Nepotism: Easy money from meat import quota
Lutfi Hasan Ishaaq, then president of Islamic party PKS was sentenced 16 years prison in 2013 for his role in bribery related to allotment of import quota for beef. This was possible because PKS cadres controlled ministry of agriculture for 10 years (2014-2024). Will we see new Lutfis behind the bars for the same practice?
BGN’s new offices
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) plans to expand its organizational structure this year by establishing regional offices and service offices (KPPG) across Indonesia. The regional offices will handle coordination at the provincial level, while the KPPG will operate at the city/district level. This development makes one wonder. Why does the MBG program appear to become increasingly bureaucratic?
Not a military regime—yet
The decision to gather regional legislative leaders for a multi-day retreat at the Akademi Militer Magelang raises a question that should not be dismissed too quickly: what exactly is being consolidated—policy coordination, or political control?
Muktamar NU 2026
By any measure, the 2026 congress of Nahdlatul Ulama will not be routine. It is shaping up to be a defining moment—not only for the world’s largest Muslim organization, but for the direction of moral and political landscape. Beneath the formal language of “organizational consolidation” lies a deeper contest: who controls NU, and for what purpose?
US-Indonesia/-China: Economic implications
Prabowo administration made some controversial decisions with huge economic implications going forward. On February 19, 2026, Prabowo signed two agreements during his meetings with Donald Trump: the US-Indonesia Agreement of Reciprocal Trade (ART), Indonesia joining US-led Board of Peace (BoP).
Decentralizing truth: When data becomes power in villages
Lawmakers are once again attempting to fix a chronic governance problem: unreliable data. Through the proposed Satu Data Indonesia Bill (RUU SDI), the House of Representatives—particularly the Badan Legislasi DPR(Baleg)—seeks to elevate villages from passive data objects into active data producers, managers and even interpreters.
70% approval, but nobody remembers being asked
When Cyrus Network released its latest survey claiming that 70 percent are satisfied with the Cabinet’s performance, the reaction online was swift—and telling. Instead of applause, the numbers were met with sarcasm, skepticism and humor.
Indonesia-US: The blanket overflight access
The plan to allow U.S. military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace has recently sparked public debate. For many, this goes far beyond a matter of aviation. At its core, the issue raises questions about sovereignty, the direction of Indonesia’s foreign policy, and its position amidst the longstanding rivalry between two global powers.
Expanding protection, or diluting justice?
Government’s revision of the Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims (RUU PSdK) promises a long-overdue shift in the country’s criminal justice system. By expanding protection beyond witnesses and victims to include whistleblowers, experts and other parties involved in legal proceedings, lawmakers claim to be strengthening justice. But, does broader protection necessarily mean better justice?
Political timing behind the attack on Jusuf Kalla
The controversy surrounding Jusuf Kalla’s sermon at Universitas Gadjah Mada is being framed as a theological dispute. It is not. It is a case study in how outrage can be manufactured, amplified, and weaponized—with strikingly convenient timing.