Indonesian president turns to populist policies ahead of tough 2019 election
Soon after taking office in 2014, Indonesian President Joko Widodo made a landmark decision to cut subsidies on politically sensitive fuel prices to boost the economy, but a year out from a tough re-election campaign, his reformist zeal may be waning.
— Free Malaysia Today
Aceh Oil Well Explodes, Kills 15, Scores More Burnt (video)
At least 15 people have been killed and scores more seriously burnt after an illegal oil well ignited in the early hours of Wednesday (April 25) morning in the eastern Aceh Province village of Pasi Putih, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
— AEC News Today (video)
Indonesia pricing policy dispute fueled Pertamina shake-up
When Pertamina’s former chief executive, Elia Massa Manik, was fired on Friday, he became the state energy company’s shortest-serving boss in more than a decade.
— Reuters
Indonesia’s green ploy for copper raises red flag
Indonesia’s green ploy is a red flag. Freeport-McMoRan says “shocking” new environmental demands will further delay an already tricky deal with Jakarta over ownership of its Grasberg copper mine.
— Malaya
Indonesia: Future Halal Market Hub
Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim majority country. Over 88 percent of Indonesia’s population is Muslim, and the country is well positioned to be a hub for Halal products in Southeast Asia.
— Asean Briefing
Indonesia hits back over Freeport’s Grasberg mine environmental claims
The Indonesian government has hit back at suggestions that tough new environmental regulations imposed on the giant Grasberg copper mine are politically motivated, or related to the partial-nationalisation of the mine.
— The Sydney Morning Herald
Indonesian Businesses Asked To Start Hedging “Beyond Usual” As Rupiah Tumbles
Indonesia’s central bank on April 25 urged businesses in the country to hedge their foreign exchange needs beyond minimum requirements, as policymakers seek to mitigate risks of further capital outflows following the rupiah’s slump, Reuters reported.
— Investvine
Islamic hardliners suspect photo of their meeting with Jokowi was leaked by his staff
Despite President Joko Widodo standing strong in the polls while his potential (though still far from certain) 2019 election rival Prabowo Subianto sinks, he will still have to stave off many challenges to ensure his chances at re-election.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Indonesian culture to be elective subject in Australian educational institutions
Indonesian Consul General in Sydney Heru Hartanto Subolo visited Adelaide’s educational institutions — TAFE SA and Salford College of Business and Hospitality — to discuss making Indonesian culinary and fashion as among the elective subjects.
— Antara News
Odds of Indonesia rate hike increase as currency tumbles
With Indonesia’s central bank failing to stem the slide in the currency to a two-year low, bets of a rate hike are increasing, triggering a selloff in the nation’s stocks and bonds.
— Bangkok Post
Govt to take legal action against drillers of illegal oil well after fire
The government plans to take legal actions against parties responsible for an oil well fire in Aceh on Wednesday morning, said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister spokesman Agung Pribadi.
— The Jakarta Post
Six Cities in Indonesia to Host Second Anti-Corruption Film Festival
Riding on the success of its short film competition last year, Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency is back with its second anti-corruption film festival, the “Festival Film Kawal Harta Negara,” or “Safeguard the Country’s Riches Film Festival” – FFKHN for short – to be held in six cities in Indonesia from April 24 to July 31.
— Jakarta Globe
Energy Minister Asks Pertamina to Transform into Chemical Industry
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan asked PT Pertamina (Persero) to prepare the transformation into a chemical industry.
— Netral News
‘Excluded from Indonesian society, refugees are vulnerable to homelessness, suicides’
In March, a young refugee fleeing war-torn Afghanistan hanged himself in Medan, Indonesia.
— Coconuts Jakarta
High-rise buildings must provide access for fiber optics
In a bid to spur digital economic growth in Jakarta, the government and city administration are set to require high-rise buildings to provide access for the installation of fiber optics to internet or phone operators.
— The Jakarta Post
Slow progress in the fight against child labour in Indonesia
On 26 October, Putri and Surna went, as they did every day, to the fireworks factory where they worked in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
— Equal Times
Indonesian president turns to populist policies ahead of tough 2019 election
Soon after taking office in 2014, Indonesian President Joko Widodo made a landmark decision to cut subsidies on politically sensitive fuel prices to boost the economy, but a year out from a tough re-election campaign, his reformist zeal may be waning.
— Reuters
Indonesia estimates exports of handicrafts to expand nearly 3 folds this year
Indonesian industry ministry has forecast the country’s export of handicraft products will grow nearly three times this year amid growing export market.
— Xinhua
Indonesia’s hard-line Muslims target presidential poll
Ahmad Fauzi was among hundreds of thousands of Muslims who decided to join a series of rallies calling for the imprisonment of Jakarta’s Christian governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on blasphemy charges.
— UCA News (press release)
Indonesian embassy in Saudi Arabia helped domestic workers collect IDR40 billion in unpaid salaries last year
Although the Indonesian government banned domestic workers from working to Middle Eastern countries in 2015 due to the overwhelming number of stories about employers abusing them, there are still many Indonesians working in Saudi households who either arrived before the ban or came to work there illegally.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Commentary: Finding common ground in Indonesia-EU palm oil spat
Indonesia is currently at loggerheads with the European Union over the palm oil trade, which looks as though they might be headed toward a trade war.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
Indonesia’s loan growth accelerates to 8.5 pct y/y in March
Loans extended by Indonesian banks grew 8.54 percent in March from a year ago, slightly quickening from February’s pace of 8.2 percent, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) said on Wednesday.
— Reuters
Indonesian MPs vote themselves an 88pc pay rise
Indonesia’s 560 MPs have voted to give themselves a pay rise of 88 per cent: nearly $13,000 a month in a country where millions live on as little as $2 a day.
— The Australian
Police to deploy 170,000 personnel to secure Idul Fitri holiday travel
The National Police are ready to deploy 170,000 personnel to secure homebound travel during the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday season.
— The Jakarta Post
Feature photo rockyrobbie85
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Stella-maris Ewudolu
Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.
She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.
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