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Hello reader,

In case you need a reminder, certain members of the DPR sparked the late August nationwide riots with their insensitive remarks and actions. Those deemed most responsible have been suspended by their parties, and now the DPR has handed down their own punishments for breaches of ethics.

Ahmad Sahroni received the harshest punishment among the bunch, with Nafa Urbach and Eko Patrio also penalized. Read on for a refresher on what they did or said, which angered a whole nation.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• The House of Representatives (DPR) Ethics Council (MKD) announced rulings for five suspended lawmakers: Adies Kadir, Nafa Urbach, Uya Kuya, Eko Patrio, and Ahmad Sahroni. Adies Kadir and Uya Kuya were cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated, while Nafa Urbach received a three-month suspension for her remarks defending an IDR 50 million housing allowance deemed insensitive amid economic hardship. Eko Patrio was suspended for four months for posting a defensive parody video after criticism of his dancing during the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session. The heaviest penalty, a six-month suspension, was given to Ahmad Sahroni for using the word tolol (idiots) in response to public criticism calling for the dissolution of the DPR. The MKD stressed that lawmakers must exercise greater sensitivity and prudence when speaking in public.

• The house of Judge Khamozaro Waruwu, who had previously requested that prosecutors summon North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution to testify in a corruption trial, caught fire in Medan yesterday. The blaze reportedly started in the judge’s home office while no one was inside, and authorities are still investigating the cause. Waruwu is presiding over a corruption case involving a road construction project linked to the North Sumatra Public Works Department and has questioned the legality of budget reallocations authorized under a gubernatorial regulation. The judge had emphasized equal treatment before the law and called for both the former provincial secretary and Bobby to appear in court to clarify the budget shifts.

• Following his sting operation arrest on Monday, Riau Governor Abdul Wahid has been named a suspect and detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly extorting officials at the provincial Public Works and Housing Agency. Investigators said Wahid, through his aides, demanded a so-called “jatah preman,” or illicit fee, from department heads in exchange for approving a 2025 budget increase. The scheme involved a 5 percent kickback worth around IDR 7 billion, of which about IDR 4 billion had already been handed over before KPK uncovered the operation in November. Wahid, seen wearing the KPK’s signature orange vest and handcuffs, allegedly threatened to demote or transfer officials who refused to pay. The KPK seized IDR 1.6 billion in cash during the raid and has charged Wahid and two associates under Indonesia’s anti-corruption law.

• Hamangkunagoro Sudibyo Rajaputra Narendra Mataram has officially ascended as the new King of the Surakarta Palace, succeeding his late father, Pakubuwono XIII, following a solemn ceremony today. The declaration took place during the royal funeral at the palace courtyard, where Hamangkunagoro delivered a farewell speech in Javanese before pledging his oath as Pakubuwono XIV. Palace representatives confirmed that the oath, made before his father’s casket, was a traditional act of respect symbolizing continuity of leadership.

• Police have conducted a crime scene investigation into the death of a 13-year-old student who allegedly fell from the eighth floor of an international school building in Gading Serpong, Tangerang. The investigation began this morning and revealed that the incident likely occurred on Monday. CCTV footage showing the student’s movements before the fall has been secured but not yet released, as the case remains under investigation. The victim was still alive when found but later died at the hospital.

Business/Economy

• Indonesia’s economy grew 5.04% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, according to the National Statistics Agency (BPS), supported mainly by strong household consumption and exports, despite slowing investment and government spending. The country’s GDP reached IDR 6,060 trillion in current prices and IDR 3,444.8 trillion in constant prices. The result surpassed analysts’ median forecast of 5%, showing resilience amid global uncertainty. Consumption remained solid at 5% growth, helped by controlled inflation and rising retail sales, while exports rose 11% despite weaker global trade. However, investment growth slowed to 4.5% from 7% in the previous quarter, and government spending contracted by 2.5%, signaling a cautious fiscal stance.

• Speaking of household consumption, BPS reported that average real expenditure per capita in 2025 reached IDR 12.8 million per year, representing an increase of IDR 461,000 from 2024. The data, adjusted to 2021 constant prices, reflects stronger purchasing power among Indonesians. Jakarta remains the region with the highest spending at IDR 20.67 million per person annually, followed by Riau Islands, Yogyakarta, and Bali. Meanwhile, Papua Pegunungan recorded the lowest at IDR 5.86 million, highlighting the persistent gap in regional economic well-being across the archipelago.

• Still with BPS, the agency reported that Indonesia’s unemployment rate continued to decline. As of August 2025, 7.46 million people, or 4.85% of the labor force, were unemployed, marking a drop of 0.06 percentage points, or roughly 4,092 people, from a year earlier. The labor participation rate stood at 70.59%, with 154 million of the 218 million working-age population in the labor force. BPS noted steady improvement since the pandemic peak in 2020, when unemployment reached 7.07%. The gap between male and female unemployment has narrowed slightly, and urban unemployment remains higher (5.75%) than in rural areas (3.47%). Agriculture, trade, and manufacturing continue to dominate Indonesia’s employment landscape.

• E-commerce company Blibli has laid off 270 employees as part of an organizational restructuring completed in October. The move, confirmed in a disclosure to the stock exchange, aims to strengthen the company’s business fundamentals and ensure sustainable growth. Blibli stated that affected workers would receive compensation packages in line with, and in some cases exceeding, Indonesian labor law requirements. Management claimed that the layoffs would not have a material impact on operations, finances, or legal standing, adding that the adjustment is expected to reduce operating costs and improve long-term performance.

• Indonesia has taken an IDR 5.8 trillion loan from Spain to fund the Maritime and Fisheries Integrated Surveillance System (MFISS) project under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). The project includes building ten patrol vessels, establishing an integrated maritime monitoring system, and procuring drones for aerial surveillance to improve command and control coordination between central and regional offices. Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the initiative aims to enhance marine surveillance effectiveness, increase non-tax state revenue, protect local fishermen from illegal fishing, and strengthen the sustainability of Indonesia’s fishery resources. Four of the vessels will be built in Spain, while the rest will be constructed domestically, with project completion targeted for 2028.

Everything Else

• Bahasa Indonesia was officially recognized as a working language at the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti delivered Indonesia’s national statement, thanking member countries for their support and highlighting the nation’s efforts to promote open science and ethical artificial intelligence. He emphasized that Bahasa Indonesia, spoken by over 1,300 ethnic groups across the archipelago, now serves as a bridge of knowledge among nations.

• Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir said five names are currently being considered for the next head coach of Indonesia’s national football team, following the departure of Patrick Kluivert. While five candidates remain in the running, Erick noted that the list could still change as some have not confirmed their availability. The chosen coach will be tasked with preparing the team for next year’s FIFA Matchday schedule and long-term tournaments such as the 2027 Asian Cup and 2030 World Cup qualifiers.