Silent devotion: Muslims perform the evening prayer on May 24 around the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, at the Grand Mosque complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the annual haj. Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived from outside the kingdom for the upcoming haj, according to a Saudi official, exceeding the number of international visitors last year despite the war in the Middle East.

Haj in a new era

Indonesia's historic haj services overhaul brings shorter wait times and better safety in the desert, even as old logistical headaches and corruption shadows persist.

11 hours ago

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Blaming bad weather for an island-wide power outage that left millions in the dark, state electricity monopoly PLN has proved it is quick to collect payments and fine customers but utterly powerless when it comes to accountability. ...

1 day ago

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Gain some, lose more

The idea of centralizing export control for certain natural resources in a single institution is not new, and the failed experiment of such an agency for cloves serves as a case study on why not to pursue that course again, especially for major commodities like coal, CPO and ferroalloys. ...

2 days ago

The Latest

A university student holds a poster on Aug. 29, 2025, during a protest against police brutality in front of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

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Unstoppable police reform

Now that the Constitutional Court has issued its final and binding ruling to bar active-duty officers from also holding a public post, neither the force nor the government have an excuse to delay police reform.

6 months ago

The Gojek and Grab logos are seen on the helmets of an online motorcycle taxi driver and his passenger on Wednesday at Jl. Basuki Rachmat in Jakarta.

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Stop the overreach

When state signals tilt toward influencing the outcome of a private merger, it raises red flags for investors and competitors alike.

6 months ago

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Childhood lost, online

The explosive incident last Friday at a North Jakarta school is a tragic, glaring reminder that we are failing in our duty as parents, educators, communities, as a nation, to ensure online safety for underage users.

6 months ago

For lasting peace: Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (left) and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet (center) shake hands next to United States President Donald Trump, on Sunday, October 26, the day of the signing of a ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

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ASEAN border challenges

ASEAN needs to solve the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and transboundary crimes for the sake of regional security and stability.

6 months ago

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 15, 2025 shows civil servant apartments under construction in the future capital of Nusantara in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.

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Nusantara’s sunken ground

If we cannot commit the resources required to finish Nusantara, we should not push ahead merely to save face.

6 months ago

Reinstated and rebuked: Suspended lawmakers (from right) Adies Kadir, Ahmad Sahroni, Surya “Uya Kuya” Utama, Eko Hendro Purnomo and Nafa Urbach attend a verdict hearing on Nov. 5 at the House of Representatives ethics committee in the Senayan Legislative Complex in Central Jakarta.

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Lawmakers’ ethics crisis

The public has reason to demand that law revisions address the underlying problems in candidate recruitment, most notably the absence of transparency standards that regulate this process and party fund management.

6 months ago

A member of a civil society group holds a poster during a rally on Nov. 6 opposing the Indonesian government's plan to grant former president Soeharto a “National Hero“ title near the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Former president Soeharto, who died in 2008 aged 86, ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in 1967 following a failed military coup. The former military general's rule was marred by allegations of corruption and human rights abuses, including violent crackdowns on political dissent.

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False national heroes

Soeharto cannot be a true hero, only a false one, not until we clarify his role in the military-led mass killing campaigns in the mid-1960s that led to his seizure of power.

6 months ago

A stall worker uses his phone while waiting for customers on March 6, 2025, at a clothing shop in Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta.

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Limited options for pushing GDP

There is only so much the government can do to prop up economic activity, no matter how dear the gross domestic product growth figure is to President Prabowo Subianto.

6 months ago

A motorcyclist rides through an alley in Jakarta on Jan. 21, 2024, past a group of boys playing online games on their smartphones.

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Away from smoking screens

Despite its many advantages, the digital age has also expanded space for promoting tobacco products, exposing users of all ages to smoking via visually appealing content on social media platforms that are short on the economic and health costs of the harmful habit.

6 months ago

Journalists hold banners during a protest to commemorate World Press Freedom Day in Surabaya, East Java, on May 2, 2025. The protest, organized by the Surabaya chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI Surabaya) and other civic groups, condemned intimidation and violence against journalists.

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Respect the Press Law

We call on all parties to respect the Press Law, which grants the Press Council authority over journalistic reporting.

6 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (right) and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attend a press conference on Oct. 23 after their bilateral meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Editorial

Obrigado, Senhor Lula

Our children will discover new cultures and new ways of thinking by taking the trouble to learn new languages.

6 months ago

Shoppers wade through ankle-deep floodwaters on Oct. 13, 2025, as a traditional market carries on with trade as usual in Medan Labuhan district, Medan, North Sumatra.

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$12b boost won’t fix all

The finance minister's massive liquidity boost, while well-intended, has ultimately failed to read the mood across all economic layers.

