Now that local politicians like KDM are reducing their reliance on the mainstream media, legacy local media’s future existence looks increasingly bleak.

It is imperative for civil society to intensify its opposition to the proposed revision of the 2002 Broadcasting Law, particularly by demanding the removal of Article 50B. It is also essential for alternative media to develop sustainable revenue sources to replace USAID funding, including redoubling efforts to expand their subscription bases.

The Indonesian public has been taken aback by two proposed changes to Indonesia’s media landscape. If these regulations are enacted, it will go a long way towards restoring the power of Indonesia’s traditional media oligarchs, whose influence has notably waned in the digital era.

The topic of meritocracy has been thrust into the spotlight again since the controversy surrounding the appointment of Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. If Indonesia wants to be a developed nation by 2045, it needs to get rid of nepotism and adopt the meritocratic systems of many developed nations.