Hello reader,

Over the past couple of years, we’re seeing more and more vehicles go whiz than vroom, especially in major cities. The government has never hidden its love for EVs, and in their ideal world our roads would be dominated by the relatively environmentally friendly vehicles.

Sadly for hybrid fans, halfies are not going to receive the same privileges as EVs. It’s quite clear why, so head over to the Business/Economy section below for more on that.

Plus, an Indonesian athlete tied a world record at the 2024 Olympics (at least momentarily), and there’s fresh Jokowi vs PDI-P drama.

Enjoy reading!

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister and President Joko Widodo’s right-hand man Luhut Pandjaitan went all sentimental and was full of praise of his boss at a government event today. After saluting Jokowi, the former military general said the president is leaving behind quite the legacy (in more ways than one, one might add), particularly in turning Indonesia from a raw material exporter towards becoming an industrial power over his 10 years as president. Jokowi’s second and final term ends on October 20, 2024.

• The Presidential Palace denied reports that Jokowi formed a special legal team to scrutinize the central board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) — the party that launched him to political stardom. Reports suggested that Jokowi was displeased about the party extending the term of the sitting central executive board, which contains members who have been openly critical of him and his administration.

• The National Police’s Densus 88 anti-terrorism unit arrested two suspected terrorists in West Jakarta on Tuesday, who they identified as ISIS sympathizers. Police said the suspects often posted ISIS propaganda on social media, urging others to join the cause.

• Audrey Davis, the daughter of musician David Bayu, faced further police questioning today over her alleged leaked sex tape. The police previously arrested two suspects accused of spreading the video, but people who feature in ostensibly private sexual content can also be prosecuted under Indonesia’s strict anti-pornography laws.

Business/Economy

EV Perks Here, No Hybrids

It’s well-established by now that electric vehicles (EV) are the darlings of the current administration, in that they receive tax breaks and other perks (exemption from Jakarta’s odd-even traffic rule comes to mind) that other vehicle types do not.

The government has reiterated its EV-or-nothing stance when it comes to such perks, with Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto stressing that EV privileges will not be extended towards hybrid vehicles despite the latter’s relatively low carbon footprint compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.

According to the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo), sales of full EVs in the first half of 2024 rose by 104% compared to the previous year, with 11,940 units sold nationwide. While that shows EVs are carving themselves a larger piece of the automotive market share pie, hybrids still outsold them during the same period. Gaikindo recorded 25,791 hybrid sales in the first half of 2024, up 49% from the previous year.

For that reason, Airlangga said the government is still keen on pushing EV sales even further, particularly as Indonesia has set its sights on becoming an EV battery production hub in order to tap into its abundant nickel reserves.

President Joko Widodo, who today inaugurated the PT Indonesia BTR New Energy Material lithium battery production plant in Kendal, Central Java, expressed his pride in seeing his dream of a massive EV ecosystem in Indonesia taking shape under his presidency.

In Other News

• President Jokowi has appointed Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to lead a newly-formed task force to boost investments for the development of the new capital city Nusantara. This move comes amid numerous reports of the government being desperate for outside investors to continue funding the ambitious project.

• Speaking of ambitious, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing says a feasibility study is being conducted for the construction of an underwater highway connecting Nusantara and the city of Balikpapan. With an estimated cost of IDR 11 trillion, construction on the highway could begin in 2025.

• The Presidential Secretariat denied reports that the government has hired 1,000 cars for officials and state guests at the Independence Day ceremony in Nusantara on August 17. The office said only about 30 cars will be required for the event.

• Bali’s Tourism Agency has rejected the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association’s (Hipmi) suggestion for a casino to be built on the Island of Gods in order to boost its revenue. The agency said casinos do not conform with Bali’s focus on cultural tourism.

Everything Else

• Speed climber Veddriq Leonardo was momentarily the fastest man in the world (at least vertically) when he climbed 15 meters in 4.79 seconds at the 2024 Paris Olympics yesterday, tying the world record and crushing the Olympic record. Though Veddriq advanced to the quarterfinals, his records were broken on the same day when USA’s Sam Watson clocked in at 4.75 seconds.

• Bat-mansion? Officials are having to address suggestions from the public that the massive Garuda statue that’s the centerpiece of the Garuda presidential palace in Nusantara looks more like a bat than the mythical bird, partly due to the structure being all black. Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the metallic sculpture will eventually turn green due to oxidation — a green bat, then?