Malaysia Pulse delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
Indonesia has greenlit an extended mortgage scheme and is attracting massive EV battery investment, while regional neighbours pursue education upgrades, renewable energy, and fintech solutions across Southeast Asia.
Indonesia's parliament has passed legislation granting broad legal protections to purchasers of special bonds issued by sovereign wealth fund Danantara, prompting warnings from economists and financial experts about potential money laundering vulnerabilities.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has formally apologised to the Moluccan community for their mistreatment following Indonesia's independence, acknowledging decades of broken promises and inadequate integration into Dutch society.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phl4b1g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phl4b1p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22151%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EIndonesia%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Indonesian police have dismantled an international drug smuggling operation at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport, arresting four foreign nationals and confiscating 8.6 litres of suspected etomidate valued at RM22.7 million across three cases between February and May.
Indonesian police have determined that a family of four died from carbon monoxide poisoning while camping in Central Java last month. The victims brought a smouldering charcoal stove into their sealed tent overnight, leading to dangerous gas accumulation.
Indonesia's leading anti-corruption group is pushing authorities to suspend President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meals initiative and expand their investigation into alleged corruption within the National Nutrition Agency.
Indonesian badminton star Alwi Farhan has bounced back from the Thomas Cup debacle by winning the Australian Open in Sydney, securing his second Super 500 title of the year.
Indonesian authorities have arrested a Singaporean man accused of heading an unlicensed vape manufacturing network in Medan that generated at least US$565,000 in revenue using counterfeit Labuab toy branding.
Indonesia's Attorney General's Office has arrested two additional suspects in connection with corruption allegations tied to the government's free nutritious meals initiative, expanding an inquiry that has already netted three former national nutrition officials.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is undertaking a five-day Asian tour to Indonesia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan, accompanied by his wife and a business delegation.
A 40-year-old man in Central Java has been charged with poisoning his mother-in-law by mixing rat poison into chicken satay delivered via courier. The victim died in May after consuming the contaminated food.
Indonesia's parliament has unanimously approved amendments allowing serving police officers to accept posts in civilian government ministries and agencies, mirroring similar changes made to military law provisions.
Indonesia will impose additional 10% tariffs on exports bound for the United States, stemming from Section 301 trade investigations, the country's chief economics minister announced Friday.
Indonesia's newly restructured nutrition agency has suspended approvals for new meal-preparation kitchens and launched a budget review following a corruption scandal that led to the removal of three senior officials.
Japan and Indonesia have agreed to begin working-level discussions on the potential export of Asagiri-class destroyers. The move reflects Tokyo's efforts to strengthen defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region amid regional security concerns.
Indonesia's parliament unanimously approved legislation expanding the central bank's role in supporting economic growth. The move raises questions about potential government interference in monetary policy as investor confidence declines.
Indonesia's anti-graft agency has arrested Deputy Minister for Immigration and Correctional Affairs Silmy Karim on corruption charges, marking the second high-profile official detained within two days.
President Prabowo Subianto has fired the leader of Indonesia's nutrition agency following a corruption investigation into the US$15 billion free meals programme, vowing to eliminate graft and protect public funds.
Central Java police have arrested 39 suspects—Indonesians, Nepalese and Myanmar nationals—for running an international cryptocurrency investment scam targeting 133 victims in the United States, netting $2.32 million.
Indonesia has detained the ex-director of its free school meals initiative following his dismissal. The arrest comes as authorities probe widespread food poisoning incidents and corruption allegations connected to the scheme.
An Indonesian construction worker has been sentenced to 15 months in jail and three strokes of the cane for molesting a 17-year-old girl on a Scoot flight from Okinawa to Singapore in April.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed the chief of the National Nutrition Agency overseeing his flagship free meal scheme, which has faced mass food poisoning incidents and graft allegations since launching last year.
Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim has cautioned that mounting legal uncertainties in Indonesia are deterring foreign investors, as he presented his final defence against corruption allegations linked to pandemic-era school laptop purchases.
A Jakarta television station has apologised after inadvertently transmitting explicit material during its morning broadcast on June 1, triggering alarm among parents and viewers. The channel is investigating potential security vulnerabilities.
Indonesian authorities are increasingly prosecuting officials for policy violations and governance breaches rather than direct bribery, sparking unusual public support for the accused and raising questions about how corruption is defined.
Five people died and nearly 20 were injured when what is believed to be a World War II-era bomb or mortar exploded under a stilt house in Indonesia's Papua region on Sunday.
Police in Batam have shut down an online gambling operation generating approximately Rp10 billion monthly, arresting three individuals and seizing funds and equipment in connection with a multinational syndicate.
Indonesia has introduced a new forestry regulation to boost carbon market investment and trading. The framework aims to streamline business processes while maintaining environmental integrity and meeting international standards.
Jakarta authorities have launched a military-backed operation targeting violent street robbers, arresting 173 suspects since early May. The initiative has sparked warnings from human rights groups and officials about potential extrajudicial killings and legal violations.
Nine Indonesian nationals who were held by Israeli forces while aboard a humanitarian vessel bound for Gaza have returned to Jakarta. The group was detained after their ship was intercepted near Cyprus on May 18 and later released from the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Indonesia is progressing with an ambitious US$80 billion sea wall project along Java's northern coast to safeguard 50 million residents and vital economic zones from climate impacts and land subsidence.
Severe weather caused a massive blackout across Sumatra on Friday evening, disrupting power supplies in five provinces. PT PLN restored the transmission network within two hours, though coal-fired plants needed 15-20 hours to fully recover.
Indonesia will prolong its work-from-home policy for government staff, state enterprises and private sector employees by two months as it monitors regional geopolitical developments, Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced.
Indonesian police have identified a taxi driver as a suspect in last month's Bekasi rail collision that killed 16 women. Transport safety investigators meanwhile cite signalling flaws and communication breakdowns as contributing factors to the disaster.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has proposed centralising exports of coal, palm oil and ferroalloys through a state-controlled entity, sparking warnings from industry groups about monopolistic practices and potential market losses.
North Halmahera police have named Mount Dukono guide Reza Selang as a suspect for negligence resulting in death following a volcanic eruption on May 8 that claimed three lives, including two Singaporeans.
Indonesia's president mandates state firms as sole commodity exporters while pursuing a US$600 billion digital economy. Across the region, Vietnam and Laos launch major infrastructure, Myanmar backs rural development, and Thailand adjusts visa policies.
Mount Semeru, Java's highest volcano, erupted three times on Tuesday morning, with ash plumes reaching 1,000 metres above its peak. The activity was recorded by observation posts in East Java.
Indonesian authorities have detained eight suspects linked to a Daesh-affiliated militant network in Central Sulawesi. The arrests occurred during early morning raids in multiple districts as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts.