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Jakarta Post
Perspectives

Keeping faith in democracy

So what if Indonesia's democracy is tiring, messy and costly? This only means that we must redouble our efforts to improve and strengthen it so it comes that much closer to meeting our aspirations as a nation and a people; and we'll need a leader with persistence and perseverance to help guide our way.

10 hours ago
Editorial

Don't stop with VAT

The planned new rate will apply to the clothes you buy, the restaurants you choose to eat at, the video games you will play or the Netflix subscription you decide to pay out for, all in 2025. ...

1 day ago
Editorial

Fear of flying

To mitigate the fallout from incidents of pilot fatigue, the industry must adopt a proactive approach centered on transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. ...

3 days ago

The Latest

Editorial

Month of blessings

Notwithstanding the heated controversy, Indonesia’s political predicament provides plenty of opportunities to the people to rise to their religious beliefs.

4 days ago
Editorial

Electing Jakarta's leader

Jakarta will remain a strategic business and trade hub when the capital is relocated to East Kalimantan, which is why the political elites intend to preserve their control of the city. 

5 days ago
Perspectives

Golkar’s art of survival

Several public officials are reportedly challenging Airlangga in the race for the party's top job, including Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who is expected to make his bid as Jokowi’s proxy.

6 days ago
Editorial

Threat to debt sustainability

It is estimated that Indonesia's interest payments on debt will reach a whopping 20 percent this year, and considering that the country borrowed heavily during the pandemic and its deficit only returned to below the 3 percent legal cap last year, higher is not necessarily better when it comes to prudent fiscal management.

1 week ago
Editorial

But what about Gaza?

As the country with the world's biggest Muslim population, Indonesia could become the benchmark for other Muslim countries on how they should deal with the Jewish state.

1 week ago
Editorial

Swiftly swayed, not stirred

With the region's heads of state getting involved in the controversy, we cannot help but wonder whether this Taylor Swift issue is threatening ASEAN unity.

1 week ago
Editorial

ASEAN-Australia's golden anniversary

ASEAN and Australia have built a strong foundation over the past 50 years that is invaluable as we look forward to strengthening our cooperation, despite our differences, over the next five decades in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

1 week ago
Perspectives

Doubting the PSI’s rise

Some experts say the drastic increase in the PSI’s votes contradicts the quick counts by various credible pollsters, which projected that the party had won less than 3 percent of the vote.

1 week ago
Editorial

Nickel rush needs a rethink

Driven by low-cost production, especially because of cheap labor and poor environmental standards, Indonesia’s dominance has caused a rout in the global market with other miners deciding to cut production or even stop operations.

2 weeks ago
Perspectives

Jokowi’s political investment

To Jokowi, a former businessman, Prabowo represents a big investment calculated to produce handsome returns.

2 weeks ago
Editorial

Ministry for all religions

The minister and religious leaders are better off dedicating their time and energy to addressing pending real problems some people face in getting their marriages recognized by the state.

2 weeks ago
Perspectives

Do the right thing

At the very least, the prospect of setting up a House inquiry, in addition to the appeals to election bodies and the Constitutional Court, should allay concerns of bad governance and restore some credibility to the political process.

2 weeks ago
Editorial

Nobody wins Ukraine war

After two years of war, both Russia and Ukraine have conceded losses not only in the form of the lives of thousands of troops and civilians, but also the devastation of their economies.

2 weeks ago
Perspectives

No such thing as free lunch

Food can be a sensitive issue, especially in Indonesia, so getting this wrong would cost the government a lot of political capital.

2 weeks ago
Perspectives

Time to back away

It's better for the President to distance himself from the post-election political dynamics and let the political parties settle their issues among themselves.

3 weeks ago
Perspectives

Young blood of democracy

The dedication of poll workers, amid challenges and sacrifices, embodies the spirit of democracy and strengthens the foundation of our nation.

3 weeks ago
Editorial

Prabowo's fiscal constraints

Prabowo may eventually be able to implement his expansive fiscal policy if he can get adequate political support at the House to amend the 2003 State Finances Law that limits the deficit to 3 percent but that would cause big risks to the economic stability.

3 weeks ago
Editorial

Welcoming the Thai king's wisdom

Thaksin’s release on parole shows Thailand has set an example for its ASEAN neighbors about the absolute necessity to adopt an inclusive and democratic system of government. 

3 weeks ago
Editorial

Good, sustainable news

After being left for nearly two decades to fend for themselves against digital disruption, mostly from Big Tech, and with the latest tide of artificial intelligence, Indonesian media companies finally have some room to breathe after a newly passed presidential regulation on publishers' rights.

3 weeks ago
Editorial

Let’s not normalize genocide

Indonesia and the rest of the world must fight harder the diplomatic battles through the UN to end all wars, occupations, atrocities and genocides.

3 weeks ago
Perspectives

Stability during vote count

The shortages prove something has gone wrong with the Bulog distribution system and the government must mend it as soon as possible.

4 weeks ago
Perspectives

Early indicators

In a country where both the executive and legislative branches of government play an active role in lawmaking, the results of the legislative race will be important in determining the strength and direction of the nation.

1 month ago
Editorial

Kudos to tolerant Bekasi

Bekasi won the award because of its bylaws that promote religious harmony and its sufficient budget allocation to organize programs aimed at strengthening religious tolerance among residents.

1 month ago
Perspectives

And now, back to business!

With all the uncertainty that comes with a regime change, Indonesia's business world has breathed a collective sigh of relief at the highly likely possibility of closing the chapter on the presidential election in just one round.

1 month ago
Presidential Race

Finally a win

For those who expected the presidential poll to be decided in two rounds, the result, based on the quick count method conducted by a number of pollsters, was a continuation of a trend prevailing since 2009 that presidential elections finish after a single round.

1 month ago
Perspectives

Take part, bring your heart

Opinion surveys have found that while most voters know who they will vote for, many remain on the fence.

1 month ago
Editorial

Don’t expand Middle East conflict

It is getting harder to take Washington’s Middle East policy seriously when it has been arming, funding and assisting Israel in the Gaza war.

1 month ago

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