MBG’s Discontented Partners

Jun 10, 2026 | Market

The removal of BGN’s three original leaders has had the effect of a dam breaking. MBG partners have begun speaking out one by one, bringing with them a list of complaints that expose the program’s weaknesses people could only suspect before. Unlike criticism from the...

Trade Minister Regulation No 19/2026 & The digital economy

Jun 10, 2026 | Law, Market

Newly issued Trade Minister Regulation (Permendag) No. 19/2026 signals a major shift in how the government views the digital economy. What began several years ago as an effort to regulate e-commerce and social commerce has evolved into something much broader: direct...

Is Koperasi Merah Putih the next corruption time bomb?

Jun 10, 2026 | Law, Market

Over the past month, social media platforms have been flooded with allegations questioning the governance of President Prabowo’s signature Koperasi Merah Putih/village cooperatives program (KDMP). The issue escalated after Jakarta’s chapter of the Indonesian...

The end of the honeymoon?

Jun 10, 2026 | Market, Politics

Only a few months ago, President Prabowo Subianto enjoyed one of the highest approval ratings ever recorded for a newly elected Indonesian leader. Surveys by Indikator Politik and Poltracking consistently placed public satisfaction between 72 and 80 percent. Now, the...

The Squeezed Middle Class

Jun 10, 2026 | Market

Pertamina’s decision to raise non-subsidized Pertamax gasoline price by 32% will clearly hurt middle income group, main driver of household consumption, just hours after Bank Indonesia revised up its benchmark rate by 25 basis point.  Not only percentage of middle...

The 32% spike of Pertamax

Jun 10, 2026 | Market

Touted as shock absorber for middle class, the state oil and gas company Pertamina finally lifted the price of non-subsidized gasoline Pertamax (RON 92) as much as 32% from Rp12,300 to Rp16,25o per litre effective today (Jun 10). The decision might be expected to ease...

Bottoming out or a dead cat bounce?

Jun 9, 2026 | Market

Rupiah gained 1.1% Tuesday (Jun 9) because of sudden hike of BI Rate by 25 basis point and depreciation of US dollars against global currencies. Composite index of IDX (IHSG/JCI) also recovered 7.57% even when foreign investors continued ‘sell Indonesia’. Have the...

Free meal corruption: Sonjaya’s List

Jun 9, 2026 | Law

Sony Sonjaya, a corruption suspect in the free meal program and former deputy chief of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), has formally applied a justice collaborator (JC) status. Sony, a retired two-start police general, has reportedly told investigators about...

Another BGN controversy

Jun 9, 2026 | Market

As the Attorney General’s Office continues its investigation into three dismissed BGN leaders, another controversy linked to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has come to light. A businessman from Sukabumi, Munjayin, is demanding clarity over Rp 218.25 billion...

Fiscal sustainability: Cash-flow issues

Jun 9, 2026 | Market

Financial report of state electricity utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) for full year 2025 revealed the ugly truth about the State’s cash-flow issue. A public hearing between the House of Representatives (DPR) and governors/regents on Monday (Jun 8) confirmed...