Hello reader,

As someone who fills up his car not at Pertamina gas stations, I’ve been quite inconvenienced by the longer-than-usual lines ever since the state-owned oil and gas company’s major corruption scandal broke.

Can y’all please refill at Pertamina stations again, given that they have just conducted tests on the Pertamax fuel and found that it’s all up to spec? Thank you.

In all seriousness, I wouldn’t blame you if you’ve lost faith in Pertamina. Come, then, queue with me, but please stay on the side of your car’s fuel tank. We’re not savages.

Cheers,

Andra

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. Luckily, you can join 1,000,000+ early adopters reading The Rundown AI — the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.

Sign up to start learning.

Law/Politics  

• Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto confirmed that his wife and child evacuated to a hotel when severe flooding hit the city yesterday. He explained that the decision was made for their safety after floodwaters in his residential complex, Kemang Pratama, reached 600 cm in the early hours. Tri emphasized that he was not seeking luxury but simply a safe place so he could quickly rejoin residents the next morning. Meanwhile, his wife, Wiwiek, went viral in a video arriving at the hotel before later posting footage of herself on the ground assisting flood-affected residents.

• A viral video showing residents breaking a hole in the perimeter wall of Grand Galaxy housing in Bekasi, West Java sparked mixed narratives on social media. Amid severe flooding in the area, some claimed the action led to the wall’s collapse and flooding the surrounding neighborhoods. However, local police clarified that residents made the hole to reduce water levels and prevent the wall from collapsing. He dismissed claims that the act expanded the flooding as hoaxes, stating that both the residents and housing management resolved the matter amicably.

• A 53-year-old man in West Bandung, West Java expressed regret after being arrested for a gun-related road rage incident. The suspect was apprehended after blocking a Toyota Raize carrying three people, including his ex-girlfriend. Overcome with emotions upon seeing her two months after their breakup, he stopped the car and brandished a firearm he had owned for six years, claiming he only intended to scare her. Now, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

• A 19-year-old pickup truck driver has been charged for the death of Democratic Party Treasurer Renville Antonio in a traffic accident on Situbondo’s northern coastal highway on Feb 14. Riding a Harley-Davidson, Renville crashed into the pickup truck, whose driver police said failed to yield while turning and was driving without a license. He suffered severe injuries, including a broken leg and head trauma, with his helmet shattering on impact.

Business/Economy

• Allegations of adulterated Pertamax fuel continue to spark public concern amid a wider corruption investigation into Pertamina’s oil management. Pertamina CEO Simon Aloysius Mantiri today conducted surprise inspections at Jakarta gas stations, backed by independent testers TÜV Rheinland and Surveyor Indonesia, who confirmed the fuel's compliance with regulations. Meanwhile, the Indonesia Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) estimates state losses from Pertamina’s oil management corruption could reach IDR 968.5 trillion and has issued eight recommendations, including stricter recruitment, enhanced regulatory oversight, and the enactment of an Asset Confiscation Law to deter corruption and recover losses.

• The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has highlighted weakening domestic demand, reflected in declining vehicle, cement, and housing sales. While Indonesia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained controlled with a 0.76% inflation rate in January 2025 and core inflation at 2.26%, OJK noted a continued drop in car and motorcycle sales, cement consumption, and slowing housing price growth. On the supply side, Indonesia’s manufacturing PMI rose to 51.9, while the trade balance posted a solid US$3.45 billion surplus in January, up 71% year-on-year.

• The Bali provincial government has rejected electricity supply from outside the island, aiming to focus on developing rooftop solar power plants (PLTS). Governor Wayan Koster emphasized that relying on undersea cables poses risks, including potential sabotage, and reaffirmed Bali’s commitment to energy self-sufficiency using clean energy sources like gas and renewables. The plan includes integrating PLTS into government offices, businesses, hotels, schools, and public facilities. In collaboration with state utility company PLN, Bali will install 100 MW of rooftop solar in 2025, with a long-term goal of 500 MW.

• A damaged giant turtle statue at a town square in Sukabumi, West Java has sparked controversy due to claims that it was part of a IDR 15.6 billion project. While the local government clarified that the budget covered the entire park, the statue’s poor condition—revealing cardboard and bamboo inside—raised concerns. The contractor denied the statue—which they say actually cost around IDR 30 million—was made of cardboard, stating it was built with resin and fiberglass, and that the exposed materials were only for molding. They also attributed the damage to visitors climbing on it, accelerating wear and tear.

 Everything Else

• The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has begun weather modification today to prevent extreme flooding, prioritizing West Java as the most vulnerable area. BMKG Chief Dwikorita Karnawati explained that this technique aims to make rain fall before storm clouds reach high-risk zones, directing it over the sea or reservoirs to reduce flooding on land. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue until March 11, requiring ongoing vigilance.

• The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) is launching the “Child-Friendly Ramadan Movement” today, with one of its key initiatives being a "one-hour family time without gadgets." Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi stated that this program, developed in collaboration with six other ministries (because it’s so groundbreaking), aims to build children's character and will be implemented across all sectors of society. As part of the initiative, the ministry is promoting traditional games to encourage social interaction and strengthen national unity.

• The House of Representatives (DPR) has approved the naturalization of three footballers of Indonesian descent—Emil Audero, Dean James, and Joey Pelupessy—today. The approval aims to strengthen the Indonesian national team with experienced players ahead of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers later this month and the 2027 Asian Cup. Emil Audero, currently with Italian club Palermo, has played for Inter Milan and Juventus. Joey Pelupessy has extensive experience in European leagues, while Dean James, a left-back from Go Ahead Eagles, is expected to be a long-term asset for Indonesia. Indonesia has crunch matches coming up against Australia (March 20) and Bahrain (March 25).