Indonesia has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. At the time of publishing, there have been more than 19,000 confirmed cases and over 1,200 deaths. Due to a lack of testing — just 776 people per 1 million in a country with a population of 268 million — the number of infections is...
In recent weeks, Indonesia has been in the headlines due to forest fires. Having spread throughout the country in Southeast Asia, the regions of Jambi, South Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi have been severely affected while Riau Province has been the worst hit. According to the National...
With an election on the horizon, President Jokowi needs to justify his spending on Indonesia’s infrastructure. On April 17, Indonesians will head to the polls for a presidential election. To help choose the best person for the job, election debates have been held between the two candidates,...
The Asian Para Games can bring change to Indonesia so it can be more friendly to people with disabilities. The 2018 Asian Para Games is currently taking place in Jakarta. The multi-sport event is held every four years for athletes with physical disabilities. A total of 2,762 athletes with...
After another earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, it is clear that people are not taught what to do in the event of natural disasters. Indonesia has once again been hit by a natural disaster. On September 28, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami struck the cities of Palu and...
As Indonesians brace themselves for another election in 2019, they must stop politicizing religion and identity. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is set to hold its presidential election in April 2019. Citizens will choose a candidate to lead the nation until 2024, and the excitement can be felt...
The Jokowi government must reexamine the political map in Indonesia to better understand its supporters and opponents. On May 14, a suicide bombing took place at a police headquarters in Surabaya, Indonesia. The perpetrators were a family of five riding on two motorbikes. The incident took place...
Once again, blasphemy has caused a stir in Indonesia — this time over what counts as fiction. In April, Indonesians were shocked by a statement made by a well-known lecturer in philosophy at the University of Indonesia. In a televised debate, Rocky Gerung said that “Scriptures are fictional...
In this guest edition of The Interview, Dikanaya Tarahita and Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat talk to Mawar Sari Hidayat, a teacher at an Indonesian special-needs school. Education is a major problem for disabled people in Indonesia. Regular schools are often unwilling admit and accommodate those with...
Instead of going to university to simply get a degree and a well-paid job, students must learn to seek knowledge for the sake of learning. When I recently returned home to Indonesia, I heard about some universities giving “fake” diplomas or degrees to students. These “graduates” never...
As Jakarta becomes the latest victim of terror, security forces are finding it increasingly difficult to identify patterns behind attacks. Indonesia has been hit by a suspected suicide bombing, the deadliest since January 2016. The attack occurred on May 24 near the densely-populated Kampung...
How social media platforms contribute to growing consumerism among Indonesian youth. Indonesia is a nation of 258 million people. Of that, nearly 124 million are in the labor force — the fifth largest in the world. So, it is easy to see that Indonesia carries enormous potential to keep...
Indonesia celebrates its 72nd Education Day, but is there equality in the country’s education system? On May 2, Indonesia marks its National Education Day. This annual occasion showcases the significance of education to the country and its citizens. To its founding fathers, education was seen...
The Indonesian capital’s new governor has got some work to do. In Indonesia, the election of Jakarta’s governor took place smoothly and peacefully this week. Anies Baswedan, former minister of education and culture, defeated the incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is known colloquially as...
Thanks to Kartini, many Indonesian women have a role model in the quest to fulfil their dreams. On April 21 every year, Indonesia celebrates Kartini Day in remembrance of a national female hero known by the same name. Having lived in the late 19th century, Kartini succeeded in achieving justice...
