https://www.scmp.com/rss/517446/feed The general election in Indonesia to vote in a new president is set for February 14, 2024. The main candidates vying for the top seat are Prabowo Subianto (Gerindra Party), Anies Baswedan (Nasdem Party) and Ganjar Pranowo (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle). The incumbent, Joko Widodo, has held the office for nearly a decade. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com YouTuber, entrepreneur and politician Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo aka Jokowi, has been courting controversy after a private jet trip landed him in hot water. In August, the scion and his pregnant wife, Erina S. Gudono, flew to the US aboard a private jet, showing off the lavish journey on social media. Not only did Kaesang make the trip amid heated political discord in his native country, he’s also been accused of potential misconduct. On Tuesday,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3279269/meet-kaesang-pangarep-indonesian-president-joko-widodos-youngest-son-youtuber-who-just-took?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3279269/meet-kaesang-pangarep-indonesian-president-joko-widodos-youngest-son-youtuber-who-just-took?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:00:19 +0000 Foreign investors looking at Indonesia’s prospects under President-elect Prabowo Subianto should not be deterred by his image as a hyper-nationalist leader who could be bad for business with the rest of the world because of placing security interests over economic interests. He is certainly a nationalist, one who stands a political notch or two above others who have ruled Indonesia since its democratisation after the Suharto years. However, the Prabowo administration could be surprisingly... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3272424/prabowo-needs-foreign-allies-and-funding-realise-indonesia-vision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3272424/prabowo-needs-foreign-allies-and-funding-realise-indonesia-vision?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Jul 2024 08:30:09 +0000 The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has signalled it could take on an opposition role when president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s government takes power in October, but the party is taking a wait-and-see approach to “keep its options open”, analysts say. All eyes were on PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri this past weekend as her party held its annual leadership meeting, where she was widely expected to announce her stance towards Prabowo. However, the influential... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3264310/indonesias-ruling-pdi-p-could-take-opposition-role-prabowos-government-it-keeps-options-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3264310/indonesias-ruling-pdi-p-could-take-opposition-role-prabowos-government-it-keeps-options-open?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2024 12:40:49 +0000 Indonesia has “vigorously promoted” ties with China but potential clashes in the South China Sea could test these thriving relations, a leading Chinese think tank has warned. Whether Jakarta can maintain its friendship with Beijing amid “dramatic geopolitical changes” will require “superb political wisdom”, according to Luo Yongkun, deputy director of Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. In a commentary published on Thursday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3263909/jakartas-ties-beijing-could-be-tested-south-china-sea-clashes-think-tank-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3263909/jakartas-ties-beijing-could-be-tested-south-china-sea-clashes-think-tank-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2024 06:00:13 +0000 Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s plan to form an advisory council consisting of the country’s past leaders may face obstacles given the strong personalities and unresolved disputes between them, analysts said, mirroring some of the challenges he faces in forming a broad coalition government. Prabowo’s spokesperson Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak first floated the idea of a “president’s club” earlier this month. “In essence, Prabowo wants former presidents to continue to meet regularly and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3262701/indonesias-prabowo-wants-presidents-club-can-joko-widodo-megawati-yudhoyono-see-eye-eye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3262701/indonesias-prabowo-wants-presidents-club-can-joko-widodo-megawati-yudhoyono-see-eye-eye?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 May 2024 04:30:15 +0000 After being certified the winner of Indonesia’s February 14 polls, president-elect Prabowo Subianto is expected to spend the next few months trying to persuade former rivals to join his political coalition, although a few parties have already indicated their willingness to ally with him. Analysts believe Prabowo is likely to form a grand coalition with minimal opposition, an outcome that would accelerate his legislative agenda, but potentially erode the country’s democracy due to a lack of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3260448/indonesias-prabowo-expand-wings-coalition-attractive-offers-former-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3260448/indonesias-prabowo-expand-wings-coalition-attractive-offers-former-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:00:16 +0000 Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and his elder son are no longer members of the country’s ruling party after they endorsed presidential election winner Prabowo Subianto over the PDI-P’s candidate, according to a party official. Prabowo, who serves as defence minister in Widodo’s cabinet, won the February election with Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka picked as his running mate. They secured 58 per cent of the vote, and their victory was largely attributed to the tacit support of the highly... