Reformasi Dispatch

The World Bank’s lead economist for Indonesia discusses poverty, growth, and tax reform with the Reformasi Dispatch podcast.  Habib Rab delves into the impacts that threaten to constrain future growth and highlights the importance of social welfare interventions to mitigate trends in poverty.  He also underscores the importance of competitiveness and a multi-pronged approach to enhancing tax colle...

The Griffith University epidemiologist Dicky Budiman tells Reformasi Dispatch podcast that testing, tracing, and isolation matter more than ever -- and he assesses Sinovac's efficacy and the value of a Paxlovid shipment that arrived in Indonesia.  Also: Jeff and Kevin look at the fallout from the coal export ban and Prabowo Subianto's latest double-edged political overture. Get a free tr...

Momentum is building for progress on addressing sexual violence against women, children and the disabled.  Reformasi Dispatch speaks with Willy Aditya, a legislator heading the parliamentary working committee that appears to be on the verge of a breakthrough for a long-awaited Bill on Sexual Assault Crimes.  Also: Widodo makes an assertive start to 2022 -- banning coal exports, cancelling mine per...

Reformasi Dispatch speaks with Willy Aditya, a legislator heading the parliamentary working committee that appears to be on the verge of a breakthrough for a long-awaited Bill on Sexual Assault Crimes. This is the unabridged interview conducted in Indonesian. Get a free trial of Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/reformasifree Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi It takes a lot of...

American Chamber of Commerce head Lin Neumann joins the podcast to discuss the impacts of the Constitutional Court's ruling on the landmark economic reform package of the Widodo administration, the 'Jobs Omnibus', and the outlook for investment.  Also: new natural disasters test response efforts and Natuna Sea tensions escalate. Get a free trial of Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at: ht...

The Eurasia Group’s South and Southeast Asia analyst joins Reformasi Dispatch to examine the preparations and reactions of regional governments to the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid 19.  Depending on scenarios for the new variant’s levels of transmission and mortality, Peter looks at the political and economic capacity of ASEAN countries to weather another potential wave of infections....

Justices demanded corrections to the Omnibus Law on Job Creation - but Jeff and Kevin discuss how this may actually be a win for President Widodo and conditions for investment in manufacturing.  Also: preparations for the inevitable arrival of the Omicron variant.  And Murdoch University's Ian Wilson joins the pod to assess the state of the paramilitary-style gang Pemuda Pancasila in the wake...

This episode of the Reformasi Dispatch Podcast honors the departed Jakarta-based journalist Joe Cochrane, who covered Indonesia with inimitable style for over 20 years.  Also: will fisheries reform flounder?  And a roundup of key cabinet‑reshuffle scenarios and the energy minister’s latest pronouncements about transition from coal.  Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi It takes a lot of money...

Gecko Project investigators Margareth Aritonang and Tom Johnson join Reformasi Dispatch to detail Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto’s policy to clear forest for cassava plantations in Gunung Mas District, Central Kalimantan.  The team examines the corporate structure, commercial aspects, potential conflicts of interest, and risks posed for Indonesia’s credibility on resource management.  Also: Kev...

Former Solo Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo, a confidante of the president, brazenly defied PDI¬-Perjuangan Chair Megawati and openly endorsed Central Java Gov Ganjar Pranowo for president.  Will this finally bring the internal PDI-P impasse to an end and give impetus to nominating maneuvers?  In any event, circumstances confer an advantage on Ganjar.  Plus: the implications of state funding for the Indone...

CrossAsean equity analyst Angus Mackintosh rejoins Reformasi Dispatch to review Grab's IPO preparations, machinations among tech giants and digital trends in the Indonesian market (including an e-grocery boom).  Jeff and Kevin have a look at three abrupt developments with positive implications: a continued dwindling of Covid case detections, a swiftly passed tax law, and poll momentum for Cen...

Strategic rivalry finally engulfs ASEAN and Jakarta's policymakers must examine their choices.  Joining the pod is the National University of Singapore scholar Evan Laksmana.  Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss developments in three politically significant corruption cases, prospects for re-opening Bali, and acrimony between the administration and mainstream NGOs. Get a free trial of the Reformasi...

Policymakers seem exceedingly slow to embrace the mounting advantages of photo-voltaic technology for Indonesia's pressing energy needs.  The head of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) details the compelling logic for supplanting coal with solar power.  Also: the Aukus pact directly benefits Indonesia by helping ward off one-power hegemony. Plus: prospects for a limited cabine...

