Hello reader,

Writing today’s story highlight brought back a flood of Coconuts nostalgia for me, as we were unashamedly Susi Pudjiastuti stans when she was a minister.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear her name once again after she had all but left politics a few years ago. Read on below for a quick snapshot on who Susi is and why her possible return could shake up Indonesian politics.

Cheers,

Andra

Law/Politics

Susi Pudjiastuti Beckons for Jabar

Of President Joko Widodo’s cabinet ministers, there’s arguably none as memorable as Susi Pudjiastuti. The founder of Susi Air enjoyed somewhat of a rockstar reputation during her stint as Indonesia’s boat-sinking maritime affairs and fisheries minister.

Her maverick personality was a breath of fresh air in the often stage-managed nature of Indonesian politics. It’s also perhaps why we hadn’t heard much about her since she left Jokowi’s cabinet in 2019.

Now, Susi’s name is back in the limelight amid recent reports that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is eyeing her to run in the 2024 West Java (Jabar) gubernatorial election. Her nomination will surely energize that particular race, where the province’s former Governor Ridwan Kamil is hotly tipped to secure a second term.

Responding to the reports, Susi said that she would have to seek advice from PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, as well as, from the other side of the political divide, President Jokowi and Presiden-elect Prabowo Subianto.

If Susi agrees to run, then Jabar will be up there as the most hotly-contested regional election this year. Does she have what it takes to sink Ridwan Kamil’s sail?

In Other News

• The Foreign Affairs Ministry today revealed that 165 Indonesians are on death row worldwide, comprising 155 in Malaysia, three in Saudi Arabia, three in the UAE, three in Laos, and one in Vietnam. Most of the Indonesian convicts were found guilty of narcotics-related crimes.

• In a viral video, a young couple in a car was chased around the parking lot of a mall in Bandung, West Java after security guards noticed that the vehicle was “shaking.” Though public acts of indecency is ordinarily a crime punishable by up to two years and eight months in prison, no charges were pressed in this case given the pair’s status as minors. They do, however, have to pay for damages caused.

Business/Economy

• Bank Indonesia (BI) is projected to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 6.25% this month, following a similar decision in May. This move aims to ensure inflation stays within the target range of 1.5% to 3.5% and to bolster the stability of the rupiah amidst global economic uncertainties. 

• Indonesia's major telecom firms are in no rush to roll out 5G, citing lack of demand and high costs associated with the technology. Despite the global push towards 5G, local operators are focusing on optimizing existing 4G networks and addressing consumer needs, which remain centered around affordability and adequate service.

• The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) today spilled the tea on Indonesians’ gaji (salary): 40 million people earn less than IDR 5 million per month, and they tend to have more dependents in their households. On the flip side, 10 million Indonesians earn more than IDR 23 million per month, and they tend to have fewer dependents in their households.

• Shares of PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk (GOTO) plummeted to IDR 50, triggering the lower auto rejection (ARB) limit on Wednesday. This drastic decline follows a series of managerial changes and strategic uncertainties.

Everything Else

• Families of victims from the two Boeing 737 Max crashes, including the 189 killed on Lion Air flight JT-610 in October 2018, are demanding criminal prosecutions and a record US$24.8 billion fine against the aircraft manufacturer, labeling the incidents as "the deadliest corporate crime in US history." Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun recently apologized to Congress, acknowledging the company's mistakes in relation to manufacturing and safety, as well as retaliation against whistleblowers.

• A massive fire has engulfed around 8 hectares of the popular tourist area of Mount Bromo, East Java, with the cause yet to be determined. In September 2023, a pre-wedding photoshoot went horribly wrong as flares sparked a wildfire that eventually destroyed 989 hectares of Mount Bromo. The wedding organizer was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and slapped with a fine of IDR 3.5 billion.