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Migrants at Ciwandan Forced to Buy Boat Tickets from Touts

Migrants purchasing ferry tickets at Ciwandan Port in Banten are being forced to buy from ticket touts at inflated prices due to difficulties with the official payment application, paying double the official rate. The director of state ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry has urged the public to use the official online system, which has been available for six years, and warned of action against ticket touts operating at Merak and Ciwandan ports.

Mudik Update! National One-Way Traffic System to Be Implemented on 18 March

Indonesia's Traffic Police (Korlantas) will implement a nationwide one-way traffic system on Wednesday, 18 March during the peak of the mudik (exodus) period as part of Operation Ketupat 2026. The measure, to be applied between 10:00 and 12:00, aims to manage congestion on highways, with the first phase covering kilometres 70 to 236 of toll routes, expandable to 414 kilometres if needed. The decision to implement similar measures during the return traffic period has not yet been finalised, though current traffic conditions remain relatively manageable.

Ministry of Religious Affairs in Nagan Raya, Aceh prepares eight pilgrim-friendly mosques

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) in Nagan Raya District, Aceh, has designated eight mosques along the southern west coastal route to provide facilities for travellers during the Eid al-Fitr holiday period. The initiative aims to offer travellers comfort and rest stops whilst maintaining good prayer facilities and cleanliness standards across the designated locations.

Pertamina distributes 2,000 school supply packages in Jayapura

Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Papua Maluku distributed 2,000 school supply packages to primary school students, orphans, and disadvantaged children in Jayapura as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. The initiative, marking the first anniversary of Danantara's establishment, aims to support education in eastern Indonesia and ensure economic constraints do not hinder students' learning opportunities.

Gas Cylinder Explosion on KM Citra Anugrah in Selayar: Two Crew Members Die

A tragic explosion occurred aboard the Motor Vessel (KM) Citra Anugrah whilst docked at Rauf Rahman Benteng Port in Kepulauan Selayar Regency, South Sulawesi, on Monday 16 March, killing two crew members and injuring two others. Initial police investigation indicates the explosion originated from a 12-kilogramme liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, though further investigation is ongoing to determine whether additional factors contributed to the severe fire that destroyed much of the vessel's cargo destined for Bonerate Island ahead of Eid celebrations.

Maluku Police Distribute Free Rice to 1,000 Ambon Residents

The Maluku Regional Police distributed five tonnes of free rice in 5-kilogramme packages, along with sugar and cooking oil, to 1,000 low-income residents in Poka Village and surrounding areas of Ambon City as part of the national Police Affordable Food Movement. The initiative, led by Maluku Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto, was conducted simultaneously across Indonesia via video conference and aims to support food security and stabilise essential commodity prices whilst strengthening community relations with law enforcement.

New Phase in Hotel Sultan Execution Process

The Central Jakarta District Court has conducted a land verification (constatering) of the disputed Hotel Sultan property, measuring approximately 13.7 hectares across two former land rights certificates. The procedure is a critical step in executing the court's ruling, and officials express confidence that the long-standing land dispute will be resolved swiftly despite four pending appeals.

South Sulawesi Police on Alert After Discovery of 30 Kg of Cocaine in Selayar Waters

South Sulawesi police have heightened surveillance in Selayar Island waters following the discovery of 30 kilograms of cocaine washed ashore over the past three weeks. A citizen found an additional 1.158 kg package of cocaine on 16 March amongst beach debris, with authorities destroying 25 kg of the previously recovered drug. The National Narcotics Agency confirmed no circulation of cocaine has been detected in South Sulawesi, though similar seizures have been made in Bali.

Ahead of Eid 2026, Bank Indonesia Records 85.4 Per Cent Surge in New Currency Exchanges

Bank Indonesia reported a significant 85.4 per cent increase in new currency exchanges during the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2026 period, with over 1 million citizens exchanging money through official channels by mid-March. The central bank expanded its exchange service points to 9,294 locations from 5,202 the previous year and launched additional services at transport hubs to accommodate the heightened demand for small denomination notes used in holiday traditions and economic activities.

Ship KM Citra catches fire in Selayar with two fatalities

Two crew members of the Motor Ship (KM) Citra Anugrah died following injuries sustained when an explosion and fire erupted whilst the vessel was docked at Rauf Rahman Benteng Port in the Kepulauan Selayar Regency, South Sulawesi. Initial investigation suggests the explosion originated from a 12-kilogramme liquefied petroleum gas cylinder found in a split condition. Two other crew members survived with injuries ranging from a fractured leg to minor burns.

Measles Outbreak Returns: Cough, Runny Nose, and Rash May Be Early Symptoms

A measles outbreak is resurfacing in Indonesia, with health experts warning that cough, runny nose, and a distinctive rash on the back of the neck may indicate infection. Professor Irwanto from Universitas Airlangga emphasises that measles is a highly contagious disease with serious mortality risks, particularly among children and immunocompromised individuals, and urges parents to ensure children are vaccinated immediately and infected persons to isolate themselves from public spaces.