6 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (left) shakes hands with South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung on Friday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

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Prabowo’s APEC charm

As the leader of a prominent middle power, President Prabowo showed that he was also a magnet for international leaders.

6 months ago

Protesters hold banners that read “Reject the national hero title for Soeharto“ during a protest on May 15 in front of the Social Affairs Ministry's office in Jakarta.

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Soeharto is no hero

There are a lot of things that can disqualify former New Order strongman Soeharto from being eligible to receive the status of a national hero.

6 months ago

A general view of Karet Bivak Public Cemetery in Jakarta is seen on Aug. 29, 2025

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Grave matters ahead

In a sinking metropolis where land prices are among the nation’s highest, even the dead are now competing for space.

6 months ago

Civil servants of the Banda Aceh Population and Civil Registry Agency help citizens make their e-ID cards on March 3 at the agency's office in Banda Aceh, Aceh.

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Remote work dilemma

Remote working can be done and has its benefits, but is it good for the Indonesian public service?

6 months ago

A motorcycle rider braves the rain in the Senopati area, South Jakarta on March 14, 2025.

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Beware of microplastics in rain

Forget traffic snarls, flooding and catching a chill: It turns out that at least for the past three years, if not longer, rainy season brings with it the risk that Jakartans could inhale microplastics that can harm our health for the long term.

7 months ago

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) stands alongside President Prabowo Subianto at the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit on Oct. 26, 2025, during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

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Time to step up

Indonesia could again take a lead as ASEAN stands at a crossroads in the present era of protectionist policies and global disruption, but only if it sends a clear signal that it is not only willing to step up to the plate but also stay and captain all players on the field as a unified team.

7 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (front), accompanied by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (left, second row), Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto (right, second row) and other military leaders, inspects forces from aboard his presidential vehicle on Sunday ahead of a ceremony to celebrate the 80th TNI anniversary at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta.

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Indonesia’s vanity ride

A national car is back on the agenda, but what makes President Prabowo Subianto think that this iteration will fare better than similar projects in the past?

7 months ago

A student recites the Quran at the Lirboyo mosque. It is a routine activity for students at the boarding school. JP/Sigit Pamungkas.

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Modern education, old habits

If anything, such scrutiny is mandatory if the institution in question gets funding from the state or receives a permit from the government to run their operation.

7 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto attends the plenary session of the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on May 26 in Kuala Lumpur.

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Prabowo’s RCEP test

President Prabowo needs to realize that, although Indonesia is the largest economy in ASEAN, ignoring its neighbors is a significant blunder.

7 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (‘center') speaks to his cabinet members, including Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin ('second right'), Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin ('third left') and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa (‘left'), at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on Monday, October 20, in front of stacks of rupiah banknotes worth US$780 million. The pile of cash was shown to journalists during the handover of assets recovered from a corruption case involving the provision of crude palm oil export facilities.

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Show me the money, wisely

Asset recovery must be part of a comprehensive fiscal strategy, not a photo opportunity.

7 months ago

Indonesia’s national security architecture is susceptible to multiple kinds of digital intrusions, from espionage, cybercrime, cyber-attacks and even cyber warfare.

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Democracy firewall

The bill will only change the method of suppression; whereas in the past silencing was achieved through military intelligence operations, it can now be done via cyber patrols.

7 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (right) reads the oath of office while inaugurating new cabinet members at the State Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 17, 2025.

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Many titles, same few holders

If Prabowo wants a mission-driven government, or simply aims to consolidate political support, he should assign new names to new roles rather than overloading the same loyal lieutenants.

7 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (center) addresses reporters on April 29, 2025, after Danantara’s first town hall meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Central Jakarta.

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Time to move from vision to mission

Following a dramatic campaign and a dynamic start to his presidency, Prabowo and his administration must now get down to the nitty-gritty or risk losing both momentum and trust.

7 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (left) poses for a photo with United States President Donald Trump during a summit on Gaza on Oct. 13 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Editorial

Year zero

If hiccups, setbacks and public discontent in the past year can be any indication, we know that there is still much to be desired from how the Prabowo administration governs.

7 months ago

A teacher demonstrates the use of a microscope to students on Oct. 8 at SMAN Unggulan MH Thamrin in Cipayung, East Jakarta. The school is one of 12 schools selected for transformation under the Sekolah Garuda (Garuda School) program, one of President Prabowo Subianto's education initiatives.

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Education beyond ambition

Indonesia’s education system continues to struggle with underpaid teachers, uneven resource distribution and dilapidated schools in vast parts of the country.

7 months ago

A Whoosh Jakarta-Banding high-speed railway train sits at Halim station on Oct. 2, 2023, in Jakarta.

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Whoosh, you are trapped

Regardless of official statements, the state budget has borne, and will continue to bear, the consequences of the initial miscalculation of the Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway.

7 months ago