The police have observed that traffic going out of Jakarta is heaviest from dusk to midnight as more people are leaving the capital to celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns.

The return of the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) has caused a great deal of buzz and excitement for millions of Muslims in Indonesia despite severe traffic congestion starting to occur on major thoroughfares across the country, which is expected to mar the journeys home.

With less than a week left before Idul Fitri, toll roads, train stations, bus terminals and seaports are brimming with people excited about the yearly homecoming journey -- locally known as "mudik". 

The AGO continues to probe the case linked to alleged mishandling of the issuance of palm oil export permits, with investigators under the assistant attorney general for extraordinary crimes interrogating three Trade Ministry officials on Tuesday.

Experts speaking at a webinar on pandemic preparedness have urged Indonesia to use its G20 presidency to push for more multilateral cooperation and financing in global health security.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Bogor Regent Ade Yasin and seven others, including officials from the Supreme Audit Agency’s (BPK) West Java office, suspects in a bribery case on Thursday.  

Indonesia will offer halal-certified vaccines under the state-led immunization drive to appease its Muslim-majority citizens.

The latest IPI survey suggests that many Indonesians are still concerned enough about COVID-19 to avoid going on mudik (exodus) this year.

Some Indonesians have begun departing to their hometowns to spend the Idul Fitri holiday with families and relatives, a tradition known as mudik (exodus) in the Muslim-majority country, while the government has started trials of traffic management policies in anticipation for congestion in the country’s toll roads.

The Religious Affairs Ministry is gearing up to send the first batch of Indonesian pilgrims to Mecca on June 4 under a reduced quota, prioritizing those whose trips were canceled in 2020 and 2021.

Now pushing 40, instead of singing our own praises, The Jakarta Post reached out to a handful of distinguished readers on their views of the role we fill in the national media landscape.

The government has expressed confidence that the tradition of mudik (exodus) in which millions of people throughout the country return to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri, will not cause another wave of COVID-19 cases.

The move comes as the government shifts to preventing rather than treating disease in its public health approach.

The Supreme Court has rejected a petition to revoke provisions on consent in a progressive regulation for on-campus sexual violence, much to the relief of those who have been fighting to end violence against women.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has named four suspects, including a senior government official, in a case of corruption that led to a lack of of cooking oil and high prices for the commodity on the local market.

Public activity restriction (PPKM) level 2 is extended in all Greater Jakarta areas until May 9.

A Health Ministry official said the PeduliLindungi app did not violate any human rights, noting that a US government report merely raised civil society concerns on privacy interference.

The rate of COVID-19 testing in Indonesia has dropped significantly in the last two months as the pandemic situation continues to improve across the country after the Omicron-fueled third wave reached its peak in mid-February.

The March study of 2,100 people, conducted on Java and Bali revealed 99.2 percent of people had COVID antibodies, a 6 percentage point increase from a December survey.

Easter celebrations went smoothly with people returning to church as the coronavirus pandemic recedes, despite the number of church visitors still being limited.

The move marks a step forward in the case that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said constituted a “gross human rights violation.”

Rights groups are calling on the government to immediately prepare the law's implementing regulations.

Indonesia has seen a declining number of daily COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks despite the continued relaxation of pandemic rules and an increase in public mobility.

The government is seeking to improve childhood vaccination rates this year, which have been greatly impacted by disruption in health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and as parents avoid doctor's visits over fears of contracting the coronavirus.

The government has expanded its free mudik transportation program amid the surge in demand from people eager to unite with their families back home over the holiday season.

Lawmakers make good on their promise to pass a bill that offers greater protection for survivors of harassment and other forms of sexual violence.

Lawmakers passed the bill in a plenary meeting on Tuesday after deliberations were fast-tracked in late March, which marked a culmination for activists after years of campaigning for the passage of the bill.

Indonesia’s many Muslims rejoice as the government relaxes most pandemic-era restrictions to allow for the annual mudik exodus to take place, the first in two years.

The holiday arrangement means that many offices across the country will be closed for the first week of May.

CISDI is urging the government to impose excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages amid lacking support in handling the country's growing diabetes crisis.