COVID-19

Not All Houses are Homes: Domestic Violence in Indonesia during COVID-19

Participants marking International Women’s Day in Banda Aceh in 2019. Credit: AFP/Getty Images/Chaideer Mahyuddin Introduction Amidst COVID-19, there is a disturbing increase in the number domestic violence globally. In Indonesia, findings from a 2020 survey by the National Commission on the Elimination of Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) indicates a similar trend. As governments prioritized …

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Info-demic in Malaysia: Present and Future Challenges

To mitigate fake news, revival of Malaysia’s Anti-fake news Act was discussed in November 2020. Credit: ST File Introduction In mid-November 2020, word of a possible revival of Malaysia’s Anti-fake News Act floated during parliament sittings. Justifying these discussions were the unhindered, wide-spread dissemination of voluminous content deemed as ‘fake news’ as authorities were preoccupied …

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Arming Community Actors to Combat Violent Extremism in Malaysia

A whole-of-society approach is crucial in combatting violent extremism in Malaysia. Credit: The Star Introduction Southeast Asia has become an ideal breeding ground for violent extremism (VE) due to volatile political, social and economic conditions that have afflicted the region for years. In contrast to its neighbours, which have suffered an increase in militant and …

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King and People are Inseparable: Proactive Constitutional Monarch in Parliamentary System

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar accompanied by his son, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, greeting mosque congregants after Hari Raya prayers in 2018. Credit: BERNAMA Introduction The political system of a country is rarely the result of the conscious choice of the ordinary people, and sometimes it is not even determined by the elite. The establishment of …

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The Challenges of Preventing Online Radicalization of Indonesian Children during COVID-19

Children participating in burning their Indonesian passports in a screengrab of a propaganda video. Credit: BenarNews  Abstract Indonesian children face an increased risk of online radicalization during COVID-19. This commentary discusses the challenges to prevent such radicalization while proposing how the involvements of social influencers may be a step forward. Introduction The involvement of children …

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The “Economic Recovery First” Argument Behind the Omnibus Law: Misguided Policy Priorities during COVID-19 Pandemic

Protest in Makassar to reject the