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Jakarta Post
Society

Finance ministry says about $140 million spent so far on free meals program

Launched in January, the vaunted programme has reached just 3.27 million recipients as of April 29, with more than 1,000 kitchens operating across the archipelago, the ministry said. 

2 hours ago
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Free meals program lacks public transparency, accountability: ICW

Recent findings by antigraft watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) showed President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship initiative, the free nutritious meal program, lacks key principles of good governance, showing poor accountability and transparency and leaving it vulnerable to fund mismanagement. ...

23 hours ago
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BGN to improve food safety standards following mass poisoning incidents

The free nutritious meals program has faced intense public scrutiny following several food poisoning incidents that have caused hundreds of students to be hospitalized since its launch in January. ...

23 hours ago

The Latest

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Social media age restriction policy met with caution

The Government Regulation (PP) on electronic system providers governance in child protection signed on March 28 mandates that online platforms prioritize child protection over commercial pursuits and forbids them from commodifying children.

3 weeks ago
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Authorities hail ‘smoothest mudik’ ahead of return travel

The police recorded 2,110 accidents between March 23 and Wednesday, down 21 percent from last year's figure.

3 weeks ago
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Police record fewer accidents, smoother traffic during ‘mudik’

The number of accidents during this year’s Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) dropped 31 percent compared to last year as travel flows remained smooth, authorities have reported.

4 weeks ago
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‘Mudik’ return flow to peak from Saturday to Monday, authorities say

The government will prepare various strategies to anticipate the congestion, including by implementing a contraflow traffic scheme.

1 month ago
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Prabowo to host first palace 'open house' for Idul Fitri

Marking the first palace gathering of his presidency, the President is slated to host an Idul Fitri "open house" after performing the holiday prayers at Istiqlal Mosque on Monday morning.

1 month ago
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Idul Fitri falls on Monday, govt declares

Combining astrological and traditional methods, the Religious Affairs Ministry's moonsighting committee has determined that the first day of Idul Fitri falls on March 31, which also means that members of both NU and Muhammadiyah will be celebrating the holiday on the same date this year.

1 month ago
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The many ways to determine Ramadan, Idul Fitri dates

Millions of Muslims often face questions on when the Ramadan or Idul Fitri holidays will fall, which depends on how religious authorities observe the moon to determine the Hijriah Islamic calendar.

1 month ago
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Government to offer training, jobs abroad for vocational students

The government is aiming to better align the vocational education sector with the job market through two new policies that will provide students opportunities for upskilling at job training centers as well as prospective jobs overseas upon graduation.

1 month ago
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Muted Idul Fitri ahead as 'mudik' travel declines

The country is likely to see a more reserved Idul Fitri this year as fewer people participate in the mudik (exodus) tradition amid financial hardship, widespread layoffs and President Prabowo Subianto’s sweeping austerity measures.

1 month ago
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Idul Fitri exodus comes early amid WFA policy

A work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy for civil servants and earlier school holidays for students have contributed to an earlier mudik (exodus) ahead of this year's Idul Fitri holiday, as suggested by data compiled by authorities.

1 month ago
Society

Deforestation climbed to 175,000 ha in 2024, ministry admits

A ministry official reported that the total gross deforestation for 2024 was 216,200 ha, offset by reforestation efforts covering 40,800 ha, resulting in a net loss of 175,400 ha.

1 month ago
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Government asks entities to report extortion, illegal levies

The government has stressed that no institution is obliged to provide holiday bonuses ahead of Idul Fitri (THR) to civil society organizations, commonly referred as ormas (mass organizations).

1 month ago
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Govt pledges to pay free meal program employees before Idul Fitri

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) vows to pay thousands of its development pioneer scholar (SPPI) employees, who have not been paid since the free meals program started in January, before the Idul Fitri holidays.

1 month ago
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Civil servant recruits remain wary despite earlier start dates

Newly recruited civil servants (CASN) and government contract employees (PPPK) have taken the government’s claim that it will move up their start dates with a grain of salt, noting that the authorities could still change their minds amid the “budget-cutting season”.