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3260075/indonesias-widodo-and-son-gibran-no-longer-ruling-party-members-supporting-prabowo-election-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3260075/indonesias-widodo-and-son-gibran-no-longer-ruling-party-members-supporting-prabowo-election-official?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:30:26 +0000 Indonesia’s top court on Monday rejected challenges to Prabowo Subianto’s win in the February presidential election after the two losing candidates brought petitions alleging his victory was a result of widespread fraud and state interference. Prabowo, 72, won the election by a substantial margin of votes, but his rivals – former governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo – had sought his disqualification and a revote through the Constitutional Court. Five of the judges ruled in favour of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3259946/indonesias-top-court-upholds-prabowos-presidential-win-dismissing-fraud-allegations-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3259946/indonesias-top-court-upholds-prabowos-presidential-win-dismissing-fraud-allegations-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:00:14 +0000 This year marks a pivotal moment for global democracy; countries with a combined population of more than 4 billion people – nearly half the world’s population – will be exercising their electoral rights in what promises to be an unparalleled display of democratic spirit. As people cast their ballots on an unprecedented scale, South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol has sounded a note of caution: the same technological fabric meant to unite us can also weave threads of division. Perhaps more than any... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3258828/why-democracy-finds-itself-digital-crossroads-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3258828/why-democracy-finds-itself-digital-crossroads-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Apr 2024 01:15:18 +0000 China pledged to strengthen joint military exercises and personnel exchanges with Indonesia as president-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Beijing. Prabowo, currently serving as Indonesia’s defence minister, met Chinese defence chief Dong Jun on Tuesday as part of his first overseas trip since his country’s election in February. Earlier in the week, Prabowo met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Dong told Prabowo that as the world and the region face multiple challenges, the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3257751/china-and-indonesia-vow-boost-defence-ties-prabowo-subianto-seeks-reassure-beijing-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3257751/china-and-indonesia-vow-boost-defence-ties-prabowo-subianto-seeks-reassure-beijing-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:00:13 +0000 Speculation that Indonesian leader Joko Widodo’s youngest son could contest the Jakarta gubernatorial election in November – despite not meeting the minimum age requirement for candidates – has sparked concern that the outgoing president could use his influence to alter the law, allowing his 29-year-old offspring to run for office. Kaesang Pangarep is the chairman of Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), a minor political party that has yet to meet the 4 per cent election threshold required for a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3257619/jokowis-son-kaesang-jakarta-governor-indonesians-fear-president-could-bend-rules-extend-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3257619/jokowis-son-kaesang-jakarta-governor-indonesians-fear-president-could-bend-rules-extend-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 01:00:16 +0000 China has invited Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto for a three-day visit starting on Sunday. Prabowo, whose victory is facing a legal challenge from the losing candidates, will be there at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday. The 72-year-old leader of the right-wing nationalist Gerindra Party was officially confirmed by the election commission last week as the winner of the Indonesian presidential election with just... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3257273/indonesias-president-elect-prabowo-subianto-visit-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3257273/indonesias-president-elect-prabowo-subianto-visit-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Mar 2024 13:58:41 +0000 It is more than a month since Prabowo Subianto easily won Indonesia’s presidential election according to an unofficial count. So the announcement of official confirmation by the country’s election commission might have been expected to be somewhat of an anticlimax. But it was far from a mere formality thanks to congratulatory messages to the next leader of the world’s third-biggest democracy and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Chief among the well-wishers was President Xi Jinping, who hailed... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3256541/prabowos-election-opens-new-chapter-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3256541/prabowos-election-opens-new-chapter-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:00:24 +0000 World leaders from China to Malaysia and the United States have congratulated Prabowo Subianto after Indonesia’s election commission announced he had won the presidential poll, with Chinese President Xi Jinping hailing the two countries’ friendly ties and seeking the “construction of a community with a shared future”. “I attach great importance to the development of China-Indonesia relations and look forward to working together with President-elect Prabowo to lead the construction of a community... