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Hello reader,

Thousands, if not millions, of mini games may soon be out of reach for Indonesian children, as the government looks set to ban the online phenomenon that is Roblox. Their reasoning is that they want to protect impressionable children from violence and other bad stuff.

One wonders whether parents would appreciate the ban, or are children across the nation going to scream over lost Robux?

More on that below.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• President Prabowo Subianto called for and led the eighth plenary cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta this afternoon, accompanied by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and attended by all of his cabinet ministers. During the session, Prabowo highlighted the government's performance over his first 10 months in office, describing the period as one filled with hard work and achievements. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Merah Putih Cabinet and affirmed his confidence that the administration’s strategies are on the right track.

• After receiving a presidential abolition, former Trade Minister Thomas Lembong has filed formal complaints against the panel of judges who sentenced him to 4.5 years in prison. The abolition halted all legal proceedings, including Tom’s appeal. His lawyer said Tom’s report to the Supreme Court aims to prompt an evaluation of the judicial process, which he believes was flawed and unprofessional, with judges allegedly showing bias and disregarding the presumption of innocence. Tom also reported the judges to the Judicial Commission and filed additional complaints with the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and the Ombudsman against the audit team responsible for calculating state financial losses in his sugar import case. The reports allege miscalculations, misconduct, and maladministration in the auditing process, with his legal team asserting this is not an act of revenge but a step to improve the justice system.

• Police in Yogyakarta have arrested five individuals for running an organized online gambling operation that exploited system loopholes to consistently win against bookies. The group, led by a man identified as RDS, used promotional bonuses for new accounts to repeatedly game the system, creating around 40 fake accounts daily using multiple SIM cards and computers. RDS acted as both the financier and the one sourcing gambling sites, while the other four suspects served as operators. Authorities say they’ve been active since November 2024, with operators paid weekly and winnings withdrawn immediately. The suspects are now in custody and face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to IDR 10 billion under electronic transactions and gambling laws. No word yet on whether or not authorities are pursing the bookies.

• Minister of Immigration Agus Andrianto confirmed that oil tycoon Riza Chalid, a suspect in the Pertamina crude oil corruption case, is still in Malaysia and under surveillance. The government is awaiting the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to formally submit a red notice request, which will then be processed by the National Police’s international division and sent to Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France. If approved, the notice will alert immigration authorities worldwide. The AGO is also pursuing a red notice for Jurist Tan, a suspect in the Chromebook procurement corruption case, which allegedly occurred during former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim’s tenure.

• An Australian national identified as WRJ was arrested in Bali after allegedly going on a drunken rampage that included assaulting a security guard, stealing a car, hitting a motorcyclist, and setting the stolen vehicle on fire. The incident occurred early Sunday morning near The Club Bali in North Kuta. WRJ reportedly attacked multiple people, including choking a guard, before seizing a Toyota Avanza left running by a security officer who fled in fear. After fleeing in the stolen car and crashing into another foreign national, the suspect disappeared, only to later be tracked down at a Seminyak villa where he had been staying. The burned-out vehicle was found in West Denpasar, with total damages estimated at IDR 160 million.

Business/Economy

• Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto denied allegations that President Prabowo’s administration manipulated economic growth data after Indonesia’s economy unexpectedly grew 5.12% year-on-year in Q2 2025. Responding to public skepticism, Airlangga cited official statistics from the National Statistics Agency (BPS), pointing to strong household consumption, robust investment growth, rising digital transactions, and a tourism boom fueled by government incentives. He added that nearly 3.6 million jobs were created due to the economic momentum. The better-than-expected numbers surprised economists, many of whom had projected growth below 5%, even lower than Q1’s 4.87%.

• Indonesia plans to import lithium from Australia as part of its effort to build a complete electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. While Indonesia already possesses key EV battery materials like nickel, manganese, and cobalt, it lacks lithium, making imports necessary. Bahlil noted that importing from Australia is more economical than current imports from Africa due to lower transport costs and geographic proximity. Despite this, Indonesia will continue prioritizing nickel as the main EV battery component, leveraging the country’s abundant reserves to become a global player in the battery industry.

• The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has reopened 122 million dormant bank accounts that were previously frozen as part of highly controversial efforts to combat online gambling. According to PPATK Chief Ivan Yustiavandana, the reactivation process varied across banks, but the overall task has now been completed. During the investigation, some dormant accounts were found to be used for illegal gambling activities, though Ivan did not disclose how many. He emphasized that while the issue of dormant accounts has been resolved for now, PPATK will not hesitate to freeze accounts again if they are found to be involved in criminal activity in the future.

• President Prabowo has issued a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) granting a special monthly allowance of IDR 30.01 million to 1,100 specialist doctors, sub-specialists, and dental specialists serving in Indonesia’s remote, border, and island regions (DTPK). According to Presidential Communications Office head Hasan Nasbi, this policy is a form of national recognition and support for doctors working in areas with limited access. The selection of regions prioritizes areas with a lack of medical personnel and those requiring affirmative government intervention. In addition to the allowance, doctors will receive career development opportunities and tiered training.

• Danish deodorant brand Perspirex is no longer sweating over the Indonesian market, citing reputation damage caused by negative campaigns and online buzzers. The brand shared the news on social media, stating that they entered Indonesia with good intentions, offering an effective antiperspirant solution to help people feel more confident. However, they claimed the market became increasingly hostile, with competing brands launching overclaims and black campaigns, amplified by buzzers, which significantly hurt their sales. 

Everything Else

• The government may ban children from playing the popular online game Roblox, citing concerns over violent content. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti explained that elementary school children often struggle to distinguish between real and fictional actions and tend to imitate what they see. He warned that games like Roblox, which may include fighting or inappropriate language, are not suitable for young students. Mu’ti emphasized the importance of early digital literacy and parental guidance to prevent children from accessing violent content. He urged parents to supervise their kids’ gadget use to ensure they consume educational and beneficial media. The Presidential Palace has voiced support for banning Roblox and similarly violent online games.

• A fast boat named Dolphin II sank while en route from Nusa Penida to Sanur Port on Tuesday afternoon. The vessel reportedly capsized and ran aground near the Sanur port entrance around 3pm local time. Of the 80 people on board, comprising 75 passengers and 5 crew, 77 have been rescued, while two Chinese nationals were confirmed dead and one Indonesian, 23-year-old Kadek Adi, remains missing. Search and rescue teams, supported by local boats, were deployed immediately after the incident. Fifteen survivors are receiving treatment at Bali Mandara Hospital for injuries and exhaustion.