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Today's Headlines Corruption
On 6 June 2023 Indonesia Investments released the May 2023 edition of our monthly report. The report discusses key economic, political and social issues that impacted on Indonesia in the month of May 2023.
On 22 December 2020 Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced that several ministers in his Onward Indonesia Cabinet (in Indonesian: Kabinet Indonesia Maju) were replaced in order to improve the performance of the cabinet. This message was no surprise as rumors about an upcoming cabinet reshuffle had grown increasingly strong over the preceding week.
Quite similar to the events in Hong Kong – where protesters have been demonstrating for months to express their objection to an extradition bill that would have given more power to China (and considering protests did not stop when the Hong Kong government announced it suspended the controversial bill, the movement has morphed into something much larger) – there have been several straight days of protests in Indonesia, especially in the bigger cities on Java and Sumatra.
On Monday (08/04) Indonesia Investments released the March 2019 edition of its monthly research report. The report aims to inform the reader of the key political, economic and social developments that occurred in Indonesia in the month of March 2019 and also touches upon key international developments that impacted on the Indonesian economy.
The local government of West Java said it is currently busy compiling all data related to the Lippo Group's ambitious Meikarta project. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said thorough investigation will then be done - based on the data - to decide whether the grand property project can resume or whether there are matters that need to be fixed.
While the central government of Indonesia is eager to improve the nation's investment climate, the Anti-Bribery Commission of Japan (ABCJ) reported a number of illegal charges that were requested by Indonesian government officials or civil servants from Japanese companies that operate in Indonesia. Such cases of corruption damage the attractiveness of Indonesia's investment climate.
Setya Novanto, the Chairman of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR), has been named as suspect in a corruption case by the country's corruption watchdog Corruption Eradication Commission (in Indonesian: Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi, or KPK). The case involves the large-scale procurement project for the electronic identity card or e-ID card.
Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, announced it has forced the shutdown of a total of 455 illegal money changers - across Indonesia - by May 2017. These illegal money changers also include many gold shops and travel agents where people can change rupiah for foreign exchange (and vice versa).
During the last couple of years of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)'s second cabinet (2009-2014) there erupted a number of high profile corruption cases that involved several of his ministers as well as leading figures in his Democratic Party (in Indonesian: Partai Demokrat, abbreviated as PD). As a result, the PD party dropped significantly in the 2014 parliamentary election (this loss was also caused by the inability of SBY to find a new charismatic leader for the party, while SBY himself could not participate in the 2014 presidential election as he was finishing his final presidential term).
Indonesia's Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), the country's anti-monopoly agency, penalized Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing (YIMM) and Astra Honda Motor (AHM) for forming a cartel with the purpose of conducting price-fixing and curtailing the distribution of Yamaha and Honda motorcycle sales in Indonesia, specifically those motorcycles with an engine capacity of 110-125 cubic centimeters.
Latest Columns Corruption
At 14:00 pm local Jakarta time zone, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi) is expected to announce its decision on Prabowo Subianto’s election result challenge. The defeated presidential candidate filed a court case claiming that massive fraud and violations took place amid the voting and counting processes in the context of Indonesia’s July 2014 presidential election, won by Joko Widodo (securing 53.15 percent of the votes). Although the court’s decision is final and legally binding, Subianto not expected to surrender yet.
Former Deputy Governor of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) Budi Mulya was sentenced to ten years imprisonment and a fine of IDR 500 million on Wednesday (16/07) after being found guilty of self-enrichment and corruption in connection to the government's USD $573 million bailout package for Bank Century in 2008 when, amid the global financial crisis, this bank was on the brink of collapse. However, many disagree that Bank Century was about to collapse as no deep analysis had been conducted on the financial condition of the bank.
On Tuesday (29/04), Jakarta's Anti-Corruption Court sentenced Rudi Rubiandini, former Head of Indonesia's oil & gas regulator SKK Migas, to seven years in prison for money laundering and accepting bribes from Singapore-based Kernel Oil Pte Ltd and Indonesia-based Kaltim Parna Industri. These bribes were given in exchange for securing a win in an oil tender. In addition, Rubiandini was imposed a fine of IDR 200 million (or another three months in prison). Rubiandini was reported to not file an appeal to the court's verdict.
The tax crime case which involves Bank Central Asia (BCA), Indonesia's largest lender by market value and the second-largest bank by assets, is not expected to have a significant impact on the performance of the shares of BCA. Earlier this week, Hadi Poernomo (Director General of taxation from 2002 to 2004) was questioned by Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for tax exemptions - worth of IDR 375 billion (USD $32.8 million) - granted to BCA.
Fitch Ratings, one of the three major global credit rating agencies, said that its latest annual survey on economic prospects and the business climate in Indonesia indicates an optimistic view. Respondents in the survey, mostly CEOs and Division Heads at financial institutions, companies, government and media, were asked 11 questions about the Indonesian economy, reformation and prospects for the next five years. Andrew Steel, Managing Director Head of Asia Pacific Corporate Ratings Group, presented results of the survey.
With Indonesia's presidential election approaching (9 July 2014), investors - both domestic and foreign - have become more hesitant to commit to large investments, instead preferring to wait for the election results first. Obviously, investors want to see a 'market friendly' president to lead Southeast Asia's largest economy for (at least) the next five years; a ruler who can safeguard a conducive investment climate. For the Indonesian people, a just ruler is needed; one who can improve Indonesia's political and social issues.
Mitsui & Co, one of the largest trading companies in Japan, believes that Indonesia is one of the most prospective investment destinations for the middle and longer term. After Brasil and Chile, Indonesia is currently the third-largest investment market for Mitsui & Co, which is part of the Mitsui Group. The latter has stakes in various sectors including energy, food, logistics and finance. The CEO of Mitsui & Co, Masami Iijima, stated that Indonesia is lucrative due to its large and young population as well as its rapidly expanding middle class.
A survey released by The British Chamber of Commerce Indonesia (BritCham) showed that United Kingdom (UK) investors’ confidence on doing business in Indonesia in 2013 and 2014 dropped but is still positive overall. One hundred corporate and other members of BritCham, 95% of whom hold Senior Management posts, participated in this survey. The survey showed that 60% of the total respondents remained confident about their business in Indonesia, down from 83% in 2012, while the Ease of Doing Business score fell by 15% from 65% to 50%.
Liberalization of trade and investment among the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members should be expanded and governments should refrain from using any protectionist measures. Meanwhile, the private sector plays an important role in the economic expansion of the Asia-Pacific and governments should create a conducive investment climate for this sector. This was the main message conveyed in the speech of John Kerry, US minister of foreign affairs who replaced Barack Obama at the APEC Leader Summit.
Late on Tuesday evening (13/08), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Rudi Rubiandini, head of the Upstream Oil and Gas regulatory special task force (SKK Migas) for allegedly accepting bribes amounting to USD $400,000 from Kernel Oil Pte Ltd, which is headquartered in Singapore. Four other people were also arrested in connection with this case. Rubiandini is currently being questioned by the KPK. The institution has one day to determine Rubiandini's legal status.
