Several quick count results suggest the incumbent president has a lead of 8 to 9 percentage points but Prabowo says he’s won 62 per cent of the vote.

Incumbent President Joko Widodo and his challenger Prabowo Subianto both say they’re optimistic about winning.

Indonesia’s presidential candidates went on the umrah and got endorsements from religious leaders, as overseas voting began ahead of the April 17 ballot in Indonesia.

Both sides have focused on economic issues in the campaign but religious identity politics and fake news have been used to mobilise popular support.

Widodo took a jab at Prabowo’s questionable human rights record, while Prabowo criticised Widodo’s ‘cruel regime’ for having detained some conservative Muslim preachers.

The vice-presidential candidate said the first economic priority of the Prabowo government would be to woo investments in the energy and agriculture sectors.

Sandiaga Uno has defended his running mate, saying former general Prabowo Subianto has never been prosecuted over a 1997 kidnapping scandal.

Indonesia’s presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto has been accused of playing to conservative Muslims in his effort to unseat Joko Widodo. No, his running mate tells This Week in Asia: they stand for unity – and the economy

Not long ago, few would have given Prabowo Subianto a chance against President Joko Widodo. Now the former special forces general is gaining momentum – and drawing inspiration from Malaysia’s 93-year-old leader.

The big daddy of on-demand services may have retreated from Southeast Asia, but its legacy lives on in start-ups that offer an ‘Uber for everything’ – from caregiving to groceries, massages to helicopter rides.

From jet-skiing preachers promising a ‘pinch of sin’ to celebrity-friendly Instagram stars, charismatic clerics play a key role in the born-again hijrah movement sweeping Indonesia’s millennial culture.

From Islamic reality TV shows to Facebook celebrities, social media is helping to fuel Indonesia’s hijrah movement, in which a growing number of millennials are turning their backs on flawed, sinful lives and embracing religion.

In April, Indonesia is set to tax businesses in its digital sector, which is predicted to be worth US$46 billion in 2025. But there has been fierce opposition from these firms, and presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto is on their side.

Aviation experts have noted eerie similarities between the crash on Sunday and one in October involving the same model plane that claimed 189 lives in Indonesia.

There’s a dark side to Jakarta’s embrace of the digital revolution: unchecked online lending services with debt-collection methods so aggressive some borrowers feel better off dead.

The spread of such hoaxes among Indonesia’s 150 million internet users before the April 17 polls has been exacerbated by poor digital literacy, growing religious and racial intolerance, and lingering anti-China sentiment.

After a delay of almost 30 years, Indonesia’s capital is about to get a subway system, just in time for the April polls. The president is talking up his work in getting it across the line, but there’s more to do to solve congestion in the city.

The ride-hailing giants are zoning in on the region in their battle for dominance. Even with another US$1 billion in its pocket, Go-Jek is the pauper – but Grab’s controversial merger with Uber may have left it an opening

A new title was bestowed upon the president by his supporters at the weekend, but critics say it’s offensive and disrespectful

After prison time for blasphemy, life is looking up for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. At 52, the ethnic Chinese Christian plans to marry a 21-year-old policewoman and star in a YouTube channel bearing his initials.

President Joko Widodo’s move to release the 81-year-old spiritual leader of the Bali bombers is seen by some as an attempt to court the Muslim vote ahead of a looming general election

The presidential candidate is trying to cultivate an image as a pious Muslim before taking on current premier Joko Widodo in the April election – an approach that may be effective in regions where faith plays a significant role

Claims and rebuttals flew during the first debate, in which Prabowo blamed terrorism on foreigners and Jokowi claimed to have a clean human rights record.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet plunged into the Java Sea just minutes after taking off from Jakarta on October 29, killing all 189 people on board

Indonesia is playing catch-up with its regional rivals when it comes to cashless payments, but there are rich rewards on offer for companies that unlock its potential.

The fetishisation of Asians may have its roots in the colonial era but it remains a problem for modern women – in everything from finding a date to finding a job.

Two years after protests that led to the jailing of the former Jakarta governor, another reform-minded politician is accused of going against the Koran. With an election looming, observers say the outlook is bleak for religious tolerance

‘Smart Pakem’ allows users to report groups practising unrecognised faiths or unorthodox interpretations of the country’s six official state religions

Tech firms are helping Indonesia’s roadside kiosks, or warung, to embrace the smart revolution

• The multimillionaire running mate of Prabowo Subianto is vocal about his plans for business and finance. He’s not setting GDP growth rates, but has opened his arms to Chinese investment