TheJakartaPost

The technocratic sunset: Institutional decay and the Rp 17,000 ‘vibe check’

As the rupiah stumbles past the 17,000-mark, Indonesia is facing a "vibe check" that no amount of political muscle can ignore. When nepotism shifts from a political exception to a bureaucratic rule, the resulting "Technocratic Sunset" threatens to transform a G20 economy into a fragile family office.

1 hour ago

Opinion premium

Analysis: Flood-linked license revocations rattle investors

The government’s decision to revoke 28 natural resource licenses in the wake of the deadly December 2025 floods in Sumatra has drawn praise from environmental activists but has also unsettled the private sector by introducing new regulatory uncertainty. Among the revoked permits was a gold mining license linked to Astra International, intensifying scrutiny from investors and businesses over the state’s willingness to cancel legally issued concessions in response to environmental externalities.

1 hour ago

The Latest

Police fire tear gas to disperse demonstrators during a protest against the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in front of the East Java gubernatorial residence in Surabaya, East Java on Aug. 29, 2025, following the death of 21-year-old motorcycle transportation driver Affan Kurniawan, who was killed after being struck by a police tactical vehicle amid a protest against lavish allowances for lawmakers in Jakarta on Aug. 28.

Editorial premium

Elusive police reform

Today the National Police are increasingly reminiscent of the military during the New Order era.

2 hours ago

Employees watch a digital screen displaying stock movements on Jan. 28, 2026, at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in Jakarta.

National economic resilience faces a test of public transparency

Within MSCI’s methodology, a shift from emerging to frontier status is not merely symbolic; it reflects an assessment that a market has become less accessible or less safe for international capital.

20 hours ago

United States President Donald Trump (center) gestures toward President Prabowo Subianto (right) and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as they take part in a charter announcement for his Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts, alongside the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026.

Board of Peace and the dilemma of Indonesia’s involvement

If ending occupation is not established as a non-negotiable prerequisite, then the destiny of Gaza and Palestine will not be shaped by the Palestinian people themselves, but by global geopolitical interests.

21 hours ago

National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo attends a hearing on Jan. 26, 2026, with House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, at the Senayan Legislative Complex in Central Jakarta.

Police reform: When the instrument rejects its frame

Civic space is narrowing in Indonesia, not through explicit bans, but through the routine presence of security forces across social life.

22 hours ago

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (enter), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) and European Council President Antonio Costa gesture as they pose for a photograph before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Jan. 27, 2026.

The promise of a middle-power alliance

A united middle-power alliance would have considerable leverage, as its members would each wield outsize influence over specific domains.

23 hours ago

interview

premium

NU must transform to navigate uncertain world order: Chairman Yahya

This aerial photo shows people climbing debris, on Dec. 9, 2025, to cross the river on a newly built bridge, connecting Aceh and North Sumatra province, after being destroyed by flash floods along Peusangan river in Bireuen district, Aceh.

premium

Coordinated response key to govt’s disaster handling

History in focus: Belgian historian David Van Reybrouck, author of Revolusi: Indonesia and the Making of the Modern World, poses for a post on his official social media account.

premium

‘Revolusi’ returns home: David Van Reybrouck on youth, memory and the spirit of Bandung

Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti (right) talks with a student on the sidelines of the inauguration of an integrated school on Sept. 30 in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The international-standard school integrates schools of three levels of education, namely SDN 28 state elementary school, SMPN 16 state junior high school and SMA Prestasi senior high school.

premium

Dignifying students key for Indonesia’s education: Education minister

Peace and reconciliation: Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf (eighth right) and Aceh wali nanggroe (traditional leader) Malik Mahmud (center) release doves with former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) officials and incumbent Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) officials during the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Aceh Peace Agreement in Banda Aceh, Aceh, on August 15, 2025,

premium

Discourse: Aceh people real heroes in 2005 peace deal

Facing climate crisis: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary Simon Stiell.

premium

Climate action delivers when benefits are visible: UNFCCC

Louder than words: An activist holds a poster criticizing Culture Minister Fadli Zon's statement denying the 1998 mass rapes during a Kamisan (Thursday) silent protest on June 26 in front of the State Palace in Jakarta.

premium

Discourse: There are more 1998 mass rape victims than recorded

insight

Insight: The strategic role of PT SMI in fiscal policy and economic expansion

Indonesia’s future economic growth will not be determined solely by the size of government spending, but also by how effectively development financing is managed.

1 week ago

Insight: Rethinking work: Driving sustainable growth in the digital age

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped.

7 months ago

Insight: Innovations in managing and developing human capital

Over the past few years, the role of human resources (HR) has expanded far beyond administrative tasks. HR professionals today are expected to drive innovation, enhance the employee experience and align people strategies with business goals. With the help of technology, these responsibilities have become more manageable, and in many ways, more impactful.

7 months ago

Insight: AI and Efficiency: Sacrifices The Next Generation

Introduction: From One Disruption to Another

7 months ago

Insight: Securing a healthier future: The importance of Indonesia's plasma fractionation facility

The global health crisis brought on by COVID-19 tested healthcare systems worldwide, and Indonesia was no exception. As one of the world’s most populous nations, the nation faced immense challenges yet demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating the pandemic.

1 year ago