Backgrounder

Cabinet reshuffle: Jokowi ends year with a bang

Barely a year after he inaugurated his second-term Cabinet members, President Jokowi announced on Tuesday a Cabinet shake-up. The recent arrests of two of his ministers and the general inaction of some of his aides amid the COVID-19 pandemic had pressured Jokowi to reshuffle his Cabinet. Regardless, questions remain as to whether the new lineup can revive the plummeting public satisfaction with the Cabinet’s performance.

Tokopedia weighs $10 B SPAC deal to speed up US listing

Homegrown e-commerce giant Tokopedia may go public earlier than planned with blank-cheque company Bridgetown approaching them for a merger offer reportedly valued at US$8 billion – 10 billion. Tokopedia has been eyeing a dual listing, mentioning a United States market for its potential international listing, but has yet to decide which market and method to pursue. The company recently appointed Morgan Stanley and Citi to advise them on a successful stock market debut.

Edition

December 18, 2020

Police get tough on militant Islamic group, but deaths raise questions

For years, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) has been intimidating and harassing various minority groups, using the power of the mob, with the law barely touching its leaders. Police have mostly turned a blind eye to the FPI’s actions, but now police are finally getting tough on the FPI

Jiwasraya to finally pay out claims, with haircuts

After two-and-a-half years of waiting, customers of problem-ridden state-owned insurer PT Asuransi Jiwasraya finally get certainty about their policies and demanded payouts, but they have to “share the pain”, after Jiwasraya offered them several options of payment, all with haircuts. Some gruntled customers, however, refused to accept the options and took the matter to the court.

Edition

December 11, 2020

Deadly clashes raise stakes in FPI-government tension

The death of six members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) this week has raised the political stakes as tensions with the government continue to mount ever since Nov. 10, the day that firebrand cleric and FPI founding chair Rizieq Shihab returned from a three-year stay in Saudi Arabia.

Son pushes for Grab-Gojek merger, KPPU keeps watchful eye

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) is keeping an eye on a possible Grab-Gojek merger plan as Masayoshi Son puts more pressure on the two ride-hailing giants to stop bleeding money. Grab and Gojek are still not on the same page when it comes to the technicalities of the possible merger and the plan may face backlash from the KPPU and drivers’ association, but Son’s political leverage may allow the merger to happen.

Edition

December 4, 2020

Edhy’s arrest puts Jokowi-Prabowo coalition at risk

The arrest of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo could potentially jeopardize not only Edhy’s political career but also the coalition that supports President Jokowi. Speculation is rife that Defense Minister and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, who is also known as a mentor of Edhy, may leave the government, putting the delicate architecture of the ruling coalition at grave risk.

Jokowi disbands more institutions, raising concerns about BRTI closure

President Jokowi has issued Presidential Regulation No 112/2020 to disband 10 government institutions. With this, a total of 28 institutions will have been dissolved this year. Many have welcomed the dissolution of these institutions as cutting bureaucratic red tape, but the dissolution of the Indonesian Telecommunications Regulation Body (BRTI) has raised eyebrows as it would undermine Indonesia’s telco industry.