TheJakartaPost

From batik to botox: A brief history of status signaling in Indonesia

From an earlier age of Balinese tooth filing and Javanese courtly refinement to today’s SCBD culture of lip fillers and jawline contouring, the history of Indonesian status signaling reveals how power is continually rewritten onto the human body.

1 hour ago

Opinion premium

Analysis: Rp 101 trillion fintech loans raise youth debt concerns

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has reported that outstanding loans from financial technology (fintech) lending services, locally known as pindar, reached Rp 101.03 trillion (US$6.1 billion) as of March, underscoring the rapid expansion of Indonesia’s online lending sector and the growing difficulty of containing its risks. Of that amount, the aggregate non-performing loan risk rate, measured by the industry’s TWP90 indicator, which tracks loans overdue by more than 90 days, stood at 4.52 percent in March, significantly higher than the 2.77 percent recorded in March 2025.

1 hour ago

The Latest

Former education minister and graft defendant Nadiem Makarim looks at the camera during a hearing on May 11 at the Jakarta Corruption Court.

Editorial premium

Deterring talent

Young Indonesian diaspora now question whether returning home to serve in public institutions is worth the risk if ambitious reforms can later be reframed as criminal acts.

2 hours ago

A man throws water in an attempt to douse a wildfire in Pemulutan district, Ogan Ilir regency, South Sumatra, on Sept. 12, 2023.

Academia

Super El Niño? Prepare, but do not panic yet

Twin cyclones helped trigger massive ocean warming in the Pacific. But whether that leads to a strong El Niño is still uncertain.

20 hours ago

Passengers walk past check-in counters on Oct. 18, 2022, in Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

Balancing passengers' rights and airlines' survival in ASEAN

To save Southeast Asia's aviation sector from collapse due to geopolitical and economic crises, regulators must scrap outdated price controls and shift from penalizing airlines to sharing the responsibility of passenger care.

21 hours ago

A test tube labelled “Hantavirus positive“ is held in this illustration taken on May 7, 2026.

From coronavirus to hantavirus: Ecosystems in crisis

As human activity shatters ecological boundaries, viruses once confined to the wild are finding dangerous new pathways into our world.

22 hours ago

United States President Donald Trump (left) takes part in a welcome ceremony with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026.

The US and China must learn to coexist

The Beijing summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping showed that competition between the United States and China need not become a zero-sum struggle for supremacy.

23 hours ago

interview

Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy Vice Adm. Harold Liebergs.

premium

International cooperation key in facing emerging naval threats: Dutch Navy commander

Deputy Creative Economy Minister Irene Umar gestures during an interview with The Jakarta Post at the ministry office in Autograph Tower, Thamrin Nine, Central Jakarta, on May 7, 2026.

premium

Creative economy needs stronger inter-ministerial ties: Deputy minister

Trade Minister, Budi Santoso gestures while speaking during a special interview with The Jakarta Post on April 22 at the Ministry Of Trade office in Jakarta.

premium

RI seeks new suppliers, export markets as tensions mount: Trade minister

Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong

premium

‘China, Indonesia must continue upholding international fairness and justice’

German Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN Ralf Beste speaks on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, during the submission of his credentials as Ambassador to ASEAN to Secretary-General Dr. Kao Him Hourn.

premium

In turbulent times, shared interest can bridge value gaps: German envoy

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung gestures while speaking about his first year in office and developing the megalopolis on Jan. 20, 2026, during an interview with 'The Jakarta Post' at City Hall in Gambir, Central Jakarta.

premium

Jakartans must embrace global city status: Governor Pramono

Yahya Cholil Staquf, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), speaks during an interview on Jan. 29, 2026 with The Jakarta Post in Central Jakarta.

premium

NU must transform to navigate uncertain world order: Chairman Yahya

insight

Insight: The strategic role of PT SMI in fiscal policy and economic expansion

Indonesia’s future economic growth will not be determined solely by the size of government spending, but also by how effectively development financing is managed.

3 months ago

Insight: Rethinking work: Driving sustainable growth in the digital age

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped.

10 months ago

Insight: Innovations in managing and developing human capital

Over the past few years, the role of human resources (HR) has expanded far beyond administrative tasks. HR professionals today are expected to drive innovation, enhance the employee experience and align people strategies with business goals. With the help of technology, these responsibilities have become more manageable, and in many ways, more impactful.

10 months ago

Insight: AI and Efficiency: Sacrifices The Next Generation

Introduction: From One Disruption to Another

11 months ago

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