Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Bob Azam, head of labor affairs at the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), says the government must urgently strengthen public purchasing power to spur economic growth. Apindo estimates that 250,000 workers will be affected by layoffs this year.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) announced that the broad money supply (M2) in April 2025 increased by 5.2 percent annually. This figure decreased compared to M2 in March, which grew by 6.1 percent.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

• After months of speculation about what a Prabowo government would be like following the ten years of the Widodo presidency, speculation is starting to subside, and policies are becoming clearer.

Jakarta – From Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, alias Haji Isam, 48, we can learn how to become an oligarch. After a career in the business world, then influencing a number of government policies from behind the scenes, now he is trying his luck joining a political party.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled the examination of six witnesses in a graft case tied to the distribution of presidential social aid or bansos by the Ministry of Social Affairs during the 2020 budget year.

Jakarta – National Economic Council (DEN) chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the Jakarta – Surabaya high-speed railway (HSR) project will move forward.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Ayam Goreng Widuran, a legendary eatery in Solo, Central Java, is currently facing public scrutiny after declaring its non-halal status following 52 years of operation. Some particularly Muslim consumers feel deceived because the restaurant management did not previously warn Muslim consumers of its non-halal status.

Dika Mohammad – Reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998 – was an important moment in Indonesian political history. It marked the end of the New Order authoritarian regime. After 27 years have passed however, it is increasingly clear that these reforms only managed to bring down the figure – former president Suharto – not the system.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Culture plans to conduct a public review of its revised history manuscript. Culture Minister Fadli Zon announced that this public consultation would take place in June or July.

Marcus Browning – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua provisional government interim president Benny Wenda warns that since Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto took office last October his coming marks the return of "the ghost of Suharto," the brutal dictator who ruled over the nation for three decades.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI), or the Indonesian Environmental Forum, noted that approximately 9.1 million hectares out of a total of 15.4 million hectares of land in Central Kalimantan is controlled by large-scale corporations.

Kuala Lumpur – ASEAN Foreign Ministers today reaffirmed their strong support for Timor-Leste's full membership in the regional bloc, acknowledging the country's significant progress in implementing the ASEAN Roadmap.

Jan Hennop, Kuala Lumpur – Timor-Leste is a step closer to fulfilling its longstanding wish to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc and could become its 11th member state by October, Malaysia's foreign minister said on Sunday.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Indonesia and China on Sunday agreed to promote the use of their respective national currencies in bilateral trade, marking a significant step toward reducing dependency on the US dollar.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Thousands of imitation skulls were scattered around a hotel in Jakarta on Saturday May 24 as a symbol of how dark and terrifying the New Order era of former president Suharto was. The imitation skulls were arranged by the committee organising a discussion by hundreds of '98 activists who overthrew the New Order in 1998.

Jayapura – The struggle of the Papuan people to determine their own future as an independent and sovereign nation has been going on for a long time, since the Indonesian government unilaterally claimed the territory of West Papua through the manipulation of the UN sponsored Pepera referendum in 1969 which was full of intimidation and was legally and morally flawed.

The Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) strongly condemns the repressive actions by police in handling a peaceful demonstration to commemorate the 27th anniversary of reformasi held by Trisakti University students on Tuesday May 21 in front of the Jakarta City Hall.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia condemns the intimidation experienced by a Detikcom columnist for criticizing the placement of the military in civilian positions. AJI Indonesia urges the Chief of the Indonesian National Police to investigate the case.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA) has condemned the alleged intimidation against students critical of militarism. KIKA urges law enforcement to thoroughly investigate and find the perpetrators.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Elementary, and Secondary (Kemendikdasmen) has eliminated the reading, writing, and arithmetic or literacy test from the selection process for new students at the elementary school (SD) level. This decision is stipulated in Ministerial Regulation No.

Antara, Jakarta – An 18-year-old high school student with the initials Mu or Am was arrested by Densus 88 Antiterror Squad and the South Sulawesi Regional Police in Gowa Regency on Saturday, May 24, 2025, on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. The arrest took place on SD Daeng Emba Street, Samata Village, Somba Opu District.

Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has hailed Indonesia's deepening ties with China as a pillar of peace and prosperity in the South-east Asia region, as he welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Jakarta for a three-day working visit.

Ashoka Mukpo – Indonesia's environment ministry plans to curb deforestation and push for environmental rehabilitation in response to industrial nickel mining on Kabaena Island, where severe ecological damage and the cultural and economic collapse of the Indigenous Bajo people have been widely reported.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Hundreds of people from a number of 1998 activist groups gathered at a hotel in South Jakarta on Saturday May 24 to discuss and express their position of rejecting the proposal that the second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto, be made a national hero.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Papua Peace Network urges President Prabowo Subianto to appoint a special envoy to establish a communication channel with the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and all conflicting parties in Papua.

