Much to the consternation of the political parties – many of which have fielded former corruption convicts or candidates under investigation for graft – the General Elections Commission (KPU) Saturday issued a regulation which, among other things, bans former graft convicts from running in next year’s legislative elections.

Electoral observers say that one of the reasons the 2019 legislative elections will be undemocratic is because of the limited information available to voters on candidate’s profiles and backgrounds.

For the People or the Elite. Sash reads ‘acting’ or ‘temporary’, document reads ‘Legislation’.

Police and military officers have brushed off accusations of interference in the recent simultaneous regional elections and vowed to remain nonpartisan during the presidential elections in 2019.

Despite the latest Bank Indonesia figures showing that government debt has risen by 10.3% yoy and now stands at a whopping 2,521 trillion rupiah, the administration of President Joko Widodo insists that because the money is being used for infrastructure projects it will in turn spur economic growth.

Writing on ‘mobile toilet’ reads: ‘Keep clean’ and ‘If you’re polite, we’ll respect you’ (a common phrase posted in public transport vehicles and on neighbourhood walls).

From an op-ed piece title Stop Wage Payments to the Corrupt.

According to the National Civil Service Agency (BKN), the government is spending a huge amount of money on the salaries of civil servants who have been convicted of graft.

Criminal Code Style Revisions

Before, After

T-shirt reads ‘Law, Corruption, Human Rights, Foreign Debt, Poverty’. Bag reads ‘TKI – Indonesian Migrant Worker’. Exercise machine reads ‘20 Years of Reformasi’.

This Monday marked 20 years since the overthrow of the dictator Suharto in 1998 and the beginning of the political reform process known as Reformasi.

In the wake of several shocking terrorist attacks in East Java and Riau this month, the government is proposing a series of long-delayed revisions to the Anti-Terrorism Law (RUU Anti-Terror) which will allow police to hold suspects for up to 221 days before being charged, pave the way for the involvement of the military and broaden the definitio

Political observers say that if President Widodo (left) and his likely contender in the 2019 presidential election, former general Prabowo Subianto (right), try to use the same old strategies they did in 2014, it will only alienate votes.

Sign reads ‘Out of Sight brand Adulterated Liquor’

In what is believed to be the worst-ever mass fatality caused by alcohol poisoning in a country where drinkers regularly die from consuming bootleg alcohol, 82 people have died and 100 are in a critical condition in hospital after drinking moonshine.

Jacket reads ‘Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Prisoner’

Mother: Hey kid, eat the dead worms, lots of protein... so they’re safe...

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) says that at least 27 brands of canned fish being sold on the market have been found to be contaminated with threadworms.

From an op-ed piece titled Corruption Haunts Regional Elections.

Vote-buying – the practice of handing out cash or goods in an effort to influence votes – remains pervasive and largely acceptable in Indonesia.

From an op-ed piece titled Political Parties and Corruption in the Regions.

Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) says that the regional elections face an ‘emergency of integrity’ with as many as eight candidates caught red-handed accepting bribes in just the last two months.

Former army general and likely presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has been widely ridiculed following a campaign speech posted on his Gerindra Party official Facebook page on March 18 in which he made the claim that ‘...in other countries they have made studies where the Republic of Indonesia has been declared no more in 2030’.

Shorts read ‘broker’, wave reads ‘Salt Imports’

Man (right): No Sir, not food imports... what’s important is our candidates are local

Arm bands read ‘Success Team (election campaign team)’, list reads ‘Presidential election candidate formulation’.

Man: I’m sorry I didn’t end up coming home

Woman: What you did to me was cruel...

Hardliners from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) have staged an angry protest at the Jakarta office of Tempo Magazine this week over this cartoon which they say insulted the honor of fugitive FPI leader Rizieq Shihab.

Papers read: ‘Party list ranking: 15’, ‘Soya Sauce Party Political Pledge’.

Tentacles read: Transactional politics, black campaigns, sectarian conflicts, money politics, corruption, fake news