Backgrounder

Political drama overshadows inaugural Jakarta Formula E race

Jakarta held the Formula E electric motorsport race on June 4, almost two years from its original 2020 scheduled date, delayed not only by the COVID-19 pandemic but also by the political fights that accompanied it.

Communications ministry’s remote 4G tower project suffers further delays

A Rp 11 trillion (US$770 million) project launched in 2019 by the Communications and Information Ministry through its public service agency BAKTI to build 4G base transceiver station (BTS) towers in outermost and remote areas is way behind schedule, still stuck in its first phase. The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) is set to audit the project to track irregularities and prevent a cost overrun.

Edition

June 3, 2022

Jokowi sets Luhut on belligerent palm oil giants

The continuous tug-of-war between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and palm oil giants is intensifying. Jokowi may have lost the latest battle when he relented to pressure to lift the export ban on palm oil, which he had imposed to ensure adequate supply of the principal raw material for cooking oil. He is not going to lose the war.

Govt ends subsidy, uses DMO to bring down cooking oil prices

Despite the government’s reopening of crude palm oil (CPO) exports, businesses still face hurdles in exporting as they have to meet the complicated procedures of the domestic market obligation (DMO) of CPO before they can export their produce. In addition, CPO businesses are now facing the government’s planned audits and ongoing investigation by the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU).

Edition

May 27, 2022

Homophobia reaching fever pitch with calls for swifter criminalization

As homophobia across the country reaches a fever pitch, a senior minister is challenging the House of Representatives to go ahead with the plan to create a specific law to criminalize gays and lesbians rather than waiting for the enactment of the new penal code, which is currently in the works.

Govt revokes export ban on CPO as farmers suffer losses

The government has decided to revoke its controversial export ban on crude palm oil (CPO) and all of its derived products, citing improvements in the domestic price and supply of cooking oil. The aftermath of the measure, however, may have shown that the policy inflicted more devastating impacts than expected.

Edition

May 20, 2022

Is Airlangga in trouble after defying Jokowi over palm oil exports?

Nobody openly defies President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and gets away with it. Especially when he is a top member of the Cabinet. Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto is facing dissension from within Golkar, the party which he chairs, after he tried to contradict Jokowi over the government’s palm oil exports policy last month.

Indonesia courts Musk to help develop EV industry

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo traveled all the way from Washington, DC, to Texas in the United States to meet billionaire Elon Musk to convince him to bring Tesla investments to Indonesia’s electric vehicle (EV) industry, and possibly his SpaceX to launch its spacecraft from Biak, Papua. Despite public outcry over Musk’s dress-down in the meeting, Jokowi seems to have achieved his mission, as Musk said he was considering partnerships with Indonesia.