Trump's War on Iran Destabilises Global Order; Is International Law Paralysed?

President Donald Trump's military actions against Iran have triggered widespread debate amongst international law experts over whether the post-World War II global order can effectively constrain the world's most powerful nation. Trump has openly dismissed international law and the UN Charter, conducting unilateral attacks on sovereign states whilst middle-power nations like Canada, the UK, and France have proven unable to veto American policy despite resistance.

Coordinating Minister AHY: TOD is key to modern cities and affordable housing

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has emphasised that Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is essential for building modern cities whilst expanding access to affordable housing amid limited urban land. The government is developing housing on state assets from PT Kereta Api Indonesia, with a major project at Manggarai Station in Jakarta planned to include eight residential towers with approximately 2,200 units targeting low-income residents.

Constitutional Court Rules Law on Pension Payments for Senior State Officials Unconstitutional, Including Members of Parliament

Indonesia's Constitutional Court has declared Law No. 12 of 1980 on financial and administrative benefits for senior state officials unconstitutional unless amended within two years. The ruling specifically addresses lifetime pension benefits for former Members of Parliament and other state officials, requiring the government and parliament to reform the legislation whilst considering proportionality, accountability, institutional independence, and public participation in the legislative process.

Eid al-Fitr Coinciding with Nyepi: Muhammadiyah Urges Muslim Residents in Bali not to Hold Takbir Processions

Muhammadiyah's central leadership has officially set Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah for Friday, 20 March 2026, which coincides with the Hindu holy day of Nyepi. In response, Muhammadiyah's chairman has issued a special appeal urging Muslim residents and mosque officials in Bali to refrain from organising large-scale public religious activities, including takbir processions, to maintain interfaith harmony. The guidance emphasises religious moderation and mutual respect between Muslim and Hindu communities on the island.

Traffic Police Chief Reveals 28% of Vehicles Already Left Jakarta During Mudik Rush

The Indonesian National Police's Traffic Command (Kakorlantas) reports that 28% of an estimated 3.5 million vehicles have departed Jakarta on the fourth day of Operation Ketupat 2026, with peak exodus expected on 18 March when national one-way traffic measures will be implemented between 10:00 and 12:00. The police are implementing various traffic management strategies, including functional toll diversions across multiple toll routes (Japek South, Solo-Jogja, and Semarang-Bawen corridors) to manage the two-week holiday period from 13-25 March 2026.

Motorcyclists heading to Sumatra surge dramatically at Ciwandan Port before dawn prayers

Motorcycle traffic to Sumatra at Ciwandan Port in Cilegon, Banten surged significantly in the early morning hours of Tuesday 17 March, with queues expanding from one lane to three lanes between 23:00 and 02:00 as travellers rushed before dawn prayers. Official data showed 1,196 motorcycles with 1,902 passengers had transited through the port by early Tuesday morning, whilst the Transport Minister praised the improved operations compared to the previous year.

Hashim: Construction of 3 million houses to reduce stunting and tuberculosis

The chairman of the Housing Task Force and Presidential Special Envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo stated that the construction of 3 million houses is a strategic government initiative to address stunting and tuberculosis, which are exacerbated by unhealthy living conditions. Djojohadikusumo highlighted that Indonesia ranks second globally in tuberculosis prevalence after India, with the disease concentrated in densely populated slums with poor sanitation and inadequate ventilation. The housing programme is therefore framed as essential public health infrastructure to prevent disease and improve child development outcomes.

KPK Auction Anomaly: Ordinary Mobile Phones Sell for Nearly Rp 60 Million

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has identified an unusual bidding anomaly in its asset seizure auction, where two standard Oppo smartphones with a reserve price of Rp 75,000 sold for Rp 59.7 million. The KPK's Asset Tracking Director expressed concern about the extremely inflated winning bid and stated the commission is awaiting payment confirmation by 25 March, warning that the phones would be re-auctioned if payment is not made, citing a previous similar incident involving silk batik garments that sold for Rp 5 million only to be re-auctioned for Rp 2.5 million when the original winner defaulted.

Korlantas Polri Implements National One-Way System on 18 March

Indonesia's Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri) will implement a national one-way traffic system on 18 March between 10am and 12pm during the peak homecoming rush ahead of the 2026 Lebaran holiday. The measure, spanning from kilometre 70 to 236 on major highways and potentially extending to kilometre 414 if congestion persists, represents an expansion of previous traffic management schemes to control anticipated peak traffic flows.

Archive Statistics

290,463
Total Articles
1012
News Sources
1994-2026
Coverage Period