The Jakarta Post Editorials: Board Perspectives

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Jakarta Post
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The state's new muscle

When the state embraces street thugs as political muscle, the violence that follows isn't an accident - it is government policy.

4 hours ago
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To build NU anew

As state power and political patronage close in on Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim organization faces a pivotal internal battle: preserve its independent moral voice, or become a rubber stamp for the ruling elite. ...

1 day ago
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Cost of recentralization

It seems to have become a pattern under the government of President Prabowo Subianto. When problems erupt, the state must “be present”, as the President often puts it, which translates into asserting itself more forcefully. ...

2 days ago

The Latest

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 years 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 years 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 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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. 

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years 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.

2 years ago
Editorial

Addressing economic inequality

One of the causes of widening income inequality is the structure of personal income tax (PIT), which until 2021 favored the upper middle income and rich taxpayers. 

2 years ago
Perspectives

Be transparent about ‘bansos’

As the economy seems to be under control, it is entirely valid to question the need for Jokowi's opaque budget adjustment.

2 years ago
Editorial

Enter the Year of the Dragon

Let us hope we can rest and refresh over the coming long weekend, so we can channel the positive characteristics of the Wood Dragon and herald a new era of courage and wisdom as we head to the polls a few days later.

2 years ago
Perspectives

Moral movement

When the leader of a nation has no qualms about showing off his moral ambiguity, how can we expect the rest of government to maintain higher standards?

2 years ago
Perspectives

Let the voters decide

That respected academics from various universities across the country have talked tough against the President should serve as a reminder that his acts of intervention have threatened the hard-won democracy.

2 years ago
Editorial

A hard game to play

Many local developers struggle to find the necessary funding with many still relying on their own pockets or angel investors. 

2 years ago
Editorial

Save the tigers, save our souls

Financial difficulty makes a poor excuse for not saving the lives of these tigers. Especially when the country is spending so much money on the coming elections.

2 years ago
Perspectives

Value in neutrality

Thomas Lembong’s characterization of Indonesia’s foreign policy as “transactional” makes it sound as if decisions were made ad hoc based on pragmatic considerations, but neutrality or non-alignment is, in fact, quite a principled position to take.

2 years ago
Editorial

Too early to celebrate

Reaching the round of 16 should be the team's minimum target if they qualify for the next AFC Asian Cup.

2 years ago
Editorial

Sign the Genocide convention

Indonesia has no moral ground to hold Israel responsible for its acts of genocide, unlike South Africa, because we are not a party to the 1948 Geneva Convention.

2 years ago
Editorial

Whoosh, here comes the deficit

The final unit price of the Jakarta-Bandung railway, some US$52 million per kilometer, is higher than that of China’s high-speed rail, which cost between $17 million and $30 million per kilometer, as well as France’s, which cost $24 million per kilometer.

2 years ago
Legislative Race

Legislative oversight

Assuming a voter knows which presidential election ticket they want to support, they might want to cast their vote strategically by choosing the ticket’s main political party sponsor.

2 years ago
Perspectives

Disjointed cabinet

The rumors and reports of a flock ministers potentially flying the coop are beyond the slight ruffling in government that might be expected during an election year, and the people deserve better.

2 years ago
Perspectives

Gibran’s true colors

By resorting to cheap tricks, Gibran has undermined the credibility of the debates, which are a crucial feature of our democratic elections and help many voters make up their minds for election day.

2 years ago
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