The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) is investigating allegations of corruption in the administration and distribution of hajj quotas at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, involving former Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, with estimated state losses of 622 billion rupiah. Investigators are tracing the flow of illicit funds, which allegedly were diverted for personal interests and potential bribery of the Special Committee on Hajj in parliament. Yaqut has been detained for 20 days pending investigation, alongside former Special Staff Isfan Abidal Aziz, as prosecutors allege irregularities in the distribution of 20,000 additional hajj quotas violated regulations.

Daddy Rohanady, a West Java Regional Representative Council member, has warned that employee spending in the provincial budget has reached 29.7 per cent of the total regional budget, approaching the legally mandated 30 per cent ceiling and necessitating caution in hiring additional civil servants. The legislator emphasised that whilst employee recruitment could continue if the overall budget increases, declining regional revenues could place severe strain on finances, and called for stronger regional fiscal management and reduced reliance on central government transfers and debt financing.

The National Zakat Board (Baznas) has provided free healthcare services to 65 people, including children with disabilities attending a religious training programme at the Islamic Preaching Centre in Bandung. The two-day initiative, delivered through Baznas's network of 38 health facilities nationwide, aims to ensure vulnerable groups have equitable access to medical care funded by zakat donations.

The Indonesian government has disbursed Rp 147.7 trillion in transfer funds to regional governments (TKD) as of the end of February 2026, representing an 8.1 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025. The funds support public services including education programmes and disaster relief for affected regions in Sumatera, with Rp 10.65 trillion allocated as additional assistance to Aceh, North Sumatera, and West Sumatera.

The Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) has conducted a hybrid awareness campaign with Indonesian trade representatives in 33 countries regarding mandatory halal certification implementation set to commence on 18 October 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen Indonesia's halal certification system as a key component of national economic strategy and global halal industry development, particularly in the food and beverage sector.

President Prabowo Subianto is preparing a presidential instruction (Inpres) and presidential decision (Keppres) to protect Sumatran and Bornean elephant populations and their habitats through conservation corridors and habitat preservation zones. The government will also establish a task force to develop innovative sustainable financing models for national park management, including support for human-wildlife conflict mitigation in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung inaugurated a new Transjabodetabek route (SH2) from Blok M to Soekarno-Hatta Airport with an introductory fare of Rp3,500 for three months, after which fares will increase to between Rp10,000 and Rp15,000 to cover substantial operational costs. Despite the planned increase, the new route will remain significantly cheaper than competing transportation services such as Damri buses (Rp80,000) and taxi services (Rp200,000+).

Child psychologist Prof. Dr. Rose Mini Agoes Salim has cautioned that excessive use of devices and social media platforms can negatively impact adolescent behaviour, including triggering consumption-oriented impulses and limiting social skill development. She emphasises that social media algorithms expose young users repeatedly to content matching their interests, creating addictive patterns and discouraging critical thinking, whilst the ease of digital transactions encourages impulsive spending among adolescents without financial literacy.

The article argues that Indonesia's export sector, whilst maintaining a consistent trade surplus, faces structural fragility through dependence on commodity price fluctuations and limited SME participation at 15-16%. The author contends that the newly established Badan Pengelola Investasi Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) sovereign wealth fund represents potential transformative solutions through export credit insurance, integrated supply chain financing, and strategic warehousing investments to overcome persistent challenges in financing, logistics, and regulatory barriers.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo visited Merak Port in Banten to inspect preparations for the 2026 mudik (homebound travel) season, greeting travellers and distributing gifts to passengers and children. At a military assembly at the National Monument in Jakarta, General Sigit emphasised that solidarity and synergy among security personnel from the Indonesian Armed Forces, Police, and various ministries are crucial to ensuring safe travel during Operation Ketupat 2026.

The Head of the National Police Traffic Corps (Kakorlantas) General Agus Suryonugroho has launched a joint prayer ceremony for Operation Ketupat 2026, a national security and traffic management operation aimed at ensuring safe and smooth Eid homecoming travel. The operation, coordinated with multiple government agencies including the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Public Works, seeks to prevent both crime and traffic congestion whilst facilitating the sacred journey home during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Six children from Desa Leuwikaret in Bogor's Klapanunggal District walk for two hours each morning starting at 5:30 AM to reach school, traversing unpaved, waterlogged village roads. A viral video by resident Akim documenting their journey has prompted the Bogor Regent Council to investigate and commit to road repairs, with the council chairman pledging an inspection trip after Eid holidays to determine whether the access road falls under village or district authority.

Indonesia's police force has repeatedly faced scandals involving officers caught in drug cases, ranging from selling narcotics evidence to serving as couriers for drug traffickers. The head of Indonesia Police Watch emphasises that whilst violations cannot be eliminated entirely, strict sanctions including dismissal and criminal prosecution are essential to prevent normalisation of such offences within the police institution.

