Securing the release of nine Indonesians, detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in international waters as part of a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza, was no small diplomatic achievement for Indonesia, which has no formal ties to the Jewish state. Yet this accomplishment was not fully appreciated at home, where critics dismissed the government’s efforts as timid and pointed to President Prabowo Subianto’s silence throughout the episode.

Customs and excise director general Djaka Budhi Utama’s name has finally surfaced in court proceedings linked to the PT Blueray Cargo import bribery case, prompting President Prabowo Subianto to call for sweeping institutional reform. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa later said the government would respect the legal process while signaling that Djaka could be removed from office if his involvement is proven in court. However, he emphasized that the case remains at an early stage and that the government would not suspend Djaka until there is clearer evidence of his involvement.

Strengthening national defense has long been a priority for President Prabowo Subianto and dates back to his tenure as defense minister. There is no doubt about his administration’s focus on defense, given that the country has yet to achieve its 2009-2024 Minimum Essential Force (MEF) target. Yet the public continues to question whether the government’s efforts are genuinely aimed at safeguarding Indonesia’s sovereignty or attempts to extend military authority into civilian domains.

More than a year after its establishment, Danantara has yet to demonstrate meaningful progress in restructuring state-owned enterprises (SOEs), despite mounting financial pressures, delayed consolidation plans and growing concerns over transparency. As Danantara expands its mandate, most recently into the management of natural resource exports, the debate is no longer merely about corporate governance, but about the broader direction of Indonesia’s economic management.

As the country’s investment climate deteriorates, the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (CCCI) took the unusual step of writing directly to President Prabowo Subianto to complain about shifting regulations, nickel quota cuts, royalty hikes and alleged extortion. This raises troubling questions: Is the government losing control of policy consistency or quietly yielding regulatory authority to its largest investor?

The trial of executives from venture capital firms that invested in agricultural technology (agritech) company TaniHub has sparked concern after prosecutors charged them with causing state losses due to their firms’ status as subsidiaries of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Critics have questioned the charges, citing a disconnect between the nature of venture capital business and the seemingly disproportionate punishment sought compared to the accused executives’ alleged involvement in TaniHub’s wrongdoing.

The documentary film Pesta Babi (Pig Feast) is compelling not only for what it portrays, but also for the reaction it has provoked. It lays bare Indonesia’s contemporary agrarian conflicts while, once again, exposing the state’s enduring discomfort with criticism.