In partnership with

Hello reader,

While Indonesia should have won against Bahrain last week if not for refereeing decisions, we should have won last night’s match-up against China if it weren’t for our own undoing.

Indonesia was dominant for much of the match, but our boys failed to capitalize on China’s recent poor form. Instead, we were hit twice on the break, owing to defensive lapses.

It’s been a painful couple of weeks. One thing’s for certain: getting to the World Cup is even more of an uphill climb now.

Anyway, please enjoy this free edition of Nusantara Notes.

Cheers,

Andra

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!

Law/Politics

• The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Central Executive Board Chairwoman Puan Maharani said the party is unified in backing the President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s incoming administration, despite them being widely expected to stand in opposition to the government. The extent of that support remains to be seen, but it’s worth noting that Prabowo did not interview a single PDI-P politician for a cabinet ministry role. Nevertheless, Prabowo is set to meet with PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri in the coming days, where they will likely formalize the new partnership between their parties.

• Fifty-nine prospective ministers and deputy ministers attended an orientation program organized by Prabowo today, signaling the beginning of preparations for the new cabinet. The topics discussed today were anticorruption measures, geopolitics, and economic strategies for growth.

• The House of Representatives (DPR) approved Lt. Gen. Herindra as the new head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), following a formal nomination process. Herindra, known for his extensive military background, will replace outgoing Chief Budi Gunawan, who was dismissed from his post earlier this week by President Joko Widodo as he is set to take on a ministerial role in Prabowo’s administration.

• Police 2nd Inspector Rudy, an officer in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police, was dismissed from the force after he exposed a local cartel manipulating fuel prices. The NTT Police denied Rudy’s firing was part of any conspiracy, and that he was dismissed due to numerous disciplinary and procedural violations he had allegedly committed throughout his career.

• A teacher in Batam, Riau Islands has been arrested after he was accused of engaging in child grooming involving one of his students, starting when she was in sixth grade. The teacher may face up to 15 years in prison for violation of the Child Protection Law.

Business/Economy

• Bank Indonesia (BI) has decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 6% this month, after it reduced the rate by 0.25 points last month. The central bank’s move is aimed at maintaining inflation at around 2.5% in 2024 and 2025, while also alleviating pressure on a fluctuating rupiah.

• BI revealed that an increasing number of Indonesians are moving away from ATM usage in favor of digital payment platforms, particularly QRIS, which saw its adoption rate rise 206.9% year-on-year. Over the same period, ATM/debit card transactions dropped by 8.59% in volume.

• President Jokowi inaugurated the Lau Simeme Dam in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra today—his 47th dam inauguration over two presidential terms. The IDR 1.76 trillion project aims to improve water management, particularly for agriculture and flood control, benefiting surrounding communities.

• Still part of his North Sumatra tour, the president officially opened two new sections of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road, further enhancing infrastructure connectivity in Sumatra. The project, which has an investment value of IDR 11.92 trillion, is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to boost regional development and improve transportation links across the island.

• Leisure facilities may not be high on Nusantara’s list of priorities, but the new capital city is attracting interest from investors seeking to develop luxury amenities such as golf courses, according to Minister of Investment Rosan Roeslani. There may already be proposals by investors to build four golf courses in Nusantara.

Everything Else

• The Indonesian men’s football team fell to an underperforming China 2-1 in the latest 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier. Despite long periods of offensive dominance by Indonesia, two defensive mishaps gifted China an insurmountable two-goal lead, with a consolation goal by Thom Haye halving the deficit towards the end of the match. Head coach Shin Tae-yong has come under fire for fielding a rotated side in a must-win match, especially when China’s recent poor form meant they were there for the taking. Though there are six matches left in the qualifying round, the expectation is that the competition is only going to get more difficult from here on out.