The West Jakarta District Prosecutor's Office (Kejari) has deposited 503 billion rupiah into state coffers following the conviction of Oei Hengky Wiryo for online gambling and money laundering offences. The case, which originated in 2024 from a suspicious financial transaction report by the Financial Intelligence Unit (PPATK), resulted in a final court ruling by the West Jakarta District Court on 11 February 2026, with the recovered funds now being transferred to the Ministry of Finance for state compensation.

A newly constructed 400-metre farm road built by the Indonesian military's TMMD initiative in Hambuku Hulu village, South Kalimantan, has transformed agricultural logistics for approximately 300 families dependent on over 125 hectares of rice paddies. The six-metre-wide road eliminates the previous need for farmers to trek long distances on muddy, flooded paths to transport their harvest, significantly improving crop distribution efficiency and agricultural productivity. The project symbolises rural development and economic opportunity for a community that has long struggled with difficult terrain and limited infrastructure access.

Two alternative routes in Bandung Regency—Cukang Monteng (Kamojang Ibun) Road and Cijapati Road—are popular among travellers heading home during the 2026 exodus period, despite poor lighting and steep gradients posing safety risks. Authorities from the Bandung Police Resort and the Transportation Department are intensifying monitoring and safety measures, including installing public street lighting and deploying additional personnel along these routes.

Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has officially opened a National Coordination Post for the energy sector to monitor and oversee supplies of fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and geological disaster information during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2026 (12-31 March). The government and state-owned energy company Pertamina have confirmed adequate national stocks of fuel and LPG, with petrol demand expected to rise 12 per cent and preparations including 7,885 fuel stations and 6,662 LPG agents on standby to serve increased holiday travel demand.

The Executive Director of ReforMiner Institute argues that Indonesia's 20-day fuel storage capacity is adequate and not indicative of future shortages, calling for public education to allay panic about fuel availability during religious holidays. He recommends the government increase national fuel storage capacity to match Australia's 50-day reserve and diversify import routes away from the Strait of Hormuz due to Middle Eastern tensions.

PT Wahana Interfood Nusantara Tbk (COCO), a cocoa and chocolate processing company, is preparing its third rights issue to raise capital by issuing up to 10.678 billion new shares with a nominal value of Rp100 per share. The company also plans to issue warrants alongside the rights issue, with the maximum warrant issuance capped at 35 per cent of the fully paid and placed shares under Financial Services Authority (OJK) regulations.

The Judicial Commission (KY) examined the inactive chief and vice-chief of Depok District Court on Friday 13 March in connection with alleged bribery in a land dispute case. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) praised the coordinated effort between institutions to maintain judicial integrity and prevent corruption in Indonesia's legal sector, emphasising that law enforcement and ethical oversight must work in tandem to protect public trust.

The Indonesian Army (TNI AD) has clarified that there is no disagreement with the Armed Forces Headquarters (Mabes TNI) regarding the implementation of Alert Status 1 across all TNI units, despite earlier statements by the Army Chief of Staff suggesting no such order had been issued. The clarification followed confusion after the Army initially indicated no alert status directive had been received, but later confirmed that Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto had issued the alert as an internal readiness exercise also aimed at securing the Eid al-Fitr period in coordination with police forces.

Residents of Bogor city have queued from the early morning hours over two consecutive days to exchange new banknotes at the city administration's Ramadan Festival 2026 event held at the City Library courtyard. The exchange programme, initially scheduled for three days from 12-14 March 2026, was disrupted on Thursday when a scuffle broke out and the mobile banking unit abruptly left, forcing residents to return on Friday to secure their allocation of 200 banknotes.

A researcher from Raksha Initiatives has raised concerns that a draft Presidential Regulation on the Indonesian military's (TNI) role in combating terrorism contains dangerously vague language that could permit broad interpretations, potentially classifying demonstrations as acts of terrorism threatening state ideology or sovereignty. The regulation lacks clear indicators for TNI deployment, adequate civilian oversight mechanisms, and detailed operational parameters, creating risks of military overreach in what should remain civilian policing matters.

Indonesia's palm oil exports have declined over the past five years despite a modest uptick in 2025, driven by stagnant domestic production and rising domestic consumption, according to the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI). Whilst exports to Africa, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan increased in 2025, shipments to India, the European Union, and the United States fell, reflecting global shifts in vegetable oil demand and economic headwinds.

