Showing 1 - 10 of 27
Indonesian democracy on brink
Oped, Lili Yan Ing, Published on 11/09/2025
» Less than 11 months into his term, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto faces a stark choice. He can be remembered either as a leader whose presidency was defined by public anger and discontent, or as one who recognised the challenges facing his country and acted in the national interest.
Jakarta's crisis is Asean's problem
Oped, Simon Hutagalung, Published on 08/09/2025
» The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has relied on the domestic stability of its member states to achieve regional unity, and Indonesia, as the largest and most populous nation in the bloc, has served as the primary stabilising force.
Tariff man Trump vs united Asean
Oped, Kishore Mahbubani, Published on 09/06/2025
» US President Donald Trump's tariffs -- especially the ultra-high "reciprocal tariffs" that he says will be reintroduced on July 8 for any country that has not struck a trade deal with his administration -- have sent countries around the world scrambling to respond, adapt and limit the fallout. Asean's 10 members -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- have been among the most proactive.
Building a dynamic Thai-Indonesia relationship
Oped, Prapan Disyatat & Rachmat Budiman, Published on 07/03/2025
» On this day 75 years ago, the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Thailand marked an auspicious milestone in their relationship, with the formal establishment of diplomatic ties with one another. However, the relationship between the two countries, and people, can be traced back long before March 7, 1950 -- as far back as the ancient Kingdom of Sriwijaya, and to the times of the Majapahit and Ayutthaya kingdoms.
Keeping politics in the family
News, Karishma Vaswani, Published on 28/08/2024
» Politics is increasingly returning to being a family business in Southeast Asia, despite its large and vibrant democracies. It's a worrying trend. Power is at risk of being concentrated in the hands of an exclusive club of entrenched clans. That will disproportionately disadvantage the region's dynamic youth who are getting more frustrated with nepotism.
Capital idea, Indonesia. Now for some reality
News, Daniel Moss, Published on 21/08/2024
» Capital cities don't just happen. They develop slowly over decades, perhaps centuries, before resembling their creator's dream -- if they ever do. Indonesia is discovering such massive endeavours are hard work and prone to delays. Economics has an annoying habit of intruding.
Strongman Prabowo learns who really calls shots
News, Daniel Moss, Published on 27/06/2024
» There really is no such thing as a free lunch, even for an emerging market as successful as Indonesia. The incoming president, a former general, has talked boldly about turbo-charging growth and sounded dismissive about long-standing spending rules. If only he could just order investors around like a regiment.
Indonesia's next leader faces challenges
Oped, Collins Chong Yew Keat, Published on 29/02/2024
» Prabowo Subianto's electoral victory is expected, especially since he named Gibran Rakabuming, President Joko Widodo's eldest son, as his running mate. The "Jokowi effect" is firmly driving an upward momentum of support.
Indonesian poll serves up a curious outcome
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 20/02/2024
» Indonesia's President Joko Widodo concluded his second five-year term last Tuesday with a national election in which his chosen successors won a convincing victory. "Jokowi", as everybody calls him, still enjoys 70% public approval, and he has every right to be proud of his past.
Cue another erratic new leader
News, Karishma Vaswani, Published on 16/02/2024
» In a closely watched contest, the unofficial quick count results are now out and strongly suggest a landslide victory for the man who is poised to be Indonesia's next president: former fiery special forces commander Prabowo Subianto, who was also, for a time, the son-in-law of the archipelago's ex-dictator Suharto.