The 2019 election has ended but the discourse of “election fraud” in Indonesia remains foggy and tends to shun away from the statistical elements that makes up the election itself. The Constitutional Court rejected Prabowo’s challenge to the 2019 presidential election results when he complained of “structural, systematic and massive electoral fraud”, but what does that standard even mean? Why does It matter in a large-scale election like Indonesia’s? How do you actually manipulate the voter list? Ultimately, we ask: what does one need to do in order to rig an election? In this episode, we dive deep into this issue with Seth Sorderborg, an expert on Indonesian elections and a Ph.D candidate in political science at Harvard University.
Read MoreA wave of optimism flowed over Myanmar in 2010 when the military leadership began the slow process of opening up the country and implementing both economic and democratic reforms. At the same time, the government began new efforts to establish peace with more than a dozen armed ethnic minority groups. This was followed by historic general elections in 2015 and a new government. International leaders lifted sanctions on the country and competed with each other to meet the defacto leader and face of the democratic movement, Aung San Suu Kyi. Now, peace negotiations have stalled, reports of genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Rohingya have gone unanswered. What are the major obstacles for the peace negotiations? What might the upcoming election results in 2020 look like? What’s the latest situation with the Rohingya crisis? We discuss these issues and much more with the former Myanmar deputy minister of information and presidential spokesperson, Colonel (ret.) U Ye Htut.
Read MorePresidential contender, Prabowo Subianto and his political coalition, rejected the official presidential election results announced by the General Election Commission (KPU) and filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court citing that “structural, systematic and massive electoral fraud” occurred. His challenge received quite a bit of attention in both the local/international media and by political observers who believed that such a move could escalate political tensions and could divide the country. Despite the hype, media attention and fears of polarization, Prabowo’s decision to appeal the presidential election results in the Court is actually the norm not the exception. Shawn and Tanita shed light on how many of the same political players in power today made the same claims in past elections when outcomes were less than favorable.
Read MoreWe start with this question: Are there alternatives for borrowers to take loans safely without resorting to predatory loan sharks? But our quest to seek answers reveal how complicated Indonesians’ relationship with loans are. The obstacles with financial inclusivity in the conventional system and the growing online loan services clearly complicate the deeply-rooted loan culture among Indonesians. Join us in this episode with Dr. Chaikal Nuryakin from the Institute for Economic and Social Research at the University of Indonesia (LPEM UI) and Gede Putra Arsana from World Bank, Indonesia.
Read MoreJusuf Kalla is known as prominent businessman turned veteran politician, serving two five-year terms as vice president for two different presidents. He was the critical figure in mediating peace in Aceh along with conflicts in Poso and Ambon and has been called “the peacemaker”. He was also tasked with running the country’s economy during Yudhoyono’s first term. As he is about to complete his second five-year term as vice president, we take a look on his thoughts, insights and legacy regarding Indonesia's progress in the election, the economy, politics and international affairs.
Read MoreAlthough ASEAN has been under fire for its powerlessness in the face of several human rights atrocities such as attacks on Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar, internal ASEAN officials, some of whom have lengthy human rights activism experience, remain optimistic that the association can be a force for good. Join us for a discussion with the Indonesian Representative of the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR), Yuyun Wahyuningrum.
Read MoreWhat is wrong with foreign media’s portrayal to a Muslim figure who calls out other Muslims? How could it be harmful? Join us with Sakdiyah Ma’ruf, a brilliant stand-up comedian who gained international recognition for her stand against Islamic fundamentalism and extremism. In this episode, she reflects on her fear of misrepresentation, the actual rise of conservatism in Indonesia, complicated upbringing that influence her stances and untangling her thoughts on the complexities of these issues.
Read MoreDespite its importance, not a lot has been discussed about the upcoming legislative election that will take place at the same day with the presidential election. The legislative election this year is going to be tougher as changes in various regulations influence how political parties behave. What’s the relationship between the presidential candidates and their coalition parties? Will political parties benefit from a “coattail effect”? Will we see the end of some old and popular parties this year? Stay tune in this space as we pick on Djayadi Hanan’s insights again on this issue.