The head of Indonesia’s premier institute on infectious disease joins the pod to explain the Merah Putih Vaccine program and discuss prospects for subsequent waves of infections.  Covid related topics include clinical trials, boosters, genome sequencing work, and new variants.  Also:  Amnesty amnesia?  Prone to confusion, new tax compliance initiatives could go awry.  Jeff and Kevin also discuss t...

HSBC’s regional economist for Asean joins the pod to look at how Indonesia can preserve confidence and restore fiscal prudence despite having extended its extraordinary debt financing through 2022.  Apropos the matter, Jeff and Kevin review developments in parliament’s 2007 General Tax Law revision, which business interests are resisting.  Also discussed: what the acquittal of the coal tycoon Sami...

.Also: Prof Noor Ismail on domestic terror networks.  Also discussed: PAN joins Widodo's alliance and the first of a two-part segment on extraordinary debt financing or 'burden sharing'. Get a free trial of the Reformasi Weekly Service at: https://bit.ly/reformasifree Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for ho...

A renewed push to open Pandora’s box of amendments – potentially scuppering direct presidential elections – narrowly failed, for now.  Jeff and Kevin discuss the actors, aims, party stances, and ‘Trojan Horse’ stratagem.  Also:  an interview with  Aim Sinpeng of the University of Sydney regarding methods that online hate speech perpetrators use to evade platform controls.  Finally, a look at PDI-P...

 Jeff and Kevin discuss the new Charta Politika poll showing the Central Java head ahead of both other major potential contenders for president in 2024.  Ganjar Pranowo is the figure with momentum at present – as well as the most upside potential.  Given his gubernatorial record and his earnest approach to reform, the trend bodes well at an early stage of the momentous election process.  Also: the...

Margaret Barry, The Bali Children Foundation founder explains the struggles of schooling in disadvantaged communities amid the prolonged pandemic. Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss political machinations that persist despite the crisis conditions gripping the country. Get a free trial of the Reformasi Weekly Service at: https://bit.ly/reformasifree Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi It takes a lo...

Breakthrough deaths underscore a need for Coronavac efficacy data.  As cases tumble in Jakarta and western Java, most off Java provinces are spiking – Jeff and Kevin examine the trends.  Also: how governors have fared politically and the latest maneuvers of Maharani and Moeldoko.  And, a setback for geothermal energy?  Finally, a look at encouraging FDI growth.  Joining the pod from New Delhi is t...

Jeff and Kevin conduct a 30-minute interview in English with the leader of West Java’s 50 million residents on 23 July.  Gov Kamil provides a thorough overview of crisis conditions and describes measures to manage an acute shortage of healthcare personnel.  Also, the provincial government’s initiatives to extend telemedicine, free vitamins and drugs and basic social assistance for the poor.  The g...

Case detections are declining on a moving-average basis in Jakarta and, more recently, nationwide.  Jeff and Kevin discuss the trends and the restrictions outlook in light of a newly released study of antibody prevalence in Jakarta.  Also: findings from the Survey Institute (LSI) regarding President Widodo’s approval rating and public perceptions about vaccination.  Finally, CGM CIMB Securities He...

Bob Herrera Lim, Southeast Asia risk analyst for the consultancy Teneo, places Indonesia’s precipitous, unabated case spike in a regional context.  With the most vaccinated people per capita in the region (save Singapore), Indonesia poses a test for how well Sinovac’s Coronavac vaccine fares against the now predominant Delta variant.  And while a public health crisis in Malaysia precipitated the d...

With Java in the grip of a long-dreaded case spike fuelled by the Delta variant, the government is attempting to impose the strictest curbs applied to date.  Jeff and Kevin review the latest conditions and examine the implications.  Also: a round-up of political and justice issues including a test of free speech, charges for a former minister, the Omnibus’s first court test and the Chamber of Comm...

Several countries have higher daily caseloads, but Indonesia has the sharpest spike underway.  Many delta-driven transmissions may be going undetected, especially with patients queuing for beds in hospitals on Java.  Tighter restrictions take effect on 2 June, but should the president do more?  Jeff and Kevin discuss the pandemic with the University of Indonesia Professor of Epidemiology Dr. Pandu...