Hello reader,

It looks like that nudge was accidental, after all. Or everybody has moved on, as President Prabowo has been very pally with President Erdoğan during the latter’s visit to Indonesia.

Much has been achieved between the two historically friendly nations, who inked 13 strategic investment deals (more on that below). All eyes have been on Indonesia x Türkiye over the past couple of days, and I’m using this opportunity to formally declare that I have opted to adopt the European/Asian country’s official spelling.

Here’s to our continued friendship. On a side note, could they perhaps send over some proper döner kebab chefs our way? I, for one, am not delighted by our watered down and sambaled up take on the iconic dish.

Until tomorrow!

Cheers,

Andra

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

Law/Politics 

• President Prabowo Subianto warmly welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a bilateral meeting in Bogor, calling him a "friend and brother" as Indonesia and Türkiye mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Notably, Erdoğan praised Indonesia’s firm stance on Palestine and expressed commitment to post-conflict reconstruction efforts as he reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Palestinian independence. Both nations have consistently opposed Israeli aggression, and are against US plans to relocate the people of Gaza.

• Police have arrested a Toyota Fortuner driver who stabbed a DAMRI bus driver at a gas station in Bandar Lampung, Lampung. The suspect is currently being questioned as authorities investigate the motive behind the attack on the victim, Arief Rahman. The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a fuel queue, went viral on social media. According to police, the altercation began after the suspect’s vehicle was scratched, leading to the violent confrontation.

• A 10-year-old boy in North Sumatra suffered severe burns after allegedly being scalded with hot water by his stepmother, an ASN (civil servant) who, ironically, works at the provincial Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning Agency (P3AKB). The incident, which occurred on January 21, 2025, went viral on social media, prompting an investigation by the provincial government. Authorities, under direct orders from the acting governor, are working to resolve the case swiftly to minimize psychological harm to the child.

• Six men posing as journalists were arrested in South Jakarta on February 7 for extorting a man by threatening to expose him after he checked out of a hotel. The suspects’ MO involved staking out hotels, following guests, and coercing them into paying large sums under the threat of viral exposure. The victim, SA (42), a private employee, was mistaken for a prosecutor and pressured to transfer IDR 30 million. Police tracked the suspects through CCTV footage and arrested them following an investigation. 

Business/Economy

• On the business side of Erdoğan’s Indonesia visit, the Turkish president expressed his support for President Prabowo’s plan to build 3 million affordable homes annually in Indonesia. In a joint statement, Türkiye committed to contributing through its construction firms, offering efficient and sustainable housing solutions. Erdogan also pledged support for Indonesia’s strategic infrastructure projects, including the development of the new capital, Nusantara. In total, Indonesia and Türkiye signed 13 strategic agreements, including a deal to establish a drone factory in Indonesia. The agreements span multiple sectors, including defense, trade, energy, education, health, and media.

• The Constitutional Court (MK) is another institution that is reeling from the government’s budget efficiency measures, revealing that it can only pay employee salaries and benefits up to May 2025. The court's budget was reduced by IDR 226.1 billion from an initial allocation of IDR 611.4 billion. To address the shortfall for June-December, MK is requesting IDR 189.2 billion in budget restoration, which includes funds for court operations and case handling.

• Meanwhile, the National Police has undergone a 16.26% budget cut of IDR 20.5 trillion from its initial 2025 allocation. Before the cut, the budget stood at IDR 126.6 trillion, with 46.95% allocated for personnel expenses, 26.91% for goods procurement, and 26.14% for capital expenditure. The budget has since been revised, with cuts applied to goods procurement (down IDR 6.6 trillion) and capital expenditure (now at IDR 19.1 trillion). Personnel expenses remain untouched at IDR 59.4 trillion.

• The government is stepping up its efforts to attract Apple’s supply chain investments, with Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani optimistic about catching up to Vietnam, which already hosts 34 Apple vendors. The first confirmed investment comes from Luxshare Precision Industry, which will build an AirTag factory in Batam, with discussions underway for two to three more vendors. Unlike direct Apple investments, these funds come through third-party suppliers, making the total investment appear smaller. Indonesia has yet to lift its iPhone 16 sales ban as Apple has not complied with the country’s local content requirement regulations. 

Everything Else

• Ramadan is just a couple of weeks away, with Muhammadiyah having already set the start of the holy month on March 1 and the first day of Eid al-Fitr on March 31. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) are waiting for the results of the Sidang Isbat (official moon-sighting meeting) on February 28 in order to determine the start date for Ramadan. The difference arises from the method used to determine the start of the Islamic month—Muhammadiyah relies solely on hisab (astronomical calculations), while the government and NU combine hisab with rukyat (direct moon observation).