Even if voters have a choice of better access to health services, they opt for direct assistance, whether cash or noncash (e.g. rice and other basic foodstuffs).

The Indonesian government has refuted Israeli reports that it is actively seeking to normalize diplomatic ties with the State of Israel. Said reports suggested that Indonesia's alleged pursuit of such a normalization is tied to the Southeast Asian country’s ongoing efforts to join the multilateral Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), of which Israel is already a member. Indonesia sees entry to the economic forum of developed nations as a pivotal phase in its journey to become a developed country.

The government's latest regulatory gaffe related to the new import restrictions for international travelers shows how important it is to consult stakeholders, including the public, experts and experienced staff, before issuing any new rule, let alone implementing it.

Despite a seemingly good political or economic partnership, Indonesia cannot disregard the high possibility of confrontation in the South China Sea.

The government and BI need to prepare a carefully considered contingency plan to prevent a rupiah free fall in the event that escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict disrupts the global oil market and trade routes.

A paradigm shift in regional cooperation to harmonize policies, build a shared knowledge base and empower local communities can establish a well-functioning carbon market fueled by NBS to unlock a new era of climate action and green growth in Southeast Asia, home to the world’s mega-diverse forests.

ASEAN must continue to create the space to learn from the various Myanmar stakeholders and seek the support of the major frontline states, namely China and India, in its efforts.

Once a global powerhouse, Europe appears to be increasingly out of touch with today's worldview and the growing role of emerging nations as it continues to look through a colonial lens.

It is often said that change starts at home, and as the government aims to realize a female labor participation rate of 65 percent as part of its 2045 vision, society as a whole needs to embrace the role of men in achieving gender equality, both in the workplace and in Indonesian homes.

As we celebrate Kartini Day on April 21 this year, let us look to the legacy of the national heroine in light of the global transition to renewables and how women in Indonesia and around the world can be empowered to contribute to this still nascent, yet rapidly growing sector.

Politicians capitalized on Idul Fitri holiday last week to embark on silaturahmi (kinship) visits in the name of coalition building. This year, Prabowo Subianto paid visits to key allies while talks of an imminent meeting between the president-elect and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri have spread.

The overall context of the Southeast Asian visits is the consolidation of bilateral engagement with the countries that will chair ASEAN and coordinate the India-ASEAN partnership.

Mudik plays a crucial role in redistributing wealth from urban to rural areas, from major financial centers to smaller towns.

Indonesia's next government must consider the nonmilitary aspects of national security while reprioritizing our national security interests to address the current strategic security challenges in 2024 and beyond.

Officially recognizing the NUG would finally chop the five-point consensus negotiated by ASEAN in April 2021 and get rid of the notion that ASEAN must lead when it proved to be incapable of doing it. 

The low coverage of social security for elderly citizens has triggered a situation where a lot of them must work for low pay.

The fact that Prabowo won the election by a large margin does not erase the reality that a sizeable portion of the middle class, students, activists, intelligentsia, journalists and politicians have concerns about the country’s democratic development. 

Quickly adapting to the EUDR requirements and embracing sustainable practices not only opens up greater access to the EU market but also presents an opportunity for Indonesian companies to position themselves as global leaders in sustainable commodity production

Despite the commercial benefits, mergers may result in increased market concentration that could harm competitors, consumers and the public. 

The upcoming World Health Assembly in late May presents an unprecedented opportunity for governments to come together, hash out their differences and create a responsive, just and equitable global health framework built upon the collective and individual lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike the stances they took during the Six-Day War, these three countries should either individually or jointly condemn the prolonged war in Gaza.

Israel's current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been in power for 16 years, thanks to the Jewish nation's fractious parliamentary system.

The belated controversy over the entertainment tax rates show that the central government, in particular the financial and home ministries, must take an active role in building the capacities of regional administrations to draft implementing regulations that involve meaningful public participation.

The government has again been resorting to curbing imports in a bid to manage the current account balance, but this policy has not had a significantly positive impact on either the trade balance or manufacturing growth; rather, studies show it can have the opposite effect and eventually reduce exports.

“If only” isn’t a good basis for designing foreign policy, but ASEAN and China both need to look beyond the current tensions in the South China Sea at the bigger, far-reaching picture of the region’s future to decide if they want peace and if so, how they’re going to get there, together.

While the president-elect's free lunch program is nothing new in the world, to work in Indonesia, it must be customized to meet local conditions and needs to address urgent issues like malnutrition and childhood stunting, as well as raise awareness about early childhood care and education.

The current negotiations for an ambitious, mutually beneficial new trade deal with Indonesia, similar to the ones already successfully concluded and implemented with Singapore and Vietnam, should be agreed before the end of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s term. 

ASEAN has one of the largest digitally enabled populations in the world, with an internet penetration rate of more than 75 percent among its 670 million people. 

The materialistic, consumerist "feasting" that the Idul Fitri celebration has devolved into has its roots in a "tradition" that dates back to a time before the republic existed, and points to the prevalence of the inequality that has existed between Java and non-Java regions, cities and villages.

The obligatory nature of zakat implies that poverty alleviation policies should also be mandatory and should not merely follow the whims of those in power.