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3256204/indonesias-prabowo-subianto-congratulated-chinas-xi-us-blinken-over-victory-amid-election-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3256204/indonesias-prabowo-subianto-congratulated-chinas-xi-us-blinken-over-victory-amid-election-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:29:27 +0000 With Indonesia President Joko Widodo set to leave office after 10 years in power, observers say he is seeking to further maintain his political influence, both through his sons’ careers and a potential bid to lead the country’s oldest political party, Golkar. “[Widodo] wants to secure his legacy and the interests of his family, and as incumbent, we have seen that has been easy for him to do, but it will be harder when he is no longer in power, so securing a political vehicle is important,” said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3255984/will-jokowi-seek-lead-indonesias-oldest-party-secure-his-legacy-post-presidency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3255984/will-jokowi-seek-lead-indonesias-oldest-party-secure-his-legacy-post-presidency?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:33:29 +0000 In the run-up to Indonesia’s February elections, the presidential race received the most attention. But on the same day, Indonesians voted for their legislators at the district, provincial and national levels: almost 10,000 candidates competed for the national legislature alone. The electoral dynamics for legislative elections, particularly the practice of money politics – defined here as the exchange of material benefits (given to potential voters) for, or in the expectation of, receiving votes... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3255571/indonesia-art-winning-elections-can-cost-candidates-arm-and-leg-or-kidney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3255571/indonesia-art-winning-elections-can-cost-candidates-arm-and-leg-or-kidney?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Mar 2024 03:00:18 +0000 As Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto is set to be named the official winner of last month’s presidential race, allegations of electoral fraud and retaliatory investigations have cast a shadow over the nation’s democratic integrity, following what analysts describe as “one of the least trustworthy” polls in recent decades. The Election Commission’s credibility has come under scrutiny after it last week stopped displaying the results of its ongoing official vote tally online, prompting parties... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3255284/indonesias-electoral-integrity-under-scrutiny-prabowo-subianto-set-be-named-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3255284/indonesias-electoral-integrity-under-scrutiny-prabowo-subianto-set-be-named-president?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:30:09 +0000 Presumptive president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s plan to accelerate Indonesia’s economic growth to 8 per cent in the next five years is “delusional”, economists have said, particularly as some of his proposed policies could work counter to that target. Prabowo, the current defence minister, unveiled his plan at a time when Indonesia is facing economic headwinds including high food inflation, a depreciating currency and declining commodities prices. “My estimate is that in the next four to five... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3254715/prabowos-growth-target-indonesia-realistic-delusional-plan-could-be-costly-economy-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3254715/prabowos-growth-target-indonesia-realistic-delusional-plan-could-be-costly-economy-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Mar 2024 04:00:17 +0000 While Indonesia’s official election results are expected to confirm Prabowo Subianto as president-elect later this month, the parties supporting his rival candidates have called for a legislative investigation into alleged election irregularities. Observers anticipate that a vote on the inquiry could take place on Tuesday when lawmakers in Indonesia’s House of Representatives are scheduled to conclude their recess and resume their legislative activities. Analysts are unsure how many parties plan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3254147/indonesias-prabowo-set-face-probe-supposed-pre-election-fraud-or-could-party-jockeying-save-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3254147/indonesias-prabowo-set-face-probe-supposed-pre-election-fraud-or-could-party-jockeying-save-him?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:17 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. Prabowo Subianto’s apparent win in Indonesia’s presidential election was helped by the popularity of outgoing leader Joko Widodo, whose son Gibran Rakabuming Raka is Prabowo’s running mate, even... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3253821/can-us-pursue-values-based-foreign-policy-indonesias-new-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3253821/can-us-pursue-values-based-foreign-policy-indonesias-new-president?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2024 03:30:11 +0000 In this busiest election year on record, with more than 60 countries accounting for about half the world’s population set to go to the polls, it is perhaps a good time to ask what the value of elections is if they don’t deliver competent leaders focused on making a better world? The question has relevance when the US human rights organisation Freedom House warns of a “crucial test” for democracies in 2024, recording that democracy has suffered an aggregate decline in every one of the past 18... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3253766/judge-democracy-its-results-not-pretty-sounding-ideas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3253766/judge-democracy-its-results-not-pretty-sounding-ideas?