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Hello reader,

Trump’s gone and done it again, hasn’t he?

More on his re-election in the business section below. But first, we’re staying on domestic matters of insanity with the arrest of rice farmer-turned-TikTok star Gunawan Sadbor. What has he done other than provide entertainment with his harmless dancing?

Let’s get right into it.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• Gunawan Sadbor is a rice farmer from Sukabumi, West Java who recently found fame and fortune from his trademark dance on TikTok. He was arrested recently for allegedly promoting an online gambling website during a live stream. According to the police, Sadbor received virtual gifts from the website while he was live streaming, which he accepted. That video was then reposted by the website on its TikTok account, which also implicated Sadbor in the criminal offense of promoting online gambling. For that, Sadbor is looking at up to 10 years in prison.

• Amid accusations of the authorities’ double standards when it comes to cracking down on online gambling promotion, particularly as numerous celebrities have done worse than Sadbor, the Jakarta Metro Police say they are looking into reports that celebrity/lawmaker Denny Cagur also promoted a gambling website. Denny told reporters today that the promotional content was made before he became a member of parliament, and that he had already told the police in a prior investigation that he wasn’t aware that he was promoting a gambling website.

• South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor has reportedly gone AWOL after being named a suspect in a bribery case. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says they are intensifying their search within Indonesia, as they believe the politician has not left the country. Sahbirin has been accused of receiving kickbacks from numerous construction projects in the province.

• A rideshare driver in Medan, North Sumatra was allegedly attacked and murdered by a passenger, who slit his throat before running away with his car early Monday morning. Police are now hunting the suspect, whose whereabouts is unknown.

• Police ruled that there was no foul play involved in the death of a domestic worker in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, whose body was found inside a water tank on October 24. Police say autopsy results showed that the 64-year-old victim fainted and then died in the tank, presumably as she was cleaning it.

• Syakir Sulaiman, a former player of the Indonesian U-23 national football team, was arrested in Cianjur, West Java for involvement in drug trafficking. During his arrest, police seized nearly 3,000 opioid pills, which he had been pushing for around two years. Now 32, Syakir is looking at 12 years in prison and a fine of IDR 5 billion.  

Business/Economy

• As Trump is all but set for re-election (he’s already claimed victory at the time of writing), Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo said he expects pressure on the rupiah, which slid 0.7% to IDR 15,840 per US dollar today. Furthermore, Perry expects pressure on capital inflows and greater uncertainty in the financial market.

• BI reported a budgetary surplus of IDR 55.6 trillion up until September 2024, signaling a positive balance for the country’s financial position. This surplus is largely due to high yields from government-issued bonds (SBN) and foreign reserves.

• The National Economic Council (DEN) has highlighted that the key to improving the country’s GDP growth lies in boosting middle-class spending. The middle class is seen as a crucial economic driver, and encouraging domestic consumption through financial stimuli could help offset the challenges currently affecting Indonesia’s economy.

• Lion Air’s interim CEO Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan is reportedly being considered for the position of CEO at Garuda Indonesia, replacing Irfan Setiaputra. An extraordinary general meeting is scheduled for November 15 to potentially appoint a new CEO to steer the flag carrier towards profitability.

Everything Else

• The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has allocated IDR 16.4 billion for the relief efforts of those affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The funds are being used to assist evacuees—which number over 1,000—and help provide immediate assistance in the disaster zone. The eruption claimed 10 lives and caused significant structural damage.