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Hello reader,

I wish we could say that we are a truly tolerant society. While things don’t seem to be as bad as it was a few years ago, incidents like the one I’m highlighting in this newsletter serves as a heart-wrenching reminder that intolerance still exists.

There’s nothing more to say other than respect each other regardless of our beliefs. It all starts with us.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

Can’t Worship Here

A video recently went viral showing a middle-aged lady in Bekasi, West Java screaming at her neighbors.

The neighbors, who belonged to a minority religion in Indonesia, were merely holding a gathering for religious worship at home.

The lady, who goes by the initials MS, was adamant that a permit was required to pray or hold religious gatherings at home. She was laughed off by the people she accosted.

After the clip went viral, netizens were quick to find out that MS is a civil servant in the Bekasi City Administration. The city’s interim mayor said MS is being investigated internally to determine sanctions for her act of intolerance. For her part, MS, in full civil servant garb, has issued a public apology.

Adherents of minority religions in Indonesia often find themselves between a rock and a hard place in terms of worship. Obtaining permits for the establishment of houses of worship is an arduous, and sometimes impossible, process. Some have even had to put up with protests by other members of the community.

While many are not afforded the space for worship, this incident shows that some can’t even worship in the privacy of their own homes in peace. 

In Other News

• Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Central Executive Board Chairwoman Puan Maharan hinted at the possibility of the party joining President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s government, adding further weight to a party member’s statement last week. Puan said a meeting has been imminently scheduled between Prabowo and PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, during which the matter will likely be discussed.

• President Joko Widodo’s youngest Kaesang Pangarep donned a vest that says, “Son of Mulyono” during a public event, in an apparent tongue-in-cheek response against criticism towards his father and their family. Jokowi’s critics have taken to calling him by his birth name Mulyono as a form of humiliation, as the name represented a time in the president’s life when he was frail and sickly.

• The Supreme Court upheld human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatiah Maulidiyanty’s acquittal from defamation charges. The pair were controversially charged with online defamation for ironically referring to Coordinating Maritime and Economic Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan as “Lord Luhut” in their criticism of him.

Business/Economy

• The World Bank has expressed skepticism about Indonesia’s goal of becoming an advanced economy by 2045, stating that a miracle is needed for middle-income countries to have high income in decades rather than centuries. The government plans to achieve this feat by maintaining GDP growth between 6-7% over the next 20 years.

• With President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin set to step down next month, details of their retirement benefits have been revealed. As mandated by law, outgoing presidents and VPs are entitled to receive 100% of their base salaries, which comes out to IDR 30.24 million for Jokowi and IDR 20.16 million for Ma’ruf. They are, of course, going to receive other benefits, such as housing.

• Delonix Group has become the first foreign investor in Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, with President Jokowi today breaking ground on the Chinese investment firm’s property complex. The president lauded the investment as a key step in attracting international interest and support for Nusantara.

• In response to a sluggish automotive market, the Industry Ministry is appealing for the reinstatement of the luxury tax exemption on car purchases, which was offered during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first half of 2024, factory-to-dealer sales were down 19.5% year-on-year.

• Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has exposed a scheme used by foreign businesses to acquire Indonesian islands illegally. As transpired on Maratua Island in East Kalimantan, a foreign entity would invest in a resort and initially hire local staff to meet workplace requirements. They would then lay off all local employees and replace them with employees from their country to pull off a sneaky takeover of the island.

Everything Else

• Indonesian actresses Cinta Laura and Enzy Storia made a splash at the 2024 Paris Fashion Week, sharing the runway with global stars like Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, and Cara Delevigne.  They showcased stunning pieces at a fashion show hosted by L’Oréal Paris.

• Slank guitarist Abdee Negara is reportedly in stable condition after a brief stay in the ICU. Abdee was admitted to the ICU on September 19 due to complications to his transplanted kidney, which was inserted in 2016.