Backgrounder

House to pass key draft laws as succession looms

The House of Representatives plans to accelerate the law-making process of several controversial bills during the lame-duck period before its term ends on Oct. 1. The politicians are intent on revising specifically the Broadcasting Law, the Constitutional Court Law, State Ministries Law and Indonesian Military (TNI) Law that would help them consolidate their power, unfortunately at the expense of democracy, before the Oct. 20 succession of administration.

Govt relaxes local content requirements for renewable energy

The Indonesian government plans to simplify and reduce local content requirements (TKDN) in the electricity sector to at least 25 percent to boost investment in renewable energy, which has been moving at a snail pace due to various barriers, especially unattractive pricing and the restrictive TKDN itself.

Edition

May 17, 2024

Big government means bigger budget. Can Prabowo deliver?

President-elect Prabowo Subianto is pushing for a big government for when he takes over the helm in October, but it is not so much because he has ambitious big programs to run, but more because he needs to parcel out cabinet posts to political parties, individuals and institutions that helped him win the February election.

Civil servants’ bumpy road to new capital city

President Joko "Jokowi'' Widodo's ambition to relocate the national capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan as his signature legacy will hinge on his success in holding a ceremony to mark Indonesia's independence anniversary on Aug. 17 in the new city. The major hurdle to the plan is moving thousands of civil servants to Nusantara in a relatively short time.

Edition

May 10, 2024

Presidential club initiative likely to be DOA

The initiative to form a presidential club may be dead on arrival, not only because at least one of the two former living presidents will likely oppose the plan but more importantly, because none of the three candidates for membership has the statesmanship qualities deserving of being on a council of supposedly wise men/women.

Bata closes its Indonesian factory, raises concerns of deindustrialization

While deindustrialization in Indonesia remains a matter of debate, the recent closure of shoe manufacturer PT Sepatu Bata's only factory in the country has sparked new concerns. The government has assured that Indonesia's manufacturing industry is still healthy.

Edition

May 3, 2024

NasDem Party, PKB join Prabowo, wait for rewards

The National Awakening Party (PKB) and the NasDem Party, two parties that nominated Anies Baswedan in the Feb. 14 presidential election, have decided to join the winning side of Prabowo Subianto. The entry of the two ex-rivals will allow Prabowo to enlarge his coalition and secure majority parliamentary support, but on the flip side it may cause complexities in allocating ministerial posts as rewards in his incoming cabinet.

Indonesia mulls collecting tourism fee from airfares

The Indonesian government is in the process of passing a regulation to establish the ITF. The fund will be used to support various major tourism events that can create multiplier effects, such as music concerts. One of the methods being considered to collect money for the fund is from airfare by charging a tourism fee, which will likely increase flight ticket prices. The plan sparked objections from business players in the Indonesian tourism sector as well as advocates of consumer rights.