Hello reader,

Hypothetically speaking, who would you pick out of Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as Indonesia’s president in 2029? I think I know my pick.

That’s not just random musing on my part. The idea was floated by none other than President Prabowo, who appears to have the young politicians in his crystal ball. With the fickle nature of Indonesia’s political coalitions, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gibran and Agus become rivals eventually.

Until tomorrow!

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics 

• President Prabowo Subianto suggested that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming and newly-reelected Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) could compete in Indonesia’s political arena. Speaking at the closing of the Democratic Party congress in Jakarta yesterday, Prabowo pointed out that Gibran and AHY sat next to each other, hinting at a potential future rivalry. He noted AHY’s young age (45) and joked about the possibility of him becoming president one day.

• The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is uneasy about Vice President Gibran’s appearance at the retreat for newly-elected regional leaders today, with Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung appointed as the coordinator for PDI-P regional heads during the retreat, with the authority to adjust to any developments. This comes amid tensions between PDI-P and Gibran—who was kicked out of PDI-P after he ran against the party in the 2024 presidential election.

• The Constitutional Court (MK) has ordered a re-vote for the Papua gubernatorial election following a dispute over the election results. The ruling also disqualified candidate Yeremias Bisai from the race due to administrative violations regarding his residency documents. As a result, Papua’s General Election Commission (KPU) must annul previous decisions and conduct the re-vote within 180 days, using the same voter list. The new election will include candidate Matius Fakhiri and a replacement for Yeremias from the same political coalition.

• MK ruled that Villages and Regional Development Minister Yandri Susanto had improperly influenced the 2024 election in Serang, Banten by mobilizing village heads and using ministry resources to support his wife, Ratu Rachmatu Zakiyah. As a result, MK annulled Ratu’s victory, citing systematic violations. Yandri denied the allegations, arguing he lacked the influence to control all village heads and was merely an invited guest at a key meeting. He dismissed MK’s ruling as naïve, insisting he played no role in securing his wife's win.

• Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited the private residence of former Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Solo, Central Java. Mahathir recalled his first visit to the city during the funeral of former President Soeharto and said he had returned to pay respects at Soeharto’s grave. He emphasized that his meeting with Jokowi did not touch on politics, despite both having led their respective countries. 

Business/Economy

• Indonesia and Apple have reportedly reached an agreement to lift the ban on iPhone 16 sales in the country as early as this week. According to reports, the Ministry of Industry will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with Apple and issue the necessary permits, following months of negotiations over local content requirements (TKDN). Apple pledged a US$1 billion investment, including initiatives to train Indonesians in R&D beyond its existing Apple Academy. While this marks a win for the government, Apple has no immediate plans to manufacture iPhones in Indonesia, and the deal's finalization remains uncertain.

• Pertamina reiterated that its supply of Pertamax fuel is not "oplosan" (adulterated fuel), clarifying that the fuel meets RON 92 standards and undergoes regular quality checks by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The controversy arose after the Attorney General’s Office named several Pertamina officials as suspects in a corruption case involving the purchase of RON 92 fuel, alleging that cheaper RON 90 fuel was blended to meet Pertamax standards.

• The National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) stated that consumers have the right to sue Pertamina and seek compensation if Pertamax is proven to be adulterated Pertalite. BPKN Chairman Mufti Mubarok emphasized that under consumer protection laws, affected consumers can file a collective lawsuit, as they were misled into paying for RON 92 Pertamax while receiving lower-grade RON 90 Pertalite. BPKN plans to summon Pertamina’s CEO for clarification and conduct independent fuel testing at gas stations, while also collaborating with government agencies to address consumer complaints and ensure transparency.

• President Prabowo inaugurated Indonesia’s first Bullion Bank today, which will be managed by PT Pegadaian and Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI). The bank aims to strengthen the national gold ecosystem, facilitate long-term financing for Hajj pilgrims, and store domestically produced gold that was previously exported to Singapore. The launch coincides with the issuance of OJK Regulation No. 17/2024, which sets guidelines for financial institutions involved in bullion-related activities, including gold deposits, financing, trading, and safekeeping, while ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering and consumer protection regulations.

• Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Special Presidential Envoy and younger brother of President Prabowo, revealed that the newly launched Danantara sovereign wealth fund was originally conceived by their father, former Finance Minister Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, over 40 years ago. Hashim described the establishment of Danantara as an emotional moment, as the idea—once dismissed by past governments—has finally materialized under Prabowo’s leadership.  

Everything Else

• Indonesia is gearing up for the 2025 Lebaran homecoming (mudik), with over 100 million people expected to travel domestically between March 28-30. To manage the surge, the National Police will run “Operation Ketupat,” referring to the rice cake dish traditionally served during Lebaran, from March 26 to April 8, implementing traffic control measures on the country’s busiest roads.