With the House absorbed with its inquiry into the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) – a blatantly cynical attempt to stave off the KPK’s investigation into a massive e-ID corruption scandal involving lawmakers and senior politicians – crucial legislation such as the child protection bill are being put on the back burner.

The hard-line vigilante group the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) which been systematically hunting down and persecuting individuals who have posted comments on social media critical of fugitive FPI leader Habib Riziq Shihab, seem blind to the irony that he has been charged under the draconian anti-pornography law, which they themselves have long championed.

Attempts to counter rising religious intolerance and sectarianism with calls to renew the country’s faith in the state ideology of Pancasila is doomed to fail while the government itself tramples on key values enshrined in the ideology such as religious freedom, democracy and social justice for all.

The government has responded to the twin-suicide bomb attacks in Jakarta on Wednesday night not by looking at why intolerance and religious extremism is on the rise but by expediting the passage of secretive revisions to the anti-terrorism law.

While many may have been afraid to speak out against the politically motivated two-year sentence for blasphemy against Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama, they chose to express their support for the Jakarta governor by sending more than 5,000 flower arrangements to City Hall.

With the police are dragging their feet in an investigation into an acid attack on Corruption Investigation Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan, the House has now launched an inquiry into the KPK and initiated deliberations on amending the KPK law to limit the anti-graft body’s powers to investigate.

In the aftermath of last month’s Jakarta gubernatorial election, which saw hard-line Islamic groups being mobilised against incumbent governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama, many are concerned that the 2018 regional and 2019 presidential elections will see candidates again using the religious card against their rivals.

The police, who seem to have no problems finding (or concocting) enough evidence to charge someone for ‘defaming’ a senior official or ‘stealing’ a piece of wood from a timber company, appear to be at a complete loss in their investigation into an April 11 acid attack against KPK investigator Novel Baswedan,

A spate of incidents in which children from minority backgrounds have become victims of bullying is being blamed on sectarian tensions fermented by hard-line Islamic groups protesting against incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

A plenary session of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) erupted into chaos Monday when councillors began squabbling over who should lead the meeting.

From an op-ed piece titled The Future of the DPD on an intensifying power struggle within the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) over the leadership of the institution.

Kendeng residents are receiving growing support from around the country in demanding President Widodo (left) revoke the license for a cement factory in Rembang, Central Java which they fear endangers their hometown.

With hard-line Islamic groups continuing to demand incumbent Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama be jailed for blasphemy, appeals by President Widodo to let the law take its course have done little to hose down sectarian tensions in the lead up to the second-round of the Jakarta gubernatorial elections

The electronic identity card (e-KTP) corruption scandal has prompted former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chair Busyro Muqoddas to warn that attacks against the KPK have already begin including plans to revise the 2002 KPK Law in order to weaken the agency.

Despite public outcry over the House's (Senayan) poor performance, at least 30 lawmakers will be departing this month for Germany and Mexico to conduct a so-called comparative study of electoral systems.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has reacted angrily at alleged efforts by the government to kill his eldest son Agus' chances in the Jakarta gubernatorial election after former anti-graft chief and convicted murderer Antasari Azhar accused SBY of orchestrating the murder case against him.

With incumbent Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama and Anies Baswedan both looking to garner around 40% of the vote in the 1st round of the Jakarta gubernatorial election, the 2nd round is shaping up to be a proxy war for the 2019 presidential election.

Amid widespread flooding in the capital and a largely peaceful rally by Islamic hard-line groups calling on Jakartans not to vote for incumbent Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama on February 15, observers warn that the a tight gubernatorial race in Jakarta may lead campaign teams to resort to any means to boost their vote.

Indonesia's graft ridden judicial system has suffered yet another blow to its image after the Corruption Eradication Commission declared Constitutional Court (MK) justice Patrialis Akbar and three others suspects in a bribery case.

Lawyers representing Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, say that their client is being 'tried by the mob' following testimony by the prosecution witness that originally reported Ahok who admitted under oath that he forced police to file the report by threatening to call on thousands of Muslims to raid the police station.