Jakarta – In response to broad public opposition, a number of officials have suggested pushing back a long-planned value added tax (VAT) hike meant to kick in at the turn of the year. The brouhaha is overblown.

For a start, the money we pay in taxes does not evaporate but gets used, and hopefully for the benefit of the public.

Jakarta – The North Jakarta city administration has relocated 43 families living under the Ir. Wiyoto Wiyono toll road in the Jembatan Tiga area of Pejagalan subdistrict, Penjaringan district, to rusunawa (low-cost rental apartments) as of Monday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – All seven senior ministers under President Prabowo Subianto have asked for a much bigger budget for next year, totaling around Rp 5.18 trillion ($363 million) in additional spending.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A senior minister recently said that the government was still testing whether it was possible to feed students across the archipelago with nutritious meals that cost no more than Rp 10,000 ($0.63).

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A proposal by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to transfer the National Police under the authority of the Home Affairs Ministry has been firmly rejected by seven other incumbent political parties.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Acting Pekanbaru Mayor Risnandar Mahiwa was arrested during a raid by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the Riau capital on Monday.

Risnandar, a senior official with the Home Affairs Ministry, was appointed acting mayor on May 22 to fill in the position until an elected mayor is sworn in next month.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The ethics council of the House of Representatives has scheduled separate hearings on Tuesday with three lawmakers accused of misconduct.

Sorong – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP), the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the All-Surabaya Papua High School and University Students Association (IPMAPA Surabaya) have expressed their firm opposition to National Strategic Projects (PSN), the transmigration program and military mobilisation in Papua.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's aspirations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have received a warm welcome from Canada. Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, hopes that more countries will be interested in joining CPTPP.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – As the January 2025 deadline for the value-added tax (VAT) increase from 11% to 12% looms, uncertainty persists regarding the policy's implementation. Despite widespread public opposition, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) continue to pass the buck.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government would get much more money from seizing assets lost in corruption compared to raising the value-added tax or VAT, according to a retail association.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – The Investment Minister and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Roeslani, announced plans to improve transparency in business licensing processes starting in early 2025.

Rosan made the statement while speaking at the Investor Daily Round Table (IDRT) event at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in South Jakarta on Friday, Nov. 29.

Grace el Dora, Jakarta – The rupiah slipped 0.25 percent to close at Rp 15,946 against the US dollar on Tuesday, as markets awaited signals of an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has affirmed that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has the authority to investigate corruption cases in the Indonesian Military (TNI) until the issuance of a final and legally binding verdict, as long as the KPK was the initial body to bring the case.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The Jakarta Environmental Office said the compliance rate towards vehicle emissions tests remained below 30 percent in three years, from 2022 to 2024, as reviewed from five administrative areas in Jakarta.

Eddie Spence – Indonesia needs to shut multiple coal plants a year while also tripling renewables to meet its new president's ambition of a full phase-out of the fossil fuel by 2040, according to climate consultancy Ember.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The indigenous people of Merauke held an audience with Committee II of the South Papua Regional Government Council at the Merauke District Office, Papua, on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded 11.56 million international tourist arrivals between January and October 2024, a 20.45 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). However, this figure remains lower than the pre-pandemic level of 13.44 million arrivals recorded during the same period in 2019.

Yogyakarta – Demonstrators calling themselves the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) held a protest action on Jalan Kusumanegara in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Sunday December 1.

Jakarta – A clash occurred during the Free West Papua rally on Jl. Kusumanegara in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta city on Sunday evening, after protesters attempted to raise the Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag. The protest, which called attention to the situation in Papua provinces, initially took place peacefully, starting in the afternoon.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) revealed that the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan will continue with a focus on completing the government center.

Emenda Sembiring, Attar Hikmahtiar Ramadan and Elprida Agustina – Bali has a unique opportunity to address plastic waste by integrating sustainable practices into the tourism experience. As a top global destination, tourists are likely to follow local customs and practices, especially if eco-friendly systems are in place.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Thousands of Indonesian National Police personnel are guarding the area around the National Monument, Central Jakarta, at the 212 Grand Reunion in 2024. "The security personnel amounted to 2,489," said the Head of Public Relations Division of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Besar Ade Ary Syam Indradi when confirmed on December 1, 2024.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is considering the implementation of a planned Value-Added Tax (VAT) increase to 12 percent, scheduled for January 2025, amid widespread criticism from businesses, workers, political parties, and economic experts.

