Retail sales data

Jun 11, 2026 | Market

Indonesia’s retail sales dropped 3.7% year-on-year in April 2026, reversing a 3.4% growth in the previous month, a survey from Bank Indonesia found. The survey suggested another contraction in May, but slower (-3.2%) than April.  The survey, of course, was conducted...

National healthcare access at risk

Jun 11, 2026 | Market

BPJS Kesehatan is reportedly facing a monthly deficit of Rp 2 trillion. This situation could push the national health insurance system toward default by July 2027 if left unaddressed. The warning has sparked public concern, not only about the future of healthcare...

Update on DSI case

Jun 11, 2026 | Law, Market

The decision by police to name a former senior official of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) as a suspect in the PT Dana Syariah Indonesia (DSI) case marks a turning point in one of largest fintech scandals. What initially appeared to be another failed investment...

From “Indonesia Gelap” to “Sell Indonesia”

Jun 11, 2026 | Market

The planned protest by the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) against the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program this week should not be viewed merely as another campus demonstration. Nor should it be reduced to a debate about school meals. What...

Who has denied — and who has not? MBG corruption scandal

Jun 11, 2026 | Law, Market

Former National Nutrition Agency (BGN) deputy chief Sony Sonjaya has applied for justice collaborator status and reportedly provided investigators with more than 20 names—eventually growing to 26 names—from executive, legislative, and judicial circles whom he claims...

Disruptions from Koperasi Merah Putih

Jun 11, 2026 | Market

A friend, senior executive in one of the largest business groups, was in two villages in Central Java this week to study operations of Koperasi Merah Putih (KDMP), the village cooperatives program from Prabowo administration, which is widely criticized for its...

Bottoming out or a dead cat bounce? (2)

Jun 11, 2026 | Market

Composite index of IDX (IHSG/JCI) advanced 2.7% Wednesday (Jun 10), while rupiah appreciated to below Rp18,000 per US dollars. Foreign investors, interestingly, continued selling Indonesian equities. Are the stocks and rupiah bottoming out? “I think we’re not out of...

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...