President Prabowo Subianto delivers his State of the Nation address on Aug. 15 during the annual People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) plenary meeting at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta.

Devaluing state honors

The awards no longer signify a person's dedication to the state, but rather mark their loyalty to the President.

11 hours ago

What began as scattered unrest has now spilled across cities, fueled by deep economic frustration, perceived elite impunity and a rising sense that the political class has grown deaf to the people’s plight. ...

1 day ago

Editorial

Prabowo’s long vision on education

A major problem with Prabowo’s education road map is that the schools included in his priority programs are managed by different ministries. ...

3 days ago

The Latest

President Prabowo Subianto (center) addresses a plenary cabinet meeting on Aug. 6 in the State Palace, Jakarta. He emphasized that Indonesia’s national transformation strategy must be rooted in realism as it navigates escalating global conflicts and economic uncertainty.

Editorial

Fatty bureaucracy

Bureaucratic “fat” can strengthen implementation if managed well, yet too much of it risks clogging the system.

4 days ago

Foreign Minister Sugiono (left) talks with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (right) in a meeting on Aug. 21 at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea. The foreign minister conducted a courtesy visit with the prime minister during his trip to the East Asian country.

Editorial

Sugiono’s dual role

Sugiono's dual appointment may look politically strategic for Prabowo, but it could compromise Indonesia's foreign policy.

5 days ago

A group of individuals perform group exercise at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in Central Jakarta on June 11, 2025.

Editorial

Nightlife's healthier makeover

The growing focus on healthier living is evident among Gen Z and millennials across Jakarta and the Asia-Pacific region, with more in this demographic choosing to spend their nights at gyms or stadiums rather than bars and amusement centers.

6 days ago

An election staffer counts ballots at a polling station on Nov. 27, 2024, in Banda Aceh, Aceh. More than 200 million people voted to choose dozens of governors, mayors and regents in the simultaneous regional elections.

Editorial

Direct elections safe, for now

Massive political education is crucial to educate the public of the risks of restoring indirect elections.

1 week ago

Volunteers and local residents clean up plastic waste on Aug. 23 at a beach in Lhok Bubon village in West Aceh regency, Aceh.

Editorial

No more plastic promises

It is upsetting that the government has once again prioritized short-term economic achievements from potential money coming from the plastic industry’s investment in the country.

1 week ago

Blowing in the wind: A local resident rides his motorbike past a wind power plant facility in Tolo district, Jeneponto regency, South Sulawesi, on March 25, 2022.

Editorial

Talking clean energy into existence

The best place to start realizing clean energy would be to finally pass a long-delayed bill on new and renewable energy.

1 week ago

Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf (eighth right) and Aceh wali nanggroe (traditional leader) Malik Mahmud (center) release doves with former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) officials and incumbent Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) officials during the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Aceh Peace Agreement in Banda Aceh, Aceh, on Aug. 15, 2025.

Editorial

The last peace accord?

As a key player behind the Helsinki Agreement, Indonesia has the credibility, and perhaps the responsibility, to become a global peace mediator.

1 week ago

A protester holds a sign that reads “Pati united. Down with arrogant regent who oppresses the people“ during a protest in Pati, Central Java on Aug. 13, 2025.

Editorial

People power in Pati

The uprising in Pati serves as a powerful message to leaders at all levels of government about the importance of public trust and consultation.

1 week ago

Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) training vessel KRI Bima Suci sails past a border marker with Malaysia in Ambalat waters on Aug. 13, 2021, near Nunukan regency, North Kalimantan.

Editorial

Ending the spat over Ambalat

Ambiguous joint arrangements over Ambalat will only allow China to dilute the legal foundations of maritime governance in the region.

1 week ago

David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox, presents at the Roblox Developer Conference on Aug. 10, 2019, in Burlingame, California.

Editorial

Much tech, less protection

Roblox has been accused of prioritizing user growth, revenue and profit over child safety.

2 weeks ago

President Prabowo Subianto (left) greets People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani (second left), House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani (second right) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin (right) before he delivers his annual State of the Nation address during the plenary meeting at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta on Aug. 15, 2025, ahead of the country's 80th Independence Day.

Editorial

Centralization by budget

The conservative budget requires greater capability to generate revenue to finance the flagship programs, and even greater capacity to ensure their implementation in regions.

2 weeks ago

President Prabowo Subianto delivers his annual State of the Nation address on Aug. 15, ahead of the country's Independence Day in Jakarta.

Editorial

To make the state great again

Prabowo's tough talk of economic nationalism included his poise to combat "greednomics", a term he used to describe the exploitative practices of powerful conglomerates and "mafias" in key sectors,

2 weeks ago

Human rights activists participate in the 873rd Kamisan rally on Aug. 14, 2025, in front of a banner celebrating the 80th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence near the State Palace in Central Jakarta. Held every Thursday since 2007, the Kamisan highlights past human rights violations, such as those that occurred during then-president Soeharto’s New Order regime.

