• Poverty in Indonesia: Around 34.4 Million Indonesians Live in Slums

    According to data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works there were 34.3 million Indonesians living in slums in August 2014. Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto stated that he wants the involvement of the Ministry of Housing, the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas), and the Ministry of Environment to resolve this issue. Currently, around 11.3 percent of the Indonesian population is poor. Head of Bappenas, Armida Alisjahbana, earlier stated to target to ease Indonesia’s poverty rate to 9-10 percent by 2015.

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  • Indonesia’s New Parliament Inaugurated; Clash on Speaker Voting

    A total of 555 people have been officially inaugurated as members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) for the period 2014-2019 on Wednesday (01/10). The ceremony was witnessed by incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as well as President-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his running mate Jusuf Kalla. The Jokowi-Kalla pair will be inaugurated as the country’s next president and vice-president on 20 October 2014. The PDI-P, winner of the legislative election, is the largest party in the House.

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  • Economic Update Indonesia: Inflation, Trade Balance & Manufacturing Activity

    Statistics Indonesia (BPS) released various economic data today (01/10) - including inflation, the trade balance and manufacturing activity - that give a good indication about the state of the Indonesian economy. Although not all data was positive, market participants were content, evidenced by an appreciating rupiah exchange rate and rising Indonesian stocks. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah appreciated 0.43 percent to IDR 12,135 per US dollar, while the Jakarta Composite Index climbed 0.06 percent on Tuesday (01/10).

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  • Yudhoyono to Issue Presidential Decree to Block Regional Elections Law

    Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced to issue a presidential decree to override parliament’s approval of the controversial regional elections law. This new bill passed the House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday last week. Immediately institutions and people objected to the bill - which abolishes direct elections for regional leaders (leaving it to regional legislatures to elect mayors, district heads and governors) - as it is considered a step back for the country’s young democracy and reduces transparency.

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