The controversy surrounding an alleged fake university diploma belonging to former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo appears to be nearing resolution, though legal consequences for involved individuals could still result in criminal charges.

Now is not the time to think about raising the civil service retirement age, lest we lose out on the coming demographic bonus and thereby miss our Golden Indonesia 2045 goal of becoming a high-income economy and advanced society by our centennial.

While Indonesia has segmented its tax offices and embraced digital tools, the bureaucracy still lacks the agility to navigate the informal economy.

The US may finally be nearing meaningful crypto regulation amid shifting politics and global pressure.

A recent report exposing the growing violence targeting woman parliamentarians in Southeast Asia serves as a clarion call to create a regional protection initiative for lawmakers at risk, as well as facilitate their inclusion and empower their voices toward gender equality in politics: a fundamental principle of democracy.

In today's rapidly shifting geo-economic landscape, ASEAN needs to take the lead by convening a leaders' summit of RCEP member countries to upgrade the agreement toward fully realizing its potential in upholding multilateralism via a collective front.

As the largest economy in Southeast Asia and de-facto leader of ASEAN, do we stand to benefit from a more prosperous ASEAN?

The long-awaited 2025-2034 Electricity Procurement Business Plan (RUPTL), launched by the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry on May 26, 2025, signals a shift in the government’s energy priorities—placing greater emphasis on energy security over the green transition. The new RUPTL marks a departure from the previous 2021-2030 RUPTL, which aimed for no new fossil-based capacity additions by 2030. In contrast, the 2025-2034 plan delays the significant ramp-up of renewable energy capacity to the second half of the decade, indicating a slower pace for Indonesia’s energy transition ambitions.

Prabowo believes that as a full member state, PNG will strengthen ASEAN in facing geopolitical challenges. 

From Athens to the British Empire and on to the US, dominant powers have used might and consent to exert influence.

Even if policymakers in developing countries see little value in pursuing large emissions reductions at the pace that climate advocates would like, climate-aligned development is still the best path forward.

Given the inherent demand for highly compatible and interoperable weaponry systems, the TNI should prioritize exploring acquisitions from a single nation to streamline integration.

QRIS has become the king of digital payment channels for local transactions. Visa–Mastercard’s position remains dominant for cross-border payments.

The country must continue to invest in technology, infrastructure, agronomic education and value chain integration.

Indonesia should pursue a balanced 2-3 percent GDP defense budget, leveraging quantum technology and strategic partnerships to strengthen its security, preserve its economy and maintain its non-aligned stance.

Every five years, Indonesia holds a multi-party general election typically participated in by around 20 political parties. But every time the nation launches a discourse on how best to finance these parties, someone in the room will quickly shout “corruption”, a reflection of the distrust the public has toward them.

The long-waited, and so-called “green”, long-term electricity business plan (RUPTL) is here, but it is not what we were hoping for.

ASEAN urgently needs to build its strategic autonomy so the region will not become a proxy to any great power.

While continued development of Blok M will undoubtedly enhance the area’s appeal, Governor Pramono must look beyond South Jakarta if he wants Jakarta to become a “global city” that’s on par with urban giants like Singapore, New York, London and Tokyo.

Indonesia can draw lessons from France regarding the management of food resources as ingredients to enhance the global perception of Indonesian gastronomy.

The Prabowo-Albanese partnership has the potential to inspire the development of a coordinated mechanism for the rapid deployment of combined forces in times of need, such as the December 2004 tsunami. 

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has begun deploying personnel to protect all prosecutor's offices nationwide, a move that has sparked widespread debate due to a lack of clear explanation and a solid legal basis presented to the public. Critics suggest this deployment, favoring the military over the police, although not unprecedented, further showcases the TNI’s intention to flex its muscles beyond its defense realm.

Indonesia has relatively low levels of digital literacy among its population.

The government can do much in rural reform and revitalization to help the country's youth pursue their aspirations, whether they choose to contribute to agricultural and tourism development in villages, open entrepreneurial ventures or pursue advanced education to build better futures.

By forging common rules and investing in ocean stewardship, the world can unlock the blue economy's full potential, securing prosperity and equity while keeping our seas healthy.

Indonesia must reassess its nontariff measures to address US concerns while ensuring fair trade practices and maintaining economic stability.

Indonesia has no legally binding framework like the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to ensure responsible business practices.