Ananda Ridho Sulistya, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is said to want to pardon corruptors as long as they return the money to the state. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, responded to President Prabowo Subianto's idea of pardoning the corruptors.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) alleged on Tuesday that political motives were behind the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) decision to name its secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, as a corruption suspect.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesian police have confiscated Rp 2.5 billion ($154,322) in cash during an internal investigation into 18 officers accused of extorting Malaysian attendees at the recent Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) music festival.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has been named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly bribing a senior election official to secure a parliamentary seat for fellow party executive Harun Masiku.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) clarified on Tuesday that settling corruption cases through financial payments is not recognized under Indonesia's existing anti-corruption laws.

The statement came in response to the Prabowo Subianto administration's proposal to pardon graft suspects or convicts who return stolen state assets.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has stated that the shooting of two civilians by para-military police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Dekai, Yahukimo regency, last August, was a human rights violation.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reportedly named Hasto Kristiyanto, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as a suspect in a graft case tied to the replacement of a legislative member in the 2019-2024 House of Representatives.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – The terrorist group Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (East Indonesia Mujahideen), or MIT, has been said to be wiped out following the death of its last fugitive Al Ikhwarisman a.k.a. Jaid in 2022.

Antara, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Yenny Wahid, the daughter of the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, widely known as Gus Dur, expressed her appreciation for a recent statement by President Prabowo Subianto signaling the government's plan to declare her father a national hero.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's plan to pardon corruptors who return their wealth from corruption to the country has been flooded with criticism. A number of parties, from legal experts to anti-corruption activists, disagree with the idea. They consider this effort to be against the rules and seems to protect perpetrators of corruption.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Member of the House of Representatives (DPR) of the Gerindra Party Faction, Heri Gunawan, said that PDIP does not need to play drama by pretending to defend people over the increase in value-added tax (VAT) to 12 percent. He said that PDIP's changed stance could now be seen as an opportunist stance that uses the stage for image building.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the Iranian government had sent a letter requesting the transfer of prisoners. However, Indonesia has yet to determine its stance on the request.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), has disputed the government's assessment of the impact of the upcoming VAT increase from 11% to 12%.

Jakarta – Floods and landslides triggered by extreme weather have struck various regions across the archipelago in the past week, as millions of people prepare to hit the road and flock to popular tourist destinations for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Jakarta – There are good reasons for (and against) hiking the value added tax (VAT) by one percentage point on Jan. 1, 2025, but there is no good reason for dithering once a decision has been made.

A VAT hike raises the price of consumption, the idea being that consumers pay a little extra so that the state has additional resources for public programs.

Alloysius Joko Purwanto and Nuki Agya Utama, Jakarta – Indonesia's abundant agricultural resources present a pivotal opportunity to transition from fossil fuels to bioethanol, a cleaner and renewable energy alternative.

Jakarta – State-owned railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) introduced women-only cars on the Greater Jakarta Light Rapid Transit (LRT) on Monday. The special service will be available throughout the LRT's operational hours on weekdays but will not operate on weekends and public holidays.

Bill Birtles and Mitch Woolnough in Jakarta – Mohamad Rizky's parents don't know how he spends his Friday nights in Jakarta and the 15-year-old doesn't dare tell them.

That's because the mischievous teen is out on his motorbike, racing along the twists and turns of the capital's narrow streets.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer, or Noel, says there have been at least 80,000 cases of layoffs since the beginning of the year until December 2024. He considers the situation as macabre.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer expressed suspicion regarding the bankruptcy of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex. "We suspect that in this bankruptcy process, there is the hand of Satan at play," he said at his office on Monday, December 23, 2024.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesman Roy Soemirat said Monday that President Prabowo Subianto to this day still has not received any invitation to attend US President-Elect Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration next month.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – More than 5.64 million people have been victims of natural disasters in various regions in Indonesia throughout this year, from January 1 to December 22, 2024. They suffered and had to evacuate due to floods, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, land fires, volcanic eruptions, and moving soil.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – A viral video on social media suggested that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walked out of the D-8 Summit in Egypt while Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was giving a speech supporting Palestine on Thursday. The video sparked speculation that Erdogan left in the middle of Prabowo's remarks.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah is expected to face continued depreciation into early 2025, according to Dian Ayu Yustina, Head of Macroeconomic and Financial Market Research at Bank Mandiri. According to Dian, ongoing uncertainty in the global economy, particularly due to the upcoming US presidential inauguration in January 2025, could further pressure currency markets.

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) General Chairperson Muhammad Isnur has emphasised that granting amnesty or abolition to corruptors on the condition that that they compensate for state losses is contrary to the principles of justice.

