CONTRIBUTORS

Julia Lau is a Senior Fellow and Co-Coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme, and Editor, Fulcrum at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Her research interests include Indonesia’s foreign policy, Singapore’s war memory of the Japanese Occupation, and gerontology.

Articles by Julia Lau (14)

Indonesia Pragmatically Picks a Prabowo Presidency But the Dust Has Not Settled

Julia Lau|Made Supriatma|Yanuar Nugroho

Quick counts, which are not official, indicate that Prabowo Subianto is Indonesia's presumptive eighth president. The question now turns to how big his government and coalition in Parliament will be and whether any olive branches he extends to his opponents will be accepted.

Indonesia Votes 2024: Personality Versus Policy in the Presidential Election

Julia Lau|Maria Monica Wihardja

A nationwide survey finds that many Indonesian voters supporting a party in the legislative election might not support the party’s chosen presidential candidate. The three presidential candidates are liked more for their personality traits than policy stances. In short, personality still outweighs policy.

President Joko Widodo invited three presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election -- Anies Baswedan (R), Ganjar Pranowo (L), and Prabowo Subianto (2R) -- to have lunch together at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. (Photo. by Joko Widodo / Twitter)

The Race is On! Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Candidates Assessed

Julia Lau|Made Supriatma

It will be a tough fight in next February’s presidential election in Indonesia. There is time for the race odds to shift but the stakes are already clear.

Firmly by Palestine’s Side: Behind Malaysia’s Response to the Israel-Gaza Crisis

Julia Lau|Francis E. Hutchinson

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim has not minced his words in upbraiding Israel and its supporters for their response to the worsening crisis in the Gaza territories. His motivations are driven by compelling domestic factors and a long-held political stance on Palestine.

Indonesian Muslim activists hold banners during a demonstration against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in front of the Horse Statue in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 13, 2023. (Photo by Eko Siswono Toyudho / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

The Implications of the Israel-Gaza Conflict on Indonesia

Julia Lau

Indonesia is likely to support the Palestinian people and redouble its commitment and calls for a two-state solution in light of the ongoing Israeli-Gaza violence. Domestically, the spiralling crisis has some potential to affect the 2024 presidential candidates and security climate, especially if no urgent solution is in sight.