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Indonesia

Indonesia
Indonesia
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion from Indonesia.
Capital
Jakarta
Head of State
President Prabowo Subianto
Prabowo Subianto
Head of Government
President Prabowo Subianto
Prabowo Subianto
The lavish stonework and proximity to other landmarks have long drawn tourists to the 17th century Ruins of Saint Paul, in Macau. Photo: Ronan O’Connell
Trip Inspiration

From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love

From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight.

Stocks

Indonesia scrambles to halt US$80 billion market crash as rupiah hits record low

Asean

Just 1 visa to rule them all? How European-style pass could help Asean tourism

Singapore

Why ‘rampant baby trafficking’ is a growing concern in Indonesia, Singapore

Analysts warn the driving factor for the rise in baby trafficking is the ‘lure of the Singapore dollar’, urging authorities to step up vigilance.

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Concerns about baby trafficking networks have prompted authorities in Singapore and Indonesia to review existing safeguards and cooperation mechanisms. Photo: Shutterstock
Central banks

Bank Indonesia’s autonomy under scrutiny as Prabowo’s nephew joins leadership

Thomas Djiwandono’s appointment as deputy governor has made it seem ‘as if power at Bank Indonesia is inherited’, some analysts say.

India

Nipah cases in India raise regional anxiety but experts say escalation unlikely

The virus’s high fatality rate has prompted precautionary measures across Asia, even as analysts say the outbreak remains limited.

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Malaysia

Malaysian man arrested after secret trip to see second wife in Indonesia

The 46-year-old told officers that he could not travel by air as his passport was held by the first wife.

Several people were detained aboard an unregistered boat during an operation conducted by Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency on Monday. Photo: Facebook/maritimmalaysia
Donald Trump

Peace or chaos? Indonesia’s participation in Trump-led board stirs debate

Critics say the decision runs contrary to Jakarta’s support for Palestine and decades-old foreign policy strategy of multilateralism.

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Asia travel

‘Cruellest’ practice: Elephant rides banned in Bali parks over welfare concerns

Asian countries, such as Cambodia and India, have ended commercial elephant rides due to the same concerns.

Singapore

Singapore jails, canes 6 Indonesians after illegal re-entry on sinking boat

The group was rescued by police when their vessel capsized during a chase. One man was sentenced to 21 months for his sixth illegal entry.

Singapore national flags flutter over a view of the city skyline in August 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysia

Malaysia disputes Indonesian media reports on Sabah border, says talks ongoing

To compensate for the transfer of three Indonesian villages to Malaysia, Jakarta would receive some land, according to the media reports.

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Untouched jungle in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Malaysia and Indonesia are holding talks to discuss the Sabah-Kalimantan border issue. Photo: Shutterstock
SCMP Highlights

Okinawa loses longevity crown, Malaysian athlete threatened: 7 Asia highlights

From longevity in Japan’s Okinawa to proxy wars in Middle East, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Environment

‘No other option’: Indonesia begins returning toxic e-waste to US

Four containers of electronic waste deemed hazardous have been shipped out from Batam, following the government’s hardline warning.

Extreme weather

Video | Scores missing in deadly Indonesian landslide

The landslide has killed at least 25 people, as authorities warn more rain could further destabilise the slope.

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Natural disasters

Indonesian rescuers recover bodies after Java landslide, 72 still missing

The landslide killed at least 25, as authorities warn coming rain could further destabilise the slope as rescuers search.

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Rescuers search for victims in a landslide-affected area in Pasirlangu village, West Bandung, West Java Province, Indonesia, on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Banking & finance

Exclusive | Singapore Exchange hints at deeper ties with HKEX: can yuan business open doors?

SGX CEO also hopes to launch an international board with Nasdaq later this year and expand cross-trading schemes with mainland China.

Diplomacy

‘Resilience’ is Indonesia’s new foreign policy buzzword, but is it just rhetoric?

Analysts warn the vague concept lacks a long-term strategy and risks Jakarta drifting from its non-aligned values into transactional deals.

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Sexual harassment and assault

Groomed at 15: Indonesian actress lays bare her stolen youth in viral memoir

Aurelie Moeremans’ book has sparked a national debate in Indonesia on how a teenager could be manipulated and abused in plain sight.

Indonesian actress Aurelie Moeremans’ memoir, “Broken Strings: Fragments of Stolen Youth”, details her experience of being groomed as a teenager. Photo: Handout
Natural disasters

‘Like thunder’: 8 killed in Indonesia, over 80 missing in Java landslide

‘It had been raining non-stop since the morning, and then it happened’.

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Music

Welcome to the black parade: how Southeast Asia’s Gen Z is reviving 2000s music

From My Chemical Romance to Blue, early-2000s acts are selling out venues across the region as younger fans seek raw, emotional music.

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Defence

Indonesia’s defence deal with Bosnia signals Asian middle power’s clout

The deal is in line with Jakarta’s goal to pursue an ‘active and free’ foreign policy beyond its Western partners.

President Prabowo Subianto (third from left) and Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (left) at the military academy in Magelang, Central Java in 2024. Photo: AFP/Indonesia’s presidential palace
Malaysia

Indonesian litterbug weeps after first conviction under new Malaysian law

Anita Lukman was fined US$125 and ordered to serve six hours of community service for discarding rubbish on a pavement in Johor Bahru.

Sultan Md (left) and Anita Lukman (centre) being led into the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru where they were charged with littering in public. Photo: The Star
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Indonesia’s Prabowo pitches stability at Davos amid rising global tensions

Prabowo says Indonesia aims to stamp out corruption and ‘greedanomics’, and calls for trade integration to help boost global prosperity.

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Video | Hundreds of Indonesians leave Cambodian scam centres

Authorities are investigating whether scam workers, many without legal documents, joined voluntarily.

Malaysia

Malaysian badminton player threatened with knife attack online over performance

Several shuttlers in Malaysia have faced online abuse after their early exits in major tournaments.

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Malaysian badminton doubles players Teo Ee Yi (left) and Ong Yew Sin (right) playing in the 2024 German Open. Photo: YouTube/German Open Official
Archaeology and palaeontology

World’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia

A handprint dating back at least 67,800 years is over a thousand years older than hand stencils in Spain that are attributed to Neanderthals.

Handprints with sharpened fingertips are seen in the Maros region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo: Ahdi Agus Oktaviana/Maxime Aubert via AP
Social media

Indonesia police arrest 9 in Medan baby trafficking case linked to social media

The arrests come as Singapore scrutinises adoption cases linked to separate baby trafficking allegations involving Indonesia.

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World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Larry Fink considers rotating World Economic Forum away from Davos

The interim co-chief, and BlackRock CEO says the ‘mountain must come down to earth’ proposing a rotation to hubs like Detroit, Dublin and Jakarta.

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