
Big Brother is watching: Prabowo government tightens control of cyberspace with new digital monitoring agency
Analysis, Cyberspace, Policies, SecurityIn October, Communication and Digital (Komdigi) Minister Meutya Hafid told reporters that President Prabowo Subianto wanted to upgrade the nation’s digital oversight for security reasons. The president, the minister said, was paying special attention to digitalisation, specifically digital security, to address issues such as online gambling, predatory online lending schemes, and human trafficking.

‘Mysterious’ bamboo fence off Tangerang coast spotlights uneven urban development
Analysis, Policies, SocietyThe Tangerang bamboo sea fence has sparked public controversy. For weeks, the public were left in the dark over the identity of the parties responsible. Who erected this 6 meter-high sea fence in the Java Sea? And why?

Will a dedicated human rights ministry improve disability advocacy in Indonesia?
Analysis, PoliciesPrabowo claimed during his campaign that human rights were a key part of his administration’s agenda, encapsulated in his “Eight Goals” or “Asta Cita”. The fifth includes initiatives aimed to develop human resources through science, technology, education, health, and sports, while also promoting gender equality, promising to enhance the roles of women and youth - and people with disability.

Can Indonesia’s tech sector take off from Australia’s ‘landing pads’?
Economy, PoliciesAs the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia presents a compelling case for deeper engagement with Australia’s Landing Pads program.

‘We must have our own cars’: Looking under the hood of Indonesia’s new official car project
Analysis, PoliciesBeyond its striking exterior, excitement around the MV3 Garuda largely derives from its local origins. The SUV is part of a new range of civilian vehicles manufactured by PT Pindad, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s state-owned DefendID Consortium, which specialises in military products.

Why did Indonesian judges go on strike?
Law, PoliciesFrom 7 to 11 October 2024, a group of judges called Indonesian Judges’ Solidarity (Solidaritas Hakim Indonesia, SHI) took collective leave of absence to protest their poor conditions, including their remarkably low salaries. In effect, thousands of judges were on strike.

How Prabowo’s 8% growth target will shape Indonesia’s fiscal policy
Analysis, Economy, PoliciesPresident-elect Prabowo Subianto has set an ambitious target of achieving 8% economic growth during his first term. This goal is driven by the intention to lift Indonesia out of the middle-income trap and propel it towards high-income status by 2045.

Questioning Indonesia's approach to the Taiwan Strait
Foreign Policy, Policies, SecurityIndonesia appears to be paying little attention to the latest political dynamics in Taiwan, even though they could well disrupt the status quo of cross-strait relations.

Komodo island a global tourism spot — but at what cost?
Analysis, Human Rights, Migration, PoliciesWill the Ata Modo, the traditional inhabitants of Komodo island, ever have any say in the aggressive conservation and tourism development policies that so directly threaten their way of life?


