TheJakartaPost

Why budget cuts betray the spirit of Ramadan and women’s rights

The government's commitment to women is being hollowed out by a "fiscal anemia" that favors bureaucrats over survivors through ruthless budget cuts that have institutionalized the abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens, even as the country touts its "free and active" policy stance on the global stage.

11 hours ago

LPDP furor and the narrow definition of national service

Behind the viral outrage of a "disloyal" scholarship recipient lies a rigid bureaucratic formula that values physical presence over global impact. It is time to ask why Indonesia treats its brightest minds like office furniture rather than strategic national assets.

11 hours ago

The Latest

Sudarto (center), president director of the Education Endowment Fund (LPDP), addresses a media briefing on Feb. 25, 2026, at the Finance Ministry in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta.

Why the debate on LPDP awardees persists

Beyond the recent outrage online, the recurring debate over LPDP awardees reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of how long-term national investment actually works.

12 hours ago

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto (front center) and Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (front right) attend the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” hosted by United States President Donald Trump on Feb. 19 at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC.

Opinion premium

Analysis: Prabowo changes Indonesia’s narrative on Palestine

Indonesia’s foreign policy has undergone major changes since President Prabowo Subianto took office in October 2024, but no change is more dramatic than in his Middle East policy, particularly in his approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

12 hours ago

A barge carries coal on Oct. 31, 2023, at the dock next to the Suralaya coal-fired power plant in Cilegon, Banten.

Academia

The world’s largest climate finance deal was built to flounder

Does it really help countries on the front line of climate change to cut emissions and adapt to its effects?

12 hours ago

An operator runs heavy equipment on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, to normalize a river in Nagari Sumpu, Tanah Datar, West Sumatra. The Tanah Datar administration has proposed about Rp 1.4 trillion (US$82.79 billion) in post-disaster recovery funding to the central government, including more than Rp 1.3 trillion for infrastructure, around Rp 92.9 billion for housing, Rp 49 billion for the economy, over Rp 6.7 billion for social programs and more than Rp 10 billion for cross-sector needs.

As disasters increase, climate adaptation funding lags behind

As disasters become more frequent, contingency funds prove insufficient, forcing local administrations to seek support from the central government, which seems to focus on its own priority programs.

13 hours ago

Participants march on March 8, 2025, during a protest organized by the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API) to mark the 50th International Women’s Day demanding labor rights, gender equality and protections, in Central Jakarta.

Editorial premium

Courageous women leaders

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year, let us remember that courageous leadership remains essential, not only to expand opportunities for women, but also to ensure that dignity, respect and safety are upheld in both the physical and digital spheres.

13 hours ago

interview

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

This aerial photo shows people climbing debris, on Dec. 9, 2025, to cross the river on a newly built bridge, connecting Aceh and North Sumatra province, after being destroyed by flash floods along Peusangan river in Bireuen district, Aceh.

premium

Coordinated response key to govt’s disaster handling

History in focus: Belgian historian David Van Reybrouck, author of Revolusi: Indonesia and the Making of the Modern World, poses for a post on his official social media account.

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‘Revolusi’ returns home: David Van Reybrouck on youth, memory and the spirit of Bandung

Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti (right) talks with a student on the sidelines of the inauguration of an integrated school on Sept. 30 in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The international-standard school integrates schools of three levels of education, namely SDN 28 state elementary school, SMPN 16 state junior high school and SMA Prestasi senior high school.

premium

Dignifying students key for Indonesia’s education: Education minister

Peace and reconciliation: 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 August 15, 2025,

premium

Discourse: Aceh people real heroes in 2005 peace deal

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.

1 month 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.

8 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.

8 months ago

Insight: AI and Efficiency: Sacrifices The Next Generation

Introduction: From One Disruption to Another

8 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