🇮🇩Week of September 28

Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) passed the 2027 state budget bill (RUU APBN 2027) into law, with total state spending set at Rp 4,106 trillion. The budget keeps the deficit at 2.4 percent of GDP, and the government says fiscal policy will remain expansive, credible and sustainable. The DPR's budget committee approved the bill in a working meeting with the finance minister.1234567

The budget includes Rp 5 trillion for a free-school pilot in 2027 targeting the country's 3T regions (frontier, outermost and least developed). Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara also addressed the scope of special audit authority over tax restitution. The spending plan covers programs associated with President Prabowo Subianto.238

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa presented the main points of the 2027 draft budget to the DPR's Budget Committee (Badan Anggaran) in a working meeting, and the Finance Ministry said the government will keep the 2027 budget prudent and sustainable. The ministry's statement followed the DPR's approval of the bill.910

Indonesian police have named the driver of the Argo Bromo Anggrek train as a suspect in a fatal collision with a commuter line (KRL) at East Bekasi station. The driver faces up to 12 years in prison over the crash.123456

Investigators say the driver failed to follow braking rules and was late applying the brakes before the collision. Police stated the driver hesitated to pull the emergency brake because he feared the train would derail.1789

The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) identified a communication failure as the trigger of the Argo Bromo Anggrek versus KRL collision in East Bekasi. A KNKT report traced the train's braking record before the impact.2107

The crash occurred at East Bekasi station and involved the Argo Bromo Anggrek and a KRL commuter train. The case has been classified as a fatal collision.1234

The Indonesian government will inject Rp20 trillion into BPJS Kesehatan, the national health insurance agency, with the funds to be disbursed in stages from October to November. President Prabowo Subianto has called for the agency's deficit to be resolved.1234

The government is also pushing 52 million participants to resume paying their BPJS Kesehatan premiums. Social Affairs Minister Gus Ipul attended a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace to discuss BPJS and data transformation.43

The dispute over the education requirement for vice-presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka has entered the evidentiary stage at Indonesia's Constitutional Court (MK). The court is examining whether it has the authority to review the validity of the education qualification for a vice-presidential candidate. The case was filed after Gibran's candidacy in the 2024 presidential election, and the court's proceedings are now focused on evidence.1234

Denny Indrayana has asked the Constitutional Court to summon Gibran to testify in the case. The request is part of the evidentiary phase, where the court will assess the facts surrounding the education requirement. The court's decision on whether to grant the request has not been reported.5

President Joko Widodo has publicly discussed Gibran's school history amid the legal challenge. His comments come as the court examines the validity of the education qualification. The former president's statement adds a political dimension to the ongoing legal proceedings.3

A former KPU commissioner stated that no party followed the 2024 presidential election stages in detail, referring to a smuggled article. This claim suggests procedural lapses in the election process that are now being scrutinized. The statement was made in response to the legal challenge over Gibran's candidacy.4

The Constitutional Court has scheduled hearings to examine the case, with a chronology of the lawsuit and the court schedule published. The evidentiary stage marks a new phase in the dispute over Gibran's education qualification. The outcome could affect the legal standing of the 2024 vice-presidential candidate.6

Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) reprimanded the insurance party and pressed for the salvage operation to raise the Virgo's wreck to be carried out immediately. The owner of the KMP Virgo was also urged to raise the sunken hull without delay.12

The head of Basarnas pushed for efforts to lift the body of the KM Virgo, and said the SAR operation will continue as long as it remains possible to find victims of the KMP Virgo. Basarnas asked that the salvage operation be carried out soon, noting the KM Virgo has already touched ground.345

The National Police (Polri) presented developments in the handling of the KM Virgo Transport 8 case. The bodies of two residents of Kudus who were victims of the KM Virgo arrived at their homes.67