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2024 01:30:11 +0000 Indonesia’s recent call to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to deliver an advisory opinion to stop Israel’s “unlawful occupation” in the Gaza Strip is consistent with its decades-long support for the Palestinians that president-elect Prabowo Subianto is expected to maintain, analysts say. Such a position also aligns with the strong pro-Palestinian views of Indonesians across religious faiths in the Muslim-majority country, some of whom have actively participated in a boycott of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3253293/prabowo-set-keep-indonesias-strong-pro-palestinian-stance-amid-icj-case-israeli-occupation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3253293/prabowo-set-keep-indonesias-strong-pro-palestinian-stance-amid-icj-case-israeli-occupation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:37 +0000 As the 46th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras prepares to kick off on March 2, the party buzz has caught on in the Indonesian LGBTQ community in Australia, where members are readying themselves to march alongside activists and revellers from around the world. The Indonesian float at the parade, dubbed Selamat Datang – meaning “Welcome” in Indonesian – was founded by Australian Shawn Dern. “This year will mark our eighth year in a row being part of the parade,” said head organiser Ozak Salam,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253037/amid-mardi-gras-buzz-indonesians-australia-rue-diminishing-lgbtq-rights-back-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253037/amid-mardi-gras-buzz-indonesians-australia-rue-diminishing-lgbtq-rights-back-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Feb 2024 08:00:22 +0000 The conclusion of Indonesia’s general election has prompted an unusual trend among the country’s youth – nostalgia for the “good life” during former president Suharto’s 32 years of dictatorship. On TikTok, videos reminiscing about Suharto and his family have become common, with some getting millions of views. While some of them date back to a few years ago, these videos have surged in popularity after Prabowo Subianto, the dictator’s former son-in-law, became the projected winner of the February... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252862/prabowos-victory-indonesian-youths-pine-suharto-era-others-warn-about-his-dark-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252862/prabowos-victory-indonesian-youths-pine-suharto-era-others-warn-about-his-dark-history?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:00:18 +0000 It has been widely observed that 2024 is packed full of elections. Seven of the world’s 10 most populous nations – Bangladesh, India, the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, Mexico – are going or have already gone to the polls. In total, almost half of the world population will hold elections. A democratic deficit or democracy’s triumph? Perhaps it’s worth noting that quantity is not the same as quality. For example, the re-election of Vladimir Putin next month in Russia seems like a... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252830/revenge-rich-and-powerful-families-democracy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252830/revenge-rich-and-powerful-families-democracy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:00:10 +0000 Prabowo Subianto’s projected victory in Indonesia’s recent presidential election is considered polarising among some sections of the country’s ethnic Chinese minority, given the alleged involvement of senior military officers during the tragic 1998 riots including the former general. While some Chinese-Indonesians said they had opposed Prabowo on this ground, others, especially those from younger generations, were willing to look past the country’s dark history and hope that its political and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252754/some-indonesian-chinese-wary-prabowo-subianto-amid-painful-memories-1998-riots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252754/some-indonesian-chinese-wary-prabowo-subianto-amid-painful-memories-1998-riots?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:00:11 +0000 Opinion polls predicted Prabowo Subianto’s decisive victory in Indonesia’s presidential election at his third attempt. But that did not detract from global interest in the outcome for leadership of the world’s third-biggest democracy and Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Prabowo finally proved his mettle with voters, despite a past of human-rights abuses. He vowed continuity, having twice lost elections to Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, who will be retiring in October and is riding high on... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252351/all-eyes-prabowo-he-prepares-take-charge-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252351/all-eyes-prabowo-he-prepares-take-charge-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:00:30 +0000 Future Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto’s controversial past has raised questions inside China about what his approach to Beijing will be, but diplomatic observers broadly expect him to continue the current pragmatic stance. Prabowo was a special forces general in 1998, when widespread anti-Chinese riots broke out that left over a thousand people dead across the country. An Indonesian fact-finding team later found that elements of the military had instigated the attacks, which activists... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3252231/china-not-expected-let-past-overshadow-relations-indonesias-new-leader-prabowo-subianto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3252231/china-not-expected-let-past-overshadow-relations-indonesias-new-leader-prabowo-subianto?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:00:19 +0000 Following Indonesia Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto’s projected victory in Wednesday’s presidential election, based on unofficial quick-count results, many are concerned about how the former general will steer the country’s foreign policy, particularly when it comes to China. While some analysts believe Prabowo may take a more hardline stance towards Beijing, based on his past nationalistic rhetoric and military background, others say he is likely to maintain the pragmatic approach of outgoing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252127/indonesia-china-ties-will-president-elect-prabowo-confront-beijing-or-maintain-widodos-economic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252127/indonesia-china-ties-will-president-elect-prabowo-confront-beijing-or-maintain-widodos-economic?