1 month ago
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Cross-border mission rescues 554 trafficked Indonesians in Myanmar

The Indonesians were all rescued from Myawaddy on Monday. Later that same day, they crossed over the Second Friendship Bridge into Mae Sot in western Thailand, where they received health examinations.

1 month ago
Society

Authorities to question more than 500 citizens freed from Myanmar scam centres

Myanmar's Myawaddy scam centres are part of a Southeast Asia network involving criminal gangs trafficking hundreds of thousands of people to help generate illicit revenues running into billions of dollars a year, according to the United Nations.

1 month ago
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Police vow to address rampant extortion of businesses ahead of Idul Fitri

The National Police have pledged to protect businesses from extortion and take “firm action” against members of mass organizations involved in such illicit activities, which have reportedly hindered investment in the country. 

1 month ago
Society

Indonesia begins repatriating freed Myanmar scam centre workers

Cyberscam operations, which have thrived in Myanmar's lawless border areas for several years, lure foreign workers with promises of high-paying jobs but hold them hostage and force them to commit online fraud. 

1 month ago
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Government continues free meals program during Ramadan with processed food

The government has insisted on resuming President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meal program during the fasting month of Ramadan by making some adjustments to the menu including by providing ultra-processed foods for school children, drawing criticism from nutritionists.

1 month ago
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Indonesia to lift ban on sending workers to Saudi, expecting 600,000 jobs

Indonesia is set to lift a moratorium on sending Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia, expecting it to offer 600,000 job opportunities mostly for domestic workers that could contribute to around Rp 31 trillion (US$1.89 billion) in foreign exchange earnings.

1 month ago
Society

Govt mulls resuming sending migrant workers to Saudi Arabia

Migrant Worker Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding meets with President Prabowo Subianto on March 14 to talk about issues pertaining to Indonesian migrant workers abroad, including a plan to end a moratorium on sending Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia.

1 month ago
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Tangerang sea barrier exposes conflicting land permit laws

A study conducted by the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) has found conflicting laws governing land ownership in coastal areas.

1 month ago
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Government expects smaller ‘mudik’ amid bleak economy

The government is expecting a significant drop in the number of people partaking in the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) this year as many Indonesians endure a tougher financial situation amid President Prabowo Subianto’s sweeping austerity measures.

1 month ago
Society

Prabowo invites universities to drive research, national progress

President Prabowo Subianto held a four-hour discussion on Thursday with hundreds of leaders of public and private universities at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta.

1 month ago
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Family calls for better protection of WR Supratman’s legacy

The family of Wage Rudolf Soepratman, the composer of the national anthem “Indonesia Raya”, have lamented the neglected condition of the national hero’s violin, kept at the Youth Pledge Museum on Jl. Kramat Raya in Central Jakarta.

1 month ago
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Indonesia plans launch of forestry-based carbon offset trade soon

The government stopped cross-border carbon trade in late 2021, wanting to prioritise meeting its own carbon reduction targets as it sets up broad rules on carbon trading. 

1 month ago
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Indonesia predicted to have normal dry season in 2025

The dry season will start in most areas in April and is expected to reach its peak in June up until August, the agency's climatology deputy Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan told reporters in a briefing. 

1 month ago
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UI says Bahlil has four years to revise dissertation

An internal investigation previously found that Bahlil violated several of the university’s academic standards, such as using data without permission from the sources and concluding the program in less than four semesters as required.

1 month ago
Society premium

Promotion of gender equality slipping in Indonesia

Every party, ranging from the government to the private sector, should contribute to pushing for gender equality in Indonesia, as the country has experienced a lack of progress in creating fairness for all genders in recent years.

1 month ago
Society premium

New civil servants upset over work delays

The Indonesian Ombudsman said, only 207 out of a total of 602 government agencies have requested additional time for civil servant recruitment, meaning that there was no reason for the postponement in the remaining 395 agencies.

1 month ago

Today's ePost

Wed, April 30, 2025

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