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Icha Rastika, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid regrets the postponement of Yos Suprapto's painting exhibition at the National Gallery of Indonesia.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – Chair of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Muhammad Isnur said that the conflict on Rempang Island was not just an agrarian issue, but a crime against humanity committed by the state. "This is not an ordinary conflict, but a crime against humanity," Isnur said when contacted by Tempo on Saturday, December 22, 2024.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Galang Police Chief Inspector Alex Yasral explained the chronology of the clash between residents of Sembulang Hulu Village, Rempang-Galang Island, Riau Islands, and workers from PT Makmur Elok Graha (PT MEG) on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The riot resulted in several residents being injured.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The increase in value-added tax (VAT) from 11 percent to 12 percent, effective next month, was initiated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), a senior lawmaker said on Sunday. The statement appeared to counter the party's recent opposition to the hike.

Jakarta – Civil society organizations have condemned the assault committed by an unidentified group on environmental activist Sulfianto Alias in Teluk Bintuni regency, West Papua, on Friday, with one of the perpetrators claiming to be a police officer.

Dili – Timor-Leste and China agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various aspects during meetings held between Timorese leaders and a senior Chinese political advisor.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Thousands of former members and sympathizers of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) gathered in Solo, Central Java, on Saturday to declare their renouncement of radical views and pledge allegiance to Indonesia.

Thomas Rizal, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's recent remarks about his plan to pardon corruption convicts were intended to shift the focus toward asset recovery as a central strategy in Indonesia's fight against corruption, a senior minister has said.

Salman Mardira, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Chief Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra has confirmed that the government plans to pardon graft convicts and suspects who agree to return stolen assets to the state, signaling a shift in focus from punitive measures to asset recovery.

Claire Jiao – Indonesia claimed victory after Apple Inc. offered to increase its investment in the country to $1 billion to get President Prabowo Subianto's government to lift a ban on the sale of iPhone 16s. The win may be short-lived.

Norma Susanti R.M., The Conversation – The devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami remains etched in the memories of many, especially in Aceh, where the disaster claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Among the casualties, women were disproportionately affected in a ratio of four to one.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Police's Internal Affairs (IA) Division has detained 18 officers accused of extorting foreign attendees at the 2024 Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) held at JIExpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, from December 13 to 15.

Jakarta – South Koreans are apparently some of the harshest people in the world when it comes to their presidents.

Last week, lawmakers moved to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol from office following his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3.

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration will deploy around 4,200 officers to secure the city during the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays, some 1,500 will come from the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) and the remaining 2,700 from the Transportation Agency.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is urging the government to regulate social media use for children, following the example of neighboring countries like Australia.

Rizka Ardina Nugraheni, Antara, Solo – Sri Rejeki Isman (Sritex), one of Indonesia's largest textile companies, has furloughed 3,000 employees following the Supreme Court's rejection of its bankruptcy appeal. The financially troubled company owes approximately Rp 14.42 trillion ($891.7 million) to 27 banks and Rp 220 billion to three financing firms.

Didik Fibrianto, Malang – The Indonesian government plans to halt imports of certain food commodities starting next year to bolster self-sufficiency programs, a senior minister announced on Thursday.

Oyuk Ivani S, Erwin Prima, Jakarta – Chairman of the Indonesian Fiber and Filament Yarn Producers Association (Apsyfi) Redma Gita Wirawasta, said over the past two years, as many as 60 textile companies in the country have collapsed.

Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has called on all members and functionaries to increase vigilance against external efforts to sow friction ahead of next year's national congress, when the party is slated to hold its leadership election.

Lies Marcoes, Jakarta – The world is working hard to halt femicide, or the murder of women based on prejudice against their bodies, sexuality or social/gender roles that are seen as not in line with men's desires. This practice is in principle the same as genocide, killing of a certain (minority) ethnic group based on ethnic prejudice against them.

Jakarta – Past Indonesian leaders have rarely used the presidential prerogative of giving amnesty, one of many powers that come with the job, but not President Prabowo Subianto. Barely two months into office, he has surprised the nation with his plan to give pardon to 44,000 inmates nationwide.

Indonesia, West Papua – A shooting incident involving the Indonesian military (TNI) occurred in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua (Papua tengah) Province, on 16 December 2024, leaving three civilians injured. The incident began around 10:00 AM following a traffic accident and subsequent confrontation.

Usman Hamid and Ary Hermawan – If what transpired in 2024 is any indication of what to come, we can safely say that 2025 will not be a democratic spring for Indonesia.

Jakarta – Operatives from the National Police's Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) and the Central Sulawesi Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) apprehended three terrorist suspects in Palu city and Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday.

Agung Sandy Lesmana, Fakhri Fuadi Muflih – A solo painting exhibition by artist Yos Suprapto at the National Gallery (Galnas) in Jakarta has been cancelled. The exhibition titled "Revival: Land for Food Sovereignty" was supposed to open on Thursday December 19, but was banned by the gallery.