A former technical analyst has testified in a Corruption Court hearing that ex-Education Minister Nadiem Makarim sought to transform Indonesia's education sector by creating dependency on technology, drawing an analogy to ride-hailing app dependency. The witness, Stefani Nadia Purnama, stated that Makarim intended to implement irreversible educational reforms through technological integration during his tenure. The testimony forms part of an ongoing corruption case involving alleged irregularities in Chromebook procurement that prosecutors claim caused Rp 2.1 trillion in state losses.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has disclosed that President Prabowo Subianto has stated Indonesia will withdraw from the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by US President Donald Trump, if the board deviates from its intended objectives. The government will adhere to Prabowo's position whilst remaining mindful of potential diplomatic consequences with the United States, though Kalla emphasised Indonesia's commitment to peace initiatives that align with Indonesian values, particularly regarding Palestinian peace and sovereignty.

The Melasti Ceremony, a Hindu purification ritual, will be held on 18 March 2026 ahead of Nyepi (Balinese New Year) on 19 March. Tourists wishing to witness the ceremony at Bali beaches are expected to adhere to respectful dress codes, including modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, with women encouraged to wear traditional kain and selendang and men wearing sarongs and udeng.

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered that Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of Maktour Travel hajj agency and chairman of the SATHU Forum, actively lobbied former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for an additional 8,000 pilgrims quota. The alleged corruption scheme involved charging pilgrims an acceleration fee of USD 5,000 per person to bypass the queue, resulting in an estimated state loss of Rp622 billion, with the KPK detaining Yaqut and his special staff until 31 March 2026.

Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) plans to engage private sector enterprises alongside PT Pertamina in developing oil storage facilities in Sumatra to increase the nation's strategic petroleum reserve capacity from the current 20-25 days to 90 days. The feasibility study is currently underway, with implementation targeted for 2025, addressing Indonesia's critical need for expanded fuel storage infrastructure.

More than 140 million Indonesians are expected to undertake the Idul Fitri homecoming journey this year, representing a major social phenomenon that extends beyond mere holiday travel. The government, including President Prabowo Subianto, has affirmed its responsibility to ensure safe and orderly mudik by preparing critical infrastructure and implementing intelligent transport systems for real-time traffic management. This annual migration demonstrates the state's capacity to serve its citizens whilst preserving the cultural and social bonds that connect urban centres with rural areas.

The price of PT Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk. gold bars declined to Rp 3,021,000 per gramme on Friday, 13 March 2026, a decrease of Rp 21,000 from the previous trading day. The buyback price for Antam gold stands at Rp 2,783,000 per gramme, with transactions exceeding Rp 10 million subject to income tax under Article 22.

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) reported that a 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Sintang District, West Kalimantan on Friday morning was caused by activity along the Adang Fault. The shallow earthquake, which occurred at 03.04 WIB, was felt with varying intensities across the region, with no reports of damage or tsunami potential.

Indonesian motivator and entrepreneur Jamil Azzaini has emphasised the critical role of the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs in safeguarding national identity and enabling citizens' rights. Speaking at the launch of the Clean Population Data for Semester II 2025, Azzaini highlighted that accurate population data serves as the foundation for government policymaking across education, healthcare, and electoral rights, with Indonesia's population now recorded at 288.3 million people.

PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk approved a cash dividend distribution of Rp13.03 trillion at its annual shareholders' meeting on 9 March 2026, equivalent to 65 percent of consolidated net profit. Shareholders will receive Rp349.41 per share, with the remaining 35 percent of net profit retained for business expansion and capital strengthening.

Jakarta's Transportation Office estimates that approximately 4 million residents will remain in the capital during the 2026 Eid exodus, whilst 6.6 million are expected to travel. The provincial government is preparing traffic management measures, including contra flow systems and odd-even vehicle restrictions, along with deploying over 2,000 personnel and equipment to manage congestion at tourist sites and shopping centres.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that Ishfah Abidal Aziz (Gus Alex), special staff to Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, directed a Religious Affairs subdirector to relax policy regarding T0 (new pilgrims who register but depart immediately for hajj). The directive led to a 2023 Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah decision relaxing T0 policy, part of a broader corruption investigation into the 2023-2024 hajj quota with alleged state losses exceeding Rp622 billion.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia's Purwokerto operational region has conducted a personnel deployment ceremony to ensure readiness for the 2026 Eid transport season, mobilising approximately 360 security personnel and coordinating with TNI and Polri forces. The initiative includes comprehensive safety checks on infrastructure, intensive monitoring of three high-risk sections prone to landslides and flooding, and heightened supervision of 188 level crossings throughout the region, with peak passenger traffic anticipated at around 13,000 travellers two days before Eid.

Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has forecast that the peak Eid holiday travel rush for 2026 will occur in two waves, on 15-16 March and 18-19 March respectively. The police anticipate 143.9 million people will travel during the Eid period, slightly down from 146.4 million in 2025, with authorities deploying 2,746 posts across the country to manage security and provide services.