Editorial

The age of nationalism

As Indonesia celebrates its 80th year of Independence this week, it is high time for everyone in the country to reflect on the state of its nationalism.

2 weeks ago

President Prabowo Subianto (center left, in tan suit) salutes troops on Aug. 10, 2025, during the Operational Troops and Military Honours ceremony to mark National Veterans Day at the airfield of the Suparlan Special Forces Education and Training Center in Bandung, West Java.

Editorial

Reform first, arms second

The ostentatious ceremony at an airfield in Bandung on National Veterans Day has only reinforced the military buildup policy of the current administration, sounding the alarm on the feared return of militarism to Indonesia amid a perceived democratic decline.

2 weeks ago

Employees arrange fruits and vegetables on Aug. 16, 2019, at the TaniHub distribution center in Kedung Halang, Bogor, West Java.

Editorial

Clean up, but don’t give up

We cannot let fraud scandals blind us to the importance of technological progress, especially in fields like artificial intelligence.

2 weeks ago

Editorial

Music should not be free

Not only that, for the first time in the history, all albums, singles and EPs, from the biggest masterpieces to the most ephemeral bubblegum pop songs, are now available essentially for free.

3 weeks ago

A woman chooses clothes to purchase from a street vendor on April 2, 2024, at a traditional market in Jakarta.

Editorial

A startling GDP report

Many would characterize the current state of our economy as neither normal, nor healthy.

3 weeks ago

A pirate flag from the Japanese anime One Piece is installed on a house on August 7, following an internet trend using the symbol to criticize government policies, in Solo, Central Java.

Editorial

One piece of mind

Rather than acting like an authoritarian regime, the government should have looked into why people are “protesting” with the pirate flag.

3 weeks ago

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri welcomes party secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto on Aug. 2 before the closing session of the party congress in Nusa Dua, Bali. Hasto was convicted of bribery on July 25, just days before his appearance at the congress, but then received an amnesty from President Prabowo Subianto.

Editorial

PDI-P is just a symptom

Political parties have become effective tools for the elite—whether civilians, military or business tycoons—to maintain and expand their influence.

3 weeks ago

Palestinians wait to receive food on August 4 from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

Editorial

Speak boldly, Indonesia

President Prabowo Subianto must seize his upcoming address at the United Nations General Assembly next month to make Indonesia’s stance on Palestine unambiguous.

3 weeks ago

Eroding public trust?: Former trade minister Thomas Lembong waves on Friday as he exits Cipinang Penitentiary in Jakarta.

Editorial

Pardons and power plays

The President's decision could have serious implications not only for the country’s anti-corruption drive but also for the reputation of the judiciary.

4 weeks ago

Foreign Minister Sugiono delivers his annual foreign policy speech on Jan. 10 at the ministry's office in Jakarta.

Editorial

Protect our diplomats

Details shared by police investigators could point to homicide.

1 month ago

A scavenger ties up used cardboard boxes he salvaged on Feb. 22, 2022, to sell for recycling in Jakarta.

Editorial

Less poverty but little relief

The drop in Indonesia’s poverty rate to yet another historic low should be cause for celebration, but nobody feels in the mood.

3 weeks ago

A prototype of data center project SMX01 from a joint venture between Sinar Mas digital infrastructure and services company SM+ and Korea Investment Real Asset Management (KIRA) that is set to be completed in the second half of 2026.

Editorial

Data center meltdown

The government must be transparent with the public and local investors about the US deal’s implications, particularly around data storage.

4 weeks ago

A police officer stands guard on July 28 in front of a Christian prayer house following a violent disruption of religious activities in Padang Sarai, Padang, West Sumatra. A group of residents vandalized the property that belongs to the Indonesian Faithful Christian Church (GKSI) Anugerah Padang on July 27, leading to the arrest of nine individuals.

Editorial

Act more, regret less

The attacks on minority religious groups are manifestations of a broken, biased system that fails to protect the rights of all citizens equally.

1 month ago

Workers of the Dumai Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) strive to put out fires that engulf plantations on March 19, 2024, in Tanjung Sari village, East Dumai district, Dumai, Riau. The fires destroyed about 100 hectares of plantations and peatland in Dumai in four districts—East Dumai, West Dumai, Medang Kampai and Bukit Kapur.

Editorial

Sumatra is burning

The peak of the dry season next month is expected to bring even less rainfall and drier weather to several Sumatran provinces, including Riau, indicating a potential escalation of the forest fires.

1 month ago

People put up election campaign posters at the candidate bulletin board July 3, the official campaign kick-off day for the July 20 upper house election, in Tokyo.

Editorial

Prabowo's East Asia outlook

President Prabowo needs to abandon his take-it-for-granted stance on East Asia, which represents Indonesia's top trading partners and investment sources.

1 month ago

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