There is serious disquiet among Indonesia’s civil society actors and academics, who support the two candidate pairs that lost last month’s election. Much work lies ahead if there is to be an effective national reckoning of alleged electoral misconduct – yet it may be a case of too little, too late.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Pheu Thai Versus Bank of Thailand: More Than a Question of Digital Wallets and Interest Rates
A festering dispute between the Pheu Thai-led government and the Bank of Thailand has underscored a major question as to who sets the kingdom’s economic direction.
The Ulama and the 2024 Indonesian Presidential Election: The Missing Voice of Conscience?
Within Indonesia’s Islamic intellectual elite, this generation does not seem to have leaders who can rise to the ranks of their brave predecessors in acting as the nation’s moral conscience, especially in the face of blatant political chicanery.
A Cultural Blow to an Eroding Political Taboo: Viewing “Eksil” (The Exiles), a Hit Documentary
A popular documentary about ten exiles has had an extraordinary run in Indonesia, not least because it sings a different tune from the official historical narrative about the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and its supporters, perpetuated since the Suharto era.
Turmoils and Triumphs: The Political Tapestry of Taib Mahmud’s Reign
Taib Mahmud was a shrewd political operator, but his legacy is not free of controversy.
A Kidney for Your Vote: Money Politics in Indonesia’s 2024 Elections
The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched, and not likely to go away anytime soon, because it works.
Energy and Agrarian Justice in Southeast Asia’s Green Transition
The drive towards renewable energy in Southeast Asia should not ignore the concept of just energy transition.
ASEAN-Australia Relations: Working Out Hard Issues for Regional Stability
ASEAN-Australia relations look set to power on for the next 50 years after the recent commemoration of the first 50 but some difficult issues need to be worked out.
Introducing Gus Miftah: A Celebrity Cleric Consolidating Prabowo-Gibran’s Victory
A plank of Prabowo Subianto’s team’s winning strategy for East and Central Java in last month’s election rested on the shoulders of an unusual cleric who hails from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organisation.
Strengthening Australia-ASEAN Cooperation in Maritime Cybersecurity
ASEAN and Australia need to work out practical ways to cooperate on cyber security in the maritime industry.