.
Jakarta’s new strongman
The elevation of Deddy Suryadi to a three-star general while serving as Jakarta’s military commander marks more than a routine promotion—it reflects a quiet but significant recalibration of power at the heart of Indonesia’s political system.
Built fast, or built right?
Sekolah Rakyat program is being sold as a bold intervention to break the cycle of poverty through education. With a target of more than 100 new schools in its second phase alone—promised to be completed by June 2026—the initiative signals urgency, ambition, and political commitment. But behind the narrative of acceleration lies a more uncomfortable question: is the government building these schools fast, or building them right?
Feeding the people—or feeding a new corruption ecosystem?
President Prabowo Subianto has framed his flagship Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program in stark moral terms: better for state funds to feed the people than to be lost to corruption. It is a line that resonates powerfully in a country long frustrated by leakages in public spending. But as compelling as the sentiment may be, the framing risks obscuring a more uncomfortable truth: large-scale welfare programs, if poorly designed, can themselves become fertile ground for the very corruption they seek to displace.
Too many voices, no single message
Recent policy signals on energy conservation reveal less about the severity of the crisis than about the state of its governance. Within days, the government floated the idea of work-from-home (WFH) to reduce fuel consumption, while simultaneously cancelling plans for remote schooling to avoid learning loss. The result is a confusing public narrative: mobility should be reduced—but not entirely; austerity is necessary—but selectively applied.
Reform or rebranding?
President Prabowo Subianto’s recent call for ministers to dismiss “rogue” director generals has struck a familiar chord in politics: a strong leader promising to clean up a stubborn bureaucracy. The language was unmistakably forceful. Officials who feel “untouchable” must either reform themselves or be removed. On the surface, this sounds like long-overdue resolve.
TNI’s involvement in the Andrie Yunus case
The acid attack on Andrie Yunus has entered a new phase following the arrest of suspected perpetrators. However, the TNI’s involvement raises fresh concerns about where the case is heading. Is this all about uncovering the truth or controlling it from the outset? With overlapping authority between the military and the National Police, the real test now is whether justice will be pursued transparently or quietly contained.
MBG: Corruption and Nepotism
Two heads of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in Ponorogo, East Java, claimed the foundation managing their SPPGs intimidated them into limiting spending to Rp 6,500 per serving. The incident has drawn widespread attention, particularly amid reports that...
The politics of village economies
Government’s plan to recruit 30,000 university graduates to manage village cooperatives under the Koperasi Merah Putih program may appear to be a bold attempt to address rural economic stagnation and graduate unemployment. However, the decision to place the Ministry of Defense at the center of this initiative raises deeper questions about the evolving role of the state in economic and social landscape.