Previous Day's Politics: Defence Minister on Alert Status and Presidential Envoys in State-Owned Enterprises
Jakarta — Several significant political developments unfolded, including Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin’s call for public reassurance regarding alert status, and President Prabowo’s plans to position special presidential envoys in various state-owned enterprises.
Defence Minister urges public not to worry about alert status
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin urged the public not to fear the military’s alert status, previously issued by the TNI. He emphasised that the alert status represents the TNI’s effort to protect the public and maintain security amid regional tensions.
“The public need not worry. What society actually needs is safety and comfort,” Sjafrie said whilst briefing journalists outside the Defence Ministry office in Central Jakarta on Thursday.
Prabowo to appoint Hashim to lead National Park Financing Task Force
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced that President Prabowo Subianto intends to appoint Hashim Djojohadikusumo as chair of the Task Force on Innovation in National Park Financing and Management. Raja Juli met with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday afternoon to discuss the task force’s establishment.
“In our brief meeting with President Prabowo, I discussed several matters. First, a presidential regulation and a presidential instruction will soon be issued. The presidential regulation concerns innovation in national park financing and management, which will be led by Mr Hashim Djojohadikusumo, with me as deputy chair,” Raja Juli told journalists at the palace.
Angkasa Pura temporarily halts Umrah flights due to Middle East conflict
Angkasa Pura Indonesia’s Minangkabau International Airport branch in Padang Pariaman District, West Sumatra, temporarily suspended charter aircraft flights for Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in response to ongoing regional conflict.
“From 3 to 18 March, charter aircraft will not operate,” said Angkasa Pura II General Manager Dony Subardono in Padang Pariaman District on Thursday.
However, the airport continues to facilitate the return and evacuation of Umrah pilgrims from West Sumatra currently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Recently, the organisation successfully repatriated pilgrims on 5 and 8 March 2025.
Parliament approves copyright law amendment as parliamentary initiative
The 16th Plenary Session of the 2025–2026 parliamentary term approved the draft law amending Law Number 28 of 2014 on Copyright as a parliamentary initiative. DPR Speaker Puan Maharani put the matter to vote in the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta on Thursday, with members present voting in favour.
The approval was reached after party faction representatives submitted their written positions on the draft law, which originated from parliamentary members’ initiative.
Prabowo plans to deploy special presidential envoys to oversee state-owned enterprises
President Prabowo Subianto intends to deploy special presidential envoys to oversee state-owned enterprises to strengthen monitoring of state companies entrusted with managing national wealth. The president believes strict oversight is essential to prevent leakage of state resources.
“I have appointed special presidential envoys, and I may later appoint special envoys for each state-owned enterprise we manage. We must oversee because this is the lifeblood of the Indonesian nation. If this lifeblood continues to leak, our nation will suffer,” President Prabowo said whilst delivering remarks at the first anniversary celebration of the Danantara Investment Management Agency at Wisma Danantara in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March.