Widy Wicaksono, Semarang – Central Java has long been considered the fortress of Indonesia's ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), but the party is facing new questions about its dominance after a bruising defeat in the province's gubernatorial race on November 27.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The government's efforts to reduce domestic airfares may face setbacks due to an impending increase in value-added tax (VAT), which is expected to raise prices across various goods and services, including airline tickets.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The Indonesian Teacher Union Federation (FSGI) urges the government to clarify the statement regarding the salary increase for teachers that was previously disclosed by President Prabowo during a speech at the National Teacher's Day event at Velodrome, East Jakarta, on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Former leader of the Islamic Defenders Front or FPI, Rizieq Shihab, has voiced support for a proposal to send Indonesian youth to Palestine to participate in jihad or fight against Israeli forces. According to him, the government should open registration for volunteers.

Jakarta – Some delegates at the COP29 climate conference have scoffed at the US$300 billion annual fund pledged to developing countries to finance losses and damages from climate change while making the transition to cleaner and renewable energy. Nobody is laughing, but they are right, the sum is laughable.

Twenty five Pacific civil society organisations and solidarity movements have called on Pacific leaders of their "longstanding responsibility" to West Papua, and to urgently address the "ongoing gross human rights abuses" by Indonesia.

Lusa – The former prime minister of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, said that the best reconciliation is the one that "comes from the heart", referring to the recent social outrage provoked by an invitation to the militia leader to take part in the celebrations for the declaration of independence.

Jakarta – Indonesia and China are seeing solid progress in their bilateral economic cooperation, with the ties helping bolster expectations that Southeast Asia's largest economy will become a trading hub for the region, an expo forum heard in Jakarta on Thursday.

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono assured lawmakers on Monday that Indonesia has no intention of joining any military alliance, even as global geopolitical tensions continue to rise due to the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

Jakarta – The annual inflation was recorded at 1.55 percent in November, compared to 1.71 percent in the previous month, driven primarily by price hikes in food, beverages, and tobacco products.

The month-to-month inflation stood at 0.30 percent while year-to-date inflation was 1.12 percent, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released on Monday.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Former four-term lawmaker Effendi Simbolon has been expelled from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) after he made an unacceptable mistake: meeting with former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the party said on Sunday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) has voiced opposition to the 6.5 percent hike in the 2025 minimum wage, warning that the policy could hinder business expansion and lead to widespread layoffs.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Member of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Idham Holik said the rerun elections for regions where "empty box" wins will commence in September 2025.

Idham said the empty ballot boxes won in two regions, out of the 36 regions with uncontested regional elections. These regions are Pangkalpinang City and the Bangka Regency.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) noted that there are still practices of slavery in East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This practice persists due to the social stratification system in the Marapu culture applied by some local communities.

Media Statement – Pacific civil society organisations (CSOs) and solidarity movements are reminding Pacific leaders of their longstanding responsibility to West Papua, and to urgently address the ongoing gross human rights abuses.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government has announced a 6.5 percent increase in the minimum wage, effective next year, aimed at safeguarding the purchasing power of the middle class and bolstering Indonesia's consumption-driven economy, Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Sunday.

Eiben Heizar, Jakarta – The Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP) held a student demonstration on Jalan Kusumanegara, Jogja City, on Sunday, December 1, 2024. They conveyed several demands to the government of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Banda Aceh – More than 100 Rohingya refugees including women and children have been rescued after their boat sank off the coast of Indonesia, the United Nations refugee agency said on Saturday.

The mostly Muslim ethnic Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and thousands risk their lives each year on long and dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus – For many Indonesian democracy activists, a former trade minister's upcoming corruption trial will test whether Prabowo Subianto, the new president, upholds the rule of law or uses legal mechanisms to suppress political criticism.

Spoorthy Raman – When the Indonesian government established Tesso Nilo National Park in 2004 on a former logging concession, little could it have known that the legacy of logging and deforestation would continue years after granting it official protection.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Donald Trump's re-election as US president and his renewed focus on protectionist policies could stifle global economic growth, warns the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef).

Widi Agustian, Jakarta – Workers in Indonesia are expected to see a 6.3 percent increase in salaries in 2025, a rise that surpasses the projected salary growth in 2024 across most Southeast Asian countries, except for Vietnam.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) is seeking further clarification from the government behind the 6.5 percent increase in the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) announced by President Prabowo Subianto on Friday.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has sent an investigation team to probe the fatal shooting by a police officer of a teenage student in Semarang, Central Java.

Zachary Abuza – At an event orchestrated by Indonesia's counter-terrorism agency (BNPT) in late June, Abu Rusydan and 15 other senior Jemaah Islamiyah members read out a statement announcing that their militant group was disbanding.

Sudarshan Varadhan, Singapore – Indonesia is in talks with the United States and Russia about acquiring technology to develop nuclear power plants, a deputy minister told Reuters on Friday.