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Indonesia
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Indonesia

Indonesia
Indonesia
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion from Indonesia.
Capital
Jakarta
Head of State
President Prabowo Subianto
Prabowo Subianto
Head of Government
President Prabowo Subianto
Prabowo Subianto
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) and Megawati Sukarnoputri in April 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE
Joko Widodo

Showdown in Solo: the new front in Indonesia’s Jokowi-Megawati feud

Analysts say the 2029 parliamentary bid will test whether Widodo can convert his personal popularity into lasting family influence.

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Food and Drinks

Interview: Nick and Henry Burch on Butter Baby’s mad, whimsical universe

India

Can India and China rally Brics to ease Strait of Hormuz tensions?

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SCMP Highlights

Malaysia’s Liow released; Lee Kuan Yew’s pen up for auction: 7 Asia highlights

From North Korea’s dog meat advice to Prabowo at odds with Indonesia’s rich, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Malaysian fugitive businessman Nicky Liow is brought to court in 2021. Photo: Weibo
Asean

US swaps ideology for ‘flexible realism’ and deterrence in Southeast Asia

Pentagon’s Colby urges allies to invest more in defence as Washington prioritises pragmatic Indo-Pacific partnerships over moral values.

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United States

US ‘digging in’ to Asia but seeks partners ‘not dependency’: Pentagon

Senior official Elbridge Colby tells Manila audience the US is committed to the Indo-Pacific but expects allies to invest in defence.

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Religion

Indonesian Islamic body warns against cross-dressing in Independence Day games

The warning comes amid rising fear following attacks on gay people and a regulation classifying LGBTQ culture as a security threat.

Students take part in the street culture carnival to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day in Banda Aceh on August 19, 2023. Photo: AFP
Crime

Discovery of almost 1,000 weapons in Indonesian school fuels safety fears

Suspected narcotics and pornographic CDs were also found in a room used by a former chair of a school foundation.

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Malaysia

‘Out of our control’: haze returns to Malaysia as Indonesian wildfires rage

Residents in Malaysia have been urged to stay indoors as the air pollution index hits unhealthy levels in parts of Sarawak and Selangor.

Natural disasters

Indonesia’s Mount Bromo wildfire extinguished but new fires threaten

Authorities suspect the fire was caused by carelessness as the first flame was found along a route used by visitors.

East Java disaster mitigation agency personnel deploy a water spraying drone to fight a wildfire at Mount Bromo National Park on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Trade

Indonesia’s strong GDP data prompts ‘resilient but uneven’ growth forecasts

While manufacturing and household spending rose in Q2, growth expectations are tempered by a decline in the mining and trade sectors.

Containers being stacked at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. Photo: AP
Prabowo Subianto

Video | Military-style boot camps for Indonesia’s minimarket workers

The new military boot camps are organised through a programme to prepare managers to run minimarkets in Indonesia’s rural areas.

China trade

Opinion | Why China’s trade partners may question value of economic integration

Both Beijing and its economic partners must ask whether expanding trade strengthens domestic productive capacity and improves long-term competitiveness.

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Malaysia

Malaysia Airlines owner mandates drug testing for pilots after arrest

Malaysia Aviation Group orders mandatory drug testing for pilots after Malaysia Airlines second officer arrested in Jakarta.

Indonesian Customs officials display drugs smuggled by a Malaysian pilot as evidence during a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

How crime syndicates are exploiting Malaysia’s connectivity to move drugs

The country’s proximity to major drug-producing areas and porous borders make it an attractive transit point for traffickers, analysts say.

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Indonesian Customs officials display drugs smuggled by a Malaysian pilot as evidence during a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on July 31. Photo: AFP
Protests around the world

Indonesia warns against users spreading fake news ahead of its Independence Day

The move by some shopping centres and office complexes in Jakarta to erect barricades has fuelled speculation about potential unrest.

Prabowo Subianto

Reality bites for Indonesia’s Prabowo as approval rating falls

The decline reflects a disconnect between Indonesia’s still-respectable headline growth and how voters experience the economy, analysts say.

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Malaysia

Video | Pilot accused of smuggling 70,000 Ecstasy pills through airport security

A Malaysian airport security screener will be summoned for questioning after the Malaysia Airlines pilot was arrested in Jakarta for allegedly carrying 70,000 Ecstasy pills.

Indonesian Customs officials prepare to display the uniform of a Malaysian pilot and drugs he smuggled as evidence before a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, on July 31, 2026. A 39-year-old pilot, identified only by his initials MSO, was arrested shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur for allegedly carrying over 70,000 ecstasy tablets and meth in his suitcase. Police confirmed the pilot also tested positive for drugs while operating the passenger plane. (Photo by Ramu / AFP)
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Malaysia

Malaysia faces EV speed bumps with planned levy amid stalled investments

Observers warn Malaysia’s appeal as a manufacturing base could weaken amid regional competition for EV investment.

North Korea

Indonesia’s Prabowo eyes North Korea trip. But no one’s invited him

While a visit could boost Indonesia’s diplomatic clout, it also threatens to raise another outcry about Prabowo’s frequent flights.

Prabowo Subianto

Are Indonesia’s Prabowo and ultra rich ‘9 Dragons’ on a collision course?

Analysts say the pressure on Indonesia’s older business elite forms part of a broader two-pronged strategy of state capitalism.

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Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

Offside move? Why Indonesia’s football chief backed Fifa privatisation plan

Erick Thohir said the Indonesian football association should back Fifa’s proposal because of its contributions to the local game.

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Erick Thohir attends the pre-Olympic play-off match between Indonesia and Guinea at Paris 2024. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysian police investigate how pilot smuggled drugs past airport checks

A KLIA security screener will be summoned for questioning after a Malaysia Airlines pilot is arrested with 70,000 Ecstasy pills in Jakarta.

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Hong Kong society

Li Ka Shing Foundation, Disney gift 24,000 domestic helpers Toy Story 5 tickets

Registration on Klook to open at 9pm on Wednesday in latest collaboration between Hong Kong tycoon’s charity foundation and The Walt Disney Company.

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SCMP Highlights

Malaysian influencer controversy, Cambodia’s tourism slump: 7 Asia highlights

From Philippines’ army wanting more hackers to facial massage fighting dementia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

A scene from the trailer for ‘Pulau’, which stars Siew Pui Yi. Photo: YouTube
United States

US State Department to close consulates in Canada, Japan and Indonesia: sources

The State Department did not confirm the closures but said it was focused on ensuring that America’s diplomatic footprint was efficient.

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The US State Department building in Washington. Photo: Reuters
Marine safety

Unknown number of people missing after Indonesian ferry fire kills 5

Initial reports said it was carrying 271 people but by Monday officials said many more people were aboard than listed.

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Asia travel

‘Not the typical Bali’: little-known beach to host 5-day annual design fair

With its relatively undiscovered feel, Pengembak Beach is the perfect location for this year’s edition of Jia Curated, one co-founder says.

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