Read MoreThe Indonesian Election Committee (KPU) will conduct the first official presidential debate on the January 17 and discuss pressing subjects such as legal affairs, human rights, corruption, and terrorism. How impactful will this debate be compared to the one in the 2014 election? Can this resolve the current flow of unsubstantial or sensational news relating to the candidates and the election?
Read MoreHow do everyday Indonesian youths express their nationalism and how do they reconcile it with their interests? This episode is transporting you to the mind and works of Alffy Rev, the man behind the electronic remixes of Indonesian national songs and even the national anthem. Here is his story exclusively for Indonesia in-depth podcast.
Read MoreIndonesian officials hope new policies can expedite growth for its digital economy. The government is preparing to finalize the revision to a controversial regulation (GR82/2012) which is viewed as overprotective and inflexible data regime. We breakdown all the essential changes that will impact how data is managed and processed and which data can flow outside Indonesia’s borders.
Read MoreAfter a wave of data privacy scandals hitting Facebook, Google and Starwood, the government plans to introduce the Data Privacy Bill to parliament with hopes it will be passed in mid 2019 We discuss all the key points of the bill with the man behind the bill, Director General Samuel Abrijani.
Read MoreAfter 20 years as a senior executive with multinational corporations across Southeast Asia, Miss Shanti Shamdasani is running for seat in parliament. She hopes to bring her values and lessons learned to the Lower House. She talks to us about the difficulties of staying “clean” and not “paying to play” on the campaign trail, her thoughts on how to improve the e-commerce sector and her stance on the latest Indonesia-Australia Free Trade Deal.
Read MoreWe discuss important issues involving Indonesia’s technology sector, namely data privacy, data centers and streaming services with senior Golkar lawmaker Satya Yudha. The government will soon submit a new data privacy bill to the House. This is an important bill. We provide you the details and talk about how it will impact both consumers and tech companies.
Read MoreWe sit down Dr. Mohammad Mova Al’Afghani to discuss the 2018 Water Bill being deliberated by the House. This is a crucial bill and as the current draft stands, it would have a wide impact on the businesses as well as on local communities. This bill involves a lot more than just water and we break down all the key aspects that you need to know.
Read MoreWe respond to feedback from listeners and answer some of their questions about bills in parliament such as the Data Privacy Protection Bill, Water Bill and Food and Drug Bill. I also talk about what happens if one of the candidates withdraws from the 2019 presidential election.
Read MoreIn recent episodes, we have covered the run up to the 2019 presidential campaign and the political negotiations that have been involved, particularly the coalition building between political parties. We also discussed how parties are scrambling to form coalitions to meet presidential thresholds. But why do they even need coalitions and what’s all the fuss about?
Read MoreDespite what the news headlines state, Widodo has yet to decide who will be his next VP candidate. It’s becoming more and more likely that President Widodo’s next vice presidential candidate will not come from a political party but rather be an outsider. We cover Widodo's expectations and negotiations with his coalition partners and Vice President Kalla's efforts to run for a third term as VP.
Read MoreE16: We focus on the latest developments involving the controversial hardline Islamic association known as the "212 Alumni". This group was instrumental in the campaign against the former Jakarta governor Basuki Purnama or Ahok in 2017. The 212 Alumni is making headlines once again as they hope to play a another role in a new coalition to challenge President Widodo’s re-election run in 2019. We discussed a variety of topics such as, the controversial cleric Habib Rizieq, the use of identity politics, the 212 groups view of Widodo, and how 212 intends to play a role in the upcoming presidential elections in 2019.
Read MoreThe lack of clarity of who will be Widodo’s next vice presidential candidate has caused internal friction inside the Golkar party. This situation has left several senior party members questioning Widodo’s loyalty to his closest ally. Widodo’s key coalition member has become divided on whether to fully back the president for a second term as the president eyes other candidates besides Golkar chairman, Airlangga Hartarto.
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