Indonesia's Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Kejagung) has filed a cassation (appeal) against the acquittal of three defendants—former television crew member Tian Bahtiar, activist Adhiya Muzakki, and lawyer Junaedi Saibih—who were charged with obstructing law enforcement in three corruption cases involving tin commodities, palm oil exports, and sugar imports. The prosecutors argued that the judges failed to consider that the defendants' actions had an impact on the handling of the cases, citing similar obstruction cases that were previously proven under the old Criminal Procedure Code. The court had acquitted all three, ruling that their actions—journalism, social media posts, and seminars respectively—did not constitute criminal intent or unlawful conduct.

Paint manufacturer PT Avia Avian Tbk (AVIA) has received a dividend payment of approximately Rp7.998 billion from its subsidiary PT Tirtakencana Batamindo. The company reported strong 2025 financial performance with total revenue of Rp8.1 trillion (up 8.7% year-on-year) and net profit of Rp1.7 trillion, whilst also achieving an A+ sustainability rating from the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards.

Indonesian ride-hailing platforms Gojek and Grab have explained that supply shortages during Ramadan are driven by a surge in demand and reduced driver availability, as many drivers travel home for Eid celebrations. Gojek's Head of Driver Operations noted that peak ordering times have shifted earlier than usual, whilst weather conditions and traffic congestion further strain driver availability, with services expected to normalise during the first two weeks after Eid.

Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and former Indonesian deputy foreign minister, has called on US President Donald Trump to cease military provocations against Iran and stop being manipulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Whilst appreciating Trump's stated commitment to peace and his 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, Djalal condemned recent US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, warning that such actions destabilise the Middle East and contradict Trump's peace agenda, and urged the US president to prioritise diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts.

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has auctioned off seized assets from corruption cases, raising Rp 10.9 billion that will be channelled into the state treasury. The March 2026 auction saw 15 of 26 lots successfully sold, comprising both moveable assets such as vehicles and electronics, as well as immoveable property including land and buildings, with over 350 bidders participating. The KPK is planning the next auction phase for June 2026 as part of its ongoing asset recovery efforts.

Iranian-allied Shia militias across the Middle East have escalated attacks on Israel and American interests, marking a significant regional escalation. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched approximately 200 rockets at Israel in a single wave, whilst Iraqi Shia militias have increased strikes against US military bases and energy infrastructure, including drone attacks on the Majnoon oil field operated by US company KBR.

Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first official statement demanding that the United States close all military bases in the Middle East region immediately, warning that facilities would otherwise remain targets for Iranian attacks. The statement, delivered via Press TV, also reaffirmed Iran's commitment to keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and pledged continued military operations against US assets, whilst calling for national unity and cooperation with regional allied militias. Analysts note speculation about Khamenei's health after his statement was read by a news presenter rather than delivered directly, creating uncertainty about the leadership's stability amid ongoing regional conflict.

The Riau Regional Police (Polda) and Bulog jointly launched a Cheap Food Movement bazaar, distributing 23 tonnes of rice, cooking oil, and sugar to residents across Riau ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The initiative, benefiting over 2,350 people, aims to stabilise food prices and provide economic relief to low-income households during the festive period, with authorities maintaining strict market monitoring to prevent shortages.

Indonesia's Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto has underscored the critical role of universities in advancing agricultural value chain development through collaboration between higher education institutions, government, and industry. The Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Agriculture, the Indonesian Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and several universities have signed a joint agreement to strengthen research and innovation collaboration aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and enhancing Indonesia's global competitiveness.

Indonesia's government has reactivated the position of Kepala Staf Teritorial (Kaster), a military territorial command post that was abolished in 2001, drawing criticism from security experts who warn it could threaten civil liberties and resurrect the military's former dual function. Whilst some argue the reactivation is justified by increasingly complex security threats requiring better territorial coordination, observers stress the military must demonstrate transparency to prove it is not reverting to authoritarian practices of the past.

The leader of the PKB faction in Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has identified women's empowerment as a strategic key to breaking the cycle of violence against women and children in Indonesia. She emphasised that systematic and sustained prevention and protection efforts are required, involving cross-sectoral collaboration between government, state institutions, women's organisations, and media. Strategic steps include strengthening protection policies, improving access to gender equality education, economic empowerment of women, and community-based protection measures.

The Ministry of State Apparatus Reforms and Bureaucratic Reforms (KemenPANRB) has announced that the government is opening civil servant recruitment processes for new ministries and agencies established to support President Prabowo Subianto's priority programmes, including the National Nutrition Body (BGN) overseeing the Free Nutritious Meals programme. Unlike previous synchronised civil servant recruitment drives, recruitment for these new agencies will be flexible and tailored to institutional needs, with contractual PPPK positions (civil servants hired on fixed-term contracts) being a key avenue for sourcing professional personnel. The selection process will follow standard procedures including administrative screening and Computer Assisted Testing (CAT) through the State Personnel Board, with all Indonesian citizens eligible to apply provided they meet the specified qualifications and experience requirements.