Lia Hutasoit, Jakarta – A columnist on the detik.com news site with the initials YF was allegedly intimidated after writing an article titled "Generals in Civilian Positions: Where is the Merit of Civil Servants?". The article was published on Thursday morning, May 22, before being taken down for reasons of the author's safety.

Jakarta – The government plans to announce economic stimulus measures on June 5 to revive activity and boost consumer purchasing power, hoping to push economic growth to around 5 percent this quarter, the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister said on Saturday.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Semarang – Flooding from the sea submerged areas of Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, Central Java, after a section of the seawall collapsed on Friday afternoon, May 23, 2025, around 2:00 PM. Workers were subsequently evacuated from the affected port area.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Association of Indonesian Energy, Mineral, and Coal Suppliers (Aspebindo) is confident that the demand for Indonesian coal will improve despite facing global market fluctuations and geopolitical dynamics.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Former Minister of Communication and Informatics, Rudiantara, spoke about 5G network needs among internet users in Indonesia. He stated that currently the 5G market mostly targets corporations, while the general public have shown less interest due to the relatively high service cost.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government is set to reintroduce electricity bill discounts for low-power households starting June 5, as part of a broader stimulus package aimed at boosting purchasing power

Jakarta – Despite only being unveiled to the public in March, President Prabowo Subianto's ambitious initiative to expand educational access for underprivileged children through hundreds of free boarding schools, called Sekolah Rakyat (community schools), is already set to launch in the upcoming school year.

Kate Abnett, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Bart H. Meijer, Brussels – Commodities from just four countries will face the strictest checks under the European Union's anti-deforestation law, with major forest nations including Brazil and Indonesia spared the toughest rules.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – An active military general previously convicted of kidnapping pro-democracy activists was appointed on Friday (May 23) to a key role in Indonesia's Finance Ministry, sparking what observers say is the fiercest criticism yet of President Prabowo Subianto's moves to place senior uniformed personnel in top civilian roles.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – YF, a columnist for the news site detik.com, reportedly faced intimidation following the publication of his article, "Jenderal di Jabatan Sipil: Di Mana Merit ASN?" (General in Civilian Positions: Where is the ASN Merit?), which addressed the issue of military generals holding civilian posts.

Grace el Dora, Beijing – Indonesia's Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, met with senior Chinese officials this week to discuss a potential $1 billion mutual investment between Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara and a Chinese counterpart.

Servio Maranda, Bangka – The Indonesian National Construction Contractors Association (Gapensi) states that the government's budget efficiency policy has had the greatest impact on the construction services sector in the region.

Herman, Jakarta – Global energy giant Shell plc has announced the sale of its entire fuel retail network in Indonesia to a joint venture between Citadel Pacific Limited and Indonesia's Sefas Group.

In a statement released Friday, Shell Indonesia confirmed that the transaction covers all its approximately 200 gas stations, including 160 company-owned site.

Jakarta – Bahlil Lahadalia has every right to issue an energy transition road map in the electricity sector. But it would be wrong to hope that the content of the latest policy from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is in line with its title.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – The government plans to lower tax rates while still increasing tax revenue, as Indonesia's tax-to-gross domestic product ratio remains low compared to other countries.

Antara, Jakarta – Wildlife authorities in Central Kalimantan have released five rehabilitated orangutans back into their natural habitat, marking another milestone in Indonesia's ongoing efforts to protect its endangered wildlife and restore forest ecosystems.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The head of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, announced that six companies will invest in the new capital project.

Jakarta – Banten Deputy Governor Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah called on regional bus service Transjabodetabek to open a new bus route extending to Serang, while attending the launch of the new Transjabodetabek Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) 2 – Blok M line on Thursday.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) may believe it needs the added protection of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to go after high-profile criminal cases. That is a legitimate concern.

But what is far more troubling, and ultimately more corrosive to the fabric of democracy, is what this arrangement signals for the future of civilian supremacy in the country.

Agencies, Jakarta – A5.7-magnitude earthquake hit near Sumatra on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said, damaging more than 100 houses with no reports of casualties.

The German Research Center on Geoscience said the magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes Southern Sumatra.

The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles), GFZ said.

Ashoka Mukpo, Jakarta – Indonesia's push to meet its ambitious biofuel targets by expanding oil palm plantations could cost the country billions in environmental damage and social conflict, a new analysis by environmental NGO Madani Berkelanjutan warns.

Paul Gregoire – Following his re-election as Australian PM Anthony Albanese paid a visit to relatively new Indonesia president Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, with foreign minister Penny Wong and home affairs minister Tony Burke in tow.

Andrew Mathieson – The Indonesian military has claimed to have killed 18 West Papuan separatists and a further three civilians during its latest operation in the easternmost region of the Papua territory during an ongoing internal conflict.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia is looking to expand its downstream industry policy to include benzoin resin, a high-value commodity largely overlooked amid the country's push to process natural resources like nickel and tin, according to National Economic Council Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Antara, Jakarta – Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia urged the state-run energy firm Pertamina to import American fuel regardless of the logistical challenges, as Jakarta's tariff negotiations continue.