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 02:00:21 +0000 With Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto set to be the country’s next president, questions remain on whether he will continue with incumbent President Joko Widodo’s policies or take the nation in a new direction. While the rival-turned-ally of Widodo has not articulated extensively on Indonesia’s economic and social blueprints, he has hinted at a more assertive foreign policy centred on the country’s rightful place on the world stage. Prabowo is “a wild card” and the world should be... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252003/indonesia-2024-election-prabowo-subianto-wild-card-nationalistic-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3252003/indonesia-2024-election-prabowo-subianto-wild-card-nationalistic-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Feb 2024 04:00:21 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Prabowo Subianto’s camp on Wednesday declared victory in Indonesia’s three-way presidential election, after quick-count results showed he had secured the simple majority required to win the race in a single round. Defence Minister Prabowo, 72, received around 58 per cent of the vote, according to quick counts by several pollsters, beating former Jakarta... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251920/indonesia-election-2024-polls-close-race-defence-minister-prabowo-subianto-favoured-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251920/indonesia-election-2024-polls-close-race-defence-minister-prabowo-subianto-favoured-win?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:01:31 +0000 Over 204 million eligible voters in cities across Indonesia are set to cast their votes in a pivotal election on Wednesday to determine who will lead the world’s third-largest democracy for the next five years. The organisation of the world’s largest single-day election is no easy feat given the challenge of reaching out to voters living across Indonesia’s vast archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands. The results of the three-way race will be highly dependent on voter turnout, according to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251857/indonesia-election-2024-will-young-voters-be-key-picking-right-man-valentines-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251857/indonesia-election-2024-will-young-voters-be-key-picking-right-man-valentines-day?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Feb 2024 01:00:18 +0000 The world’s largest single-day election gets under way in Indonesia tomorrow, with 204 million eligible voters determining the successor to President Joko Widodo as the leader of Southeast Asia’s largest economy. After four months of campaigning, opinion polls show Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto as the man to beat. But former governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan are hoping to deny Prabowo a one-round victory by taking the election to a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3251796/indonesia-election-2024-everything-you-need-know-about-worlds-largest-single-day-vote?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3251796/indonesia-election-2024-everything-you-need-know-about-worlds-largest-single-day-vote?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:09 +0000 On Wednesday, Indonesians from across the archipelago nation will head to the polls for a general election that will see ballots cast for officials at all levels of government. But all eyes are on the three candidates running to become the country’s next president, following outgoing leader Joko Widodo’s 10 years of highly popular leadership. Although surveys show Prabowo Subianto has a virtually insurmountable lead in the polls, his two rivals have a realistic chance of keeping him below 50 per... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251782/indonesia-elections-2024-who-are-3-candidates-vying-lead-worlds-3rd-largest-democracy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251782/indonesia-elections-2024-who-are-3-candidates-vying-lead-worlds-3rd-largest-democracy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 03:01:06 +0000 Like nyepi in tourist hotspot Bali where natives enter into contemplative silence, Indonesia is having three days of quiet before Wednesday’s presidential and legislative polls, with surveys showing Prabowo Subianto in the lead. As more than 204 million eligible voters cast their ballots in one of the world’s biggest elections on February 14, Prabowo and running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, have been aggressively pushing for a single round of balloting, arguing that a second would prove... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251764/indonesia-election-2024-prabowo-subianto-poised-first-round-win-survey-numbers-suggest-so-voter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251764/indonesia-election-2024-prabowo-subianto-poised-first-round-win-survey-numbers-suggest-so-voter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 01:00:19 +0000 Indonesia’s three presidential nominees spent a frenzied final day of campaigning with rallies in key election battlegrounds Jakarta and Central Java on Saturday, urging voters to head to the polls on Wednesday and monitor the count. The nation entered a three-day period of election silence from Sunday, during which no campaigning is allowed and media outlets are barred from publishing anything that may influence voters. Participating parties are also required to take down any campaign materials... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251651/indonesia-election-2024-prabowo-warns-foreign-meddling-frenzied-final-day-presidential-campaigns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251651/indonesia-election-2024-prabowo-warns-foreign-meddling-frenzied-final-day-presidential-campaigns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Feb 2024 03:15:49 +0000 Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been a target of mounting criticisms from academics and students for his perceived lack of neutrality in the coming election, but observers say that the movement will do little to change the course of the election on February 14. On Friday, dozens of students at the University of Trisakti in Jakarta, whose four students were fatally gunned down by armed forces during the pro-democracy protest in the late 1990s, joined the movement by issuing a declaration... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251616/indonesia-election-2024-students-protest-jokowis-perceived-lack-neutrality-will-movement-impact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251616/indonesia-election-2024-students-protest-jokowis-perceived-lack-neutrality-will-movement-impact?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Feb 2024 07:00:21 +0000 Ahead of next week’s general elections in Indonesia, Marsha Siagian stands out as one of the few legislative candidates pledging to represent Indonesians living overseas by pushing to restart the long-delayed legislative process to allow for dual citizenship. Under Indonesian law, citizens automatically lose their nationality once they obtain foreign passports. “I keep hearing grievances from Indonesians abroad over the lack of progress on the proposed revisions to the country’s 2006 citizenship... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251179/indonesia-election-2024-calls-grow-government-relook-dual-citizenship-ban-amid-brain-drain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3251179/indonesia-election-2024-calls-grow-government-relook-dual-citizenship-ban-amid-brain-drain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 04:00:25 +0000 A year ago, Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo had seemed to be the obvious front runner for the country’s top job. On Saturday, he and former security minister Mohammad Mahfud held a boisterous rock concert and rally taglined “Menang Total”, or “Total Victory”, but a clear win with just 10 days to the Indonesia elections appears all but impossible as the duo has tanked in the polls. Tall, urbane and articulate, the former Central Java governor did not start out that way. He soared... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3250868/indonesia-election-2024-can-ganjar-pranowo-force-run-bid-total-victory-dries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3250868/indonesia-election-2024-can-ganjar-pranowo-force-run-bid-total-victory-dries?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 03:00:19 +0000 Indonesia’s presidential election is just around the corner. The first round of voting is set to take place on February 14 and if no pair of candidates wins more than 50 per cent of the national vote – plus at least 20 per cent of the votes in over half of the country’s provinces – then a second round will be held on June 26. From a national development perspective, the three pairs of candidates – Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar (Team AMIN), Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3250698/indonesias-next-president-will-uphold-jokowis-legacy-its-own-might-not-be-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3250698/indonesias-next-president-will-uphold-jokowis-legacy-its-own-might-not-be-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 02:00:17 +0000 The profound transformation of media has been primarily driven by technological advancements and the rise of the internet. These developments have ushered in a new media landscape, fundamentally altering how information is produced, disseminated and consumed. Today, the media’s influence extends well beyond the traditional news organisations, with citizen journalists and others contributing to the information ecosystem. But this expansion has also given rise to challenges such as spreading... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3249638/blockbuster-election-year-techs-sway-over-democracy-needs-be-reined?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3249638/blockbuster-election-year-techs-sway-over-democracy-needs-be-reined?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jan 2024 01:30:08 +0000 Indonesian President Joko Widodo has found himself in hot water for saying a sitting president could back and campaign for any presidential candidate, providing further fuel to his critics that he has been abusing his powers and reportedly creating a rift within his cabinet. Widodo has offered mixed messages regarding his neutrality in the past, saying in September he would “meddle” in the election to ensure that his successor would continue his programmes, while in November stating “all... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3249793/indonesias-jokowi-stokes-further-controversy-declaring-presidents-can-take-sides-elections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3249793/indonesias-jokowi-stokes-further-controversy-declaring-presidents-can-take-sides-elections?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:23:16 +0000 Indonesia’s most famous rock band, Slank, has thrown its star power behind presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo in a high-profile snub to President Joko Widodo, marking a departure from its staunch support for the leader over the past decade. “We need to keep democracy alive. For us, the [candidates] who fit that role are Ganjar and Mahfud,” said Slank’s guitarist Abdee at the band’s press conference in Jakarta on Saturday attended by Ganjar, a former governor of Central Java, and his running... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3249629/indonesia-election-2024-snub-jokowi-rock-band-backs-underdog-ganjar-keep-democracy-alive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3249629/indonesia-election-2024-snub-jokowi-rock-band-backs-underdog-ganjar-keep-democracy-alive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jan 2024 09:15:23 +0000 On January 21, Indonesia held its fourth presidential election debate. The vice-presidential hopefuls, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Muhaimin Iskandar and Mahfud MD, focused on policy issues related to Indonesia’s green energy transition, sustainable development and strict environmental regulations. The fifth and final debate, between the presidential candidates, will be held on February 4. Commentary on the previous debates between the presidential candidates portrayed Defence Minister Prabowo... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3249419/indonesias-presidential-election-nears-debates-wont-make-or-break-prabowos-prospects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3249419/indonesias-presidential-election-nears-debates-wont-make-or-break-prabowos-prospects?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:30:15 +0000 Gold’s lustre shone brightly through 2023 amid geopolitical tensions, and its demand is likely set for another bumper year with elections looming throughout Asia, as well as more safe-haven buying by central banks expected. The price of gold rose by 15 per cent through the year to hit an all-time high of US$2,135.39/oz in December, driven by geopolitical tensions in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as hopes the US Federal Reserve will cut rates. From Indonesia to India, the world’s most populous... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3249316/record-high-prices-unlikely-dim-golds-allure-asias-year-elections-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3249316/record-high-prices-unlikely-dim-golds-allure-asias-year-elections-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jan 2024 07:30:20 +0000 The all-male Indonesian presidential race in February to decide the next leader of Southeast Asia’s largest economy could well be in the hands of a woman. Khofifah Indar Parawansa, the governor of East Java, Indonesia’s second-largest province, is once again seen as instrumental to a presidential victory – just as she was to Joko Widodo’s second term. East Java, home to 31 million voters and a traditional electoral bellwether, voted for Jokowi, as the outgoing leader is popularly known, in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3249262/indonesia-election-2024-woman-whose-words-carry-weight-could-determine-winner-presidential-polls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3249262/indonesia-election-2024-woman-whose-words-carry-weight-could-determine-winner-presidential-polls?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:00:20 +0000 As the campaign for Indonesia’s coming presidential election heats up, incumbent leader Joko Widodo is facing mounting criticism for his perceived favouritism towards front runner Prabowo Subianto, a factor some analysts said could hold his poll numbers down and lead to a run-off scenario. While Widodo has claimed he is impartial and has not officially endorsed any of the three presidential candidates running in next month’s poll, observers say there is no denying he has thrown his tacit support... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3249174/indonesia-election-2024-jokowis-partiality-prabowo-double-edged-sword-presidential-hopeful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3249174/indonesia-election-2024-jokowis-partiality-prabowo-double-edged-sword-presidential-hopeful?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 07:00:20 +0000 A recent accident at PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel smelter in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, South Sulawesi, which killed 21 Indonesian and Chinese workers and injured many workers, has put President Joko Widodo’s downstreaming (hilirisasi) policy under the spotlight. This is not the first such incident: in fact, there have been reports of poor health and safety standards in several smelter sites constructed and operated by Chinese companies in Indonesia, and several accidents.... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3249124/will-china-concerns-prove-decisive-indonesias-presidential-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3249124/will-china-concerns-prove-decisive-indonesias-presidential-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 02:00:19 +0000 Two of Indonesia’s presidential contenders are in intensive talks to form an alliance to beat front runner Prabowo Subianto, showing how policy differences come second to winning in the race to lead Southeast Asia’s largest economy. In recent weeks, officials backing former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan discreetly met several times to discuss a possible pact. That may include intensifying their campaigning in areas dominated by Prabowo in an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3249010/indonesia-election-2024-rivals-ganjar-and-baswedan-eye-deal-thwart-widodos-succession-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3249010/indonesia-election-2024-rivals-ganjar-and-baswedan-eye-deal-thwart-widodos-succession-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jan 2024 03:26:18 +0000 Ahead of Indonesia’s election, LGBTQ voters say they are caught between “a rock and a hard place” as to whom to support, with the silence by presidential candidates over the prejudice faced recently by a celebrity seen as a sign that the rainbow community’s rights will continue to be ignored. Fashion designer Ivan Gunawan shocked fans on January 8 when he abruptly quit as co-host of entertainment gossip programme Brownis, after Indonesia’s broadcasting regulator rebuked him for “dressing like a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3248949/indonesian-hosts-saga-adds-anxieties-lgbtq-folk-ahead-election-who-i-am?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3248949/indonesian-hosts-saga-adds-anxieties-lgbtq-folk-ahead-election-who-i-am?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jan 2024 11:49:17 +0000