Backgrounder

PDI-P presidential candidate selection process a mere formality

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has begun what it claims is the selection process to determine its presidential candidate, with talk of the party’s roster being narrowed to five currently unnamed party members. However, reflecting on PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri’s much talked about speech during the party’s 50th anniversary, the PDI-P’s presidential candidate selection process may well turn out to be little more than a formality.

MIND ID prepares to increase stake in Vale Indonesia

State-owned mining holding Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID) is preparing to acquire a larger stake in Vale Indonesia as the government concluded that the state should take the 11-percent divestment of the subsidiary of Brazil-based mining and logistics firm Vale Group. MIND ID previously acquired 20 percent of the firm’s stock in the ongoing 51-percent share divestment to Indonesian shareholders as a requirement for the nickel miner to extend its expiring work contract into a special mining permit (IUPK).

Edition

February 3, 2023

Anies likely to obtain a presidential ticket with Coalition for Change

The direction in which the Coalition for Change, a political alliance between the NasDem Party, the Democratic Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), is headed is growing clearer. Aside from NasDem’s dawdling, seemingly undecided between being part of the government coalition or siding with the opposition, support for its presidential candidate Anies Baswedan is growing, likely awarding him a ticket to contest the race in 2024.

IKN offers 'oversubscribing' as part of business gambling

The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority has claimed huge investment interest from the private sector to invest in the capital city within the next two years, but businesses said they were actually taking a gamble by grabbing land in the capital city and would not really invest until a new government was formed after next year’s elections. Until then, investment will come mainly from the government – and state-owned enterprises.

Edition

January 27, 2023

Ridwan Kamil joins Golkar. Who benefits?

The Golkar Party is looking to receive a boost of power ahead of the 2024 elections with the arrival of West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as a new member. Chairman Airlangga Hartarto announced Ridwan’s entry to the Golkar fold on Jan. 18, saying the move had allowed the party to look toward the elections with guarded optimism amid the increasingly fierce competition.

Haj pilgrimage back to normal this year, but costs have nearly doubled

This year’s haj pilgrimage for Indonesian Muslims has returned to normal following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia’s quota returning to the pre-pandemic level of more than 220,000 pilgrims. However, pilgrims are facing a price tag of Rp 69 million (US$4,600) per participant, almost double last year’s costs, at a time when Saudi authorities have cut haj service costs.

Edition

January 20, 2023

Ghosts of victims of human rights violations still haunting Indonesia

The government has finally admitted that 12 incidents or tragedies that happened in the past amounted to gross violations of human rights, but short of offering an apology, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo last week expressed regret and promised restitutions for the victims. This is a startling development for a nation that has been in denial about the many horrible things that have happened in the past. But we can forget about the prosecution of the perpetrators. It is not on the cards.

Agrarian reform below target, land conflicts persists

Agrarian reform, one of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s landmark programs to achieve equality and reduce land conflicts, is still far from achieving the target of land redistribution and has still not reduced conflicts pitting small farmers against corporations.