September 9, 2014 edition
ON paper, president-elect Joko Widodo's support in parliament appears weak. The five parties supporting him and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla-the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), National Awakening Party (PKB), People's Conscience Party (Hanura), National Democrat Party (NasDem) and Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI)-only hold 207 seats. On the other hand, the parties supporting Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa, who lost the July 9 election to Joko and Kalla-the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), Golkar Party, National Mandate Party (PAN), Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB)-hold 292 seats.
With minority support for Jokowi-JK in the DPR, there is a chance that future government programs will face great resistance. In anticipation, PDI-P has not remained idle. Senior PDI-P figure Hasto Kristianto said the party was reaching out to Golkar, PPP and the Democrats. "We even built a bridge with PAN," he said.
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January 1, 1970 edition
Information technology is supposed to make life easier. But what if that technology violates regulation? That is now the case with Uber, a ride-sharing service that started in the United States and made its way to Indonesia. A week after Uber launched in Jakarta on August 13, the city government declared it illegal.
The reason: Uber was operating without a license, meaning it paid no taxes and allegedly disturbed the city's public transportation system. Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja 'Ahok' Purnama expressed his concern. If there was an accident or crime involving a passenger, "Who will be held responsible?" he asked.
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August 26, 2014 edition
DURING President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration, gasoline prices have risen four times and dropped once. Changes in the policy have always drawn widespread criticism because the issue touches the heart of Indonesia's economy. Last time around, to compensate for raising the price of oil-based fuel (OBF), the government distributed a monthly Rp150,000 to every poor household.
Now the government has moved to trim the subsidy by decreasing consumption, because raising prices are feared to carry a risk of bringing about social unrest. Since the enactment of the policy in July, no Premium gasoline can be bought at gas stations on toll roads. In Central Jakarta, stations are forbidden to sell subsidized diesel fuel.
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August 19, 2014 edition
An Indonesian recruitment call for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) went up on YouTube on July 22. The video was titled Join the Ranks and was conducted by a man calling himself Abu Muhammad al-Indonesi. This man, whose real name has been revealed to be Bachrumsyah, made a public speech about jihad and ISIS's struggle to become a world state. In June, the group, which has since changed its name to the Islamic State (IS), also released a video exhorting Australians, Germans and Canadians to join up.
Indonesian terror convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir has stated his own support for IS, a group of rebels that has declared a new government in Iraq and Syria. Ba'asyir's involvement was shown by photos circulating on social media of him with 13 men unfolding the IS flag. Later, in various parts of Indonesia including Malang, Solo and Bima, IS supporters took oaths of loyalty to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
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August 12, 2014 edition
IN the news last month were revelations that police and military had overseen the systematic exploitation of Indonesian migrant workers passing through Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) blew the scandal wide open when it made a sudden inspection at the airport's Terminal 4, which is under the jurisdiction of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers (BNP2TKI). Two policemen and a soldier were among those arrested.
Up to 1,000 migrant workers pass through the terminal each day, and a variety of methods have been used to take advantage of them. According to Tempo's investigation, they could be forced to exchange money, buy cell-phone credit or luggage carrier services or procure documentation or a ride home at exorbitant rates.
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August 5, 2014 edition
EVERY year the Public Works Ministry flushes away Rp1.2 trillion to fix the roads along Java's north coast, familiarly known as pantura. During the weeks before Idul Fitri at the end of Ramadan, when masses of people flock from the cities to their home villages, the 1,341 kilometers of road are usually repaired in a hurry.
Four years ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) discovered indications of 'feasting' by unscrupulous officials on pantura repair projects. KPK deputy chief Busyro Muqoddas said the KPK was investigating allegations concerning the 2010-2011 repairs. For example, the antigraft agency discovered that the names of several roads that had been rehabilitated were not listed at the Public Works office. Those projects were thus "prone to fraud," he said.
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January 1, 1970 edition