A female student holds a poster listing demands during a protest on Sept. 9, 2025, in front of the Senayan legislative complex in Central Jakarta. The action was carried out to advocate for the 17+8 people’s demands. `

Everybody wants to be a political influencer

Platform-native influencers actively participate in the shaping of illiberal democracy, which in Indonesia almost always means working within the configurations of the oligarchy they appear to scrutinize.

16 minutes ago

Opinion premium

Analysis: Indonesia eyes CNG, DME to ease LPG import burden amid energy crisis

The Indonesian government is looking to dimethyl ether (DME) and compressed natural gas (CNG) as alternatives to import-reliant liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as it grapples with the impact of the global energy crisis triggered by the United States-Israeli war with Iran. Competing blockades by Iran and the US have shown little sign of easing, pushing up global energy prices and increasing pressure on Indonesia’s state budget, particularly energy subsidies for 3-kilogram LPG cylinders. In response, the government has raised prices for unsubsidized LPG products, sought alternative import sources and accelerated efforts to develop DME and CNG as substitute fuels.

23 minutes ago

Opinion premium

Analysis: Indonesia’s digital tightrope: Between safety and free speech

This year appears to be a significant moment for the Indonesian government to test its content moderation mechanisms. As the state expands its authority over digital platforms, a major challenge remains: balancing the need to protect users from harmful and illegal content while ensuring that moderation efforts do not evolve into broader censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression.

24 minutes ago

The Latest

Students hold a rally on Feb. 17, 2025, for "Indonesia Gelap" (Dark Indonesia) in front of the East Java Regional House of Representatives building in Surabaya.

Editorial premium

The ghost in a film

A series of crackdowns on public screenings and discussions of the documentary film Pesta Babi (Pig Feast) serves as a grim reminder that the nation’s democratic progress is not only stalling but effectively backsliding.

1 hour ago

Military chief Min Aung Hlaing (back center) watches a voter ink their finger as he visits a polling station on Jan. 25, 2026, during the third and final phase of Myanmar’s general election in Mandalay.

Academia

Letter to editor: Myanmar diplomat responds

Myanmar’s embassy in Jakarta criticizes The Jakarta Post for identifying an NUG representative as a deputy foreign minister, urging balanced reporting and respect for Myanmar’s sovereignty and official position.

1 day ago

Aung San Suu Kyi (center) talks to Myanmar security forces personnel from the military (left) and the police in an undisclosed location, in this undated handout photo from the Myanmar Military Information Team released on April 30, 2026.

Academia premium

How ASEAN misreads the prolonged Myanmar crisis

Indonesia must look past the junta’s tactical gestures and recognize that in Myanmar, a history of broken promises is the only reliable guide for future diplomacy.

1 day ago

Former vice president Jusuf Kalla (center) shakes hands with a Christian delegate from the Malino I peace talks, Rinaldi Damanik (right), during a meeting with figures involved in the Malino I peace process for Poso and Malino II for Maluku in Jakarta on April 21, 2026. The meeting was held in an effort to ease tensions following a viral video clip of Kalla’s lecture at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), which was accused of being blasphemous and led to police reports.

Academia premium

The new architecture of peace: Mediation in a multipolar world

As the old rules of diplomacy falter, a new "composite" era of mediation, led by middle powers and private experts, is rising to meet the most violent decade of the 21st century.

1 day ago

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet (from left to right) hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings on May 8 in Cebu, the Philippines.

Academia premium

insight

Insight: Securing a healthier future: The importance of Indonesia's plasma fractionation facility

The global health crisis brought on by COVID-19 tested healthcare systems worldwide, and Indonesia was no exception. As one of the world’s most populous nations, the nation faced immense challenges yet demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating the pandemic.

1 year ago

insight

Insight: Understanding sovereign wealth funds and their application in Indonesia

Toward the end of 2020, amid a world grappling with unprecedented challenges, Indonesia took a bold step in securing its economic future: establishing its first sovereign wealth fund (SWF), the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA).

1 year ago