As we’ve reported before, the central government has begun implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI) program under the management of the Social Insurance Implementing Body for Health (BPJS Kesehatan). The first phase of the roll out involves enrolling 76 million poor who were previously covered under the tax-funded health insurance program called Jamkesmas. This is already a problem given that Jamkesmas’ coverage was patchy and left many who actually needed health coverage uninsured. To compensate for Jamkesmas’ lack of coverage, many local governments decided to develop their own local-budget-funded health programs known as Jamkesda. One of such programs is the now famous Jakarta Healthy Card (KJS).

Sritex has unique relationship with Indonesian politics for several reasons. First, the factory produces military uniforms/suits. Second, the factory employes about 20,000 workers/voters. Third, Lukminto, the founder, was closely linked to political elites ranging from then Golkar chairman Harmoko to president SBY’s Democratic Party or even the wildly popular Jakarta governor Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo.

Detik.com reported Wednesday (Feb 5) night that H Muhammad Lukminto, founder and controlling shareholder of listed textile giant PT Sri Rejeki Isman (SRIL) Tbk, passed away in Singapore Wednesday at 67. Prospect of Sritex after the late Lukminto, who is known politically savvy?

This is the ninth edition of our series of article about lawmaker candidates and their business backgrounds, which might be related to connections between political party leaders and business groups. In this edition, we focus on election areas of Aceh, West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Bangka Belitung, and Lampung provinces in Sumatra Island, home to resource-based businesses.

Tribunnews.com reported from Kendari, the capital city of Southeast Sulawesi province, few hours ago that about 14,000 workers at 47 nickel mining companies have been laid off without severance following implementation of mineral ore export ban since January 12, 2014. Some of them started to stage public rallies and protests.

PT Bakrie Swasakti Utama, subsidiary of Bakrieland Development (ELTY), escaped bankruptcy after the Supreme Court denied the cassation filed by Soetomo, buyer of apartment at Taman Rasuna, recently. PT Mitra Supra, however, has been declared bankrupt in a case filed by Bank Rakyat Indonesia. How about Benangsari Indahtextindo?