Indonesian president defends free meals programme after 6,000 suffer food poisoning
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday defended his ambitious plan to provide free meals for children after some 6,000 cases of food poisoning, saying the percentage of those affected was small and the programme was still finding its footing. The food poisonings have sparked a public outcry with TV channels broadcasting images of children being […]
Read MoreWhat Prabowo’s ‘bold’ UN speech means for Indonesia’s stance on Israel-Gaza war
Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to send tens of thousands of peacekeepers to conflict zones and said the country could recognise Israel, but only if Palestinian statehood is first acknowledged. The idea of conditional recognition for Israel drew sharp reactions at home, with critics accusing Prabowo of undermining Indonesia’s pro-Palestinian stance, […]
Read MoreWhy Indonesia’s clean energy future will be shaped by US-China rivalry
Associated Press The race to replace coal in Indonesia, the world’s largest coal exporter, has become a contest between the US and China. At stake is not only Indonesia’s climate future, but also which superpower sets the terms for the next generation of energy in the developing world. Like much of the developing world, Indonesia […]
Read MoreIndonesian government puts out full page newspaper ad on military’s expanded role
Indonesia’s defence ministry put out a full-page advertisement in the country’s largest newspaper on Monday, detailing and defending key non-defence programmes being run by the military, amid criticism of the force’s increased role under President Prabowo Subianto. Since being elected as president last year, Prabowo has expanded the number of government posts for military personnel […]
Read MoreIndonesia volcano erupts as alert level raised
JAKARTA: A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted multiple times, spewing a column of ash kilometers into the sky after authorities raised its alert level to the highest, prompting a local airport to suspend operations on Saturday. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-meter-high twin-peaked volcano on Flores island, launched into a series of eruptions Friday evening, […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s ‘proud nepo baby’ tycoon Gita Sjahrir embraces her privilege
By Jean Iau At first glance, Gita Sjahrir is often mistaken for just another secretary or typist. It’s only when her surname is mentioned that colleagues realise she is, in fact, a managing director of one of Indonesia’s leading power companies. Earlier this year, the 43-year-old assumed responsibility for investor relations at TBS Energi, which […]
Read MoreWill Indonesia’s US$80 billion sea wall hold firm against environmental critics?
By Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia is seeking China’s help to build a US$80 billion giant sea wall along the northern coast of Java in a project that officials see as essential to protecting millions of residents and key industries from rising seas and sinking land, despite criticisms over its financial and environmental costs. President Prabowo […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s new finance chief plans US$12 billion boost to jump-start lending
Bloomberg Indonesia’s new finance minister wants to immediately flood the economy with roughly US$12 billion in cash to jump-start lending, proving his commitment to President Prabowo Subianto’s growth agenda barely three days into the job. The government would transfer half of the 400 trillion rupiah in cash reserves that it held with the central bank […]
Read MoreBali declares state of emergency after deadly flash floods
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s famed tourist island, Bali, was in a state of emergency on Thursday after it was inundated by severe flash flooding that left at least 14 people dead. A torrential downpour this week triggered flooding across seven regions in Bali, including its provincial capital Denpasar, as multiple rivers burst their banks and tore through […]
Read MoreCan Indonesia’s cabinet reshuffle restore public trust and calm protesters?
By Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet reshuffle is a “tactical” step to restore public trust in the government, according to analysts, but they argue it will not be enough to quell the unrest among protesters if it does not lead to more systemic reform. The shake-up on Monday saw the departure of […]
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