January 13, 2015 edition
FOR many Indonesians, 2015 began on a positive note: subsidized fuel prices had fallen with global oil prices. Premium gasoline dropped from Rp8,500 to Rp7,600 per liter, and automotive diesel oil went from Rp7,500 to Rp7,250 per liter.
With that in mind, President Joko Widodo was optimistic 2015 would bring improvements for the Indonesian economy, with the government able to cut subsidies and free up funds. "This money can be diverted to build infrastructure such as reservoirs, irrigation, toll roads and railways outside of Java," Jokowi said.
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January 1, 1970 edition
President Joko Widodo has deserted Islam and become an apostate by saying "Merry Christmas"at least according to Misbachul Anam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). "It is prohibited for Muslims to say 'Merry Christmas' and there is no exception for the president," Misbach said.
Anyone who says Merry Christmas, Misbach contends, recognizes the birth of Jesus Christ and accepts Christianity. In Islam, Misbach explained, the concept of God is clear: He begets not nor is He begotten (and there is none Like unto Him). So if a Muslim says Merry Christmas, his understanding of Islam should be questioned.
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December 23, 2014 edition
THE heated debate on political party alignments has reignited. The new round of speculation began when Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace on Monday two weeks ago. The stated purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) summit set to take place in Bali in July 2015. Yudhoyono became chief of the GGGI after seeing out his term as Indonesia's president in October.
Speculation that Yudhoyono and Jokowi were actually talking politics was disputed by Amir Syamsuddin, head of the Democrats' ethics board. Amir said the party had no plans to join the coalition of parties supporting Jokowi, as the president is known. It had nothing to do with coalition issues, Amir said two days after the meeting.
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December 16, 2014 edition
Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja 'Ahok' Purnama has chosen Djarot Saiful Hidayat to run the city alongside him as deputy governor. The choice was based on Djarot's two terms of experience as mayor of Blitar, East Java. Since January, Ahok had been impressed by Djarot's leadership style, which he said resembled that of his former boss, President Joko Widodo. As Jakarta governor, Jokowi, as he is known, was known to drop in on people unannounced, crack down on the bureaucracy and prioritize the organizing of sidewalk vendors.
Ahok approached Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, who supports Djarot, about his choice. There had been whispers that PDI-P politician and Jakarta Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Boy Bernardi Sadikin would be nominated for deputy governor. The PDI-P is also Jokowi's party.
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January 1, 1970 edition
Peringkat Presiden Joko Widodo turun ke urutan kedelapan dalam jajak pendapat kandidat Person of the Year 2014 majalah Time. Setelah sempat menduduki peringkat empat besar, posisi Jokowi digeser demonstran di Ferguson dan penggerak protes di Hong Kong, Joshua Wong, pada 29 November lalu.
Nama Joshua Wong melesat ke posisi tiga besar setelah pemimpin prodemokrasi Hong Kong itu ditahan polisi dalam unjuk rasa menuntut pemilihan langsung pada Pemilihan Umum 2017. Aksi protes tersebut berlangsung sejak Oktober lalu.
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January 1, 1970 edition
THE response to the price hike for subsidized fuel has been positive among the majority of the public. Of 1,770 respondents to last week's Tempo.co poll, 77 percent said President Joko Widodo made the right decision. However, 21.1 percent said the timing was not right, and 1.9 percent were unsure.
Businessmen appear to be singing the same tune. Many of them have wanted the government to cut the fuel subsidy for some time. Indonesian Entrepeneurs Association CEO Sofjan Wanandi said that if the price did not rise this year, Indonesia's treasury would collapse in the following fiscal year. "Raise it now and next year we will have peace of mind," he said.
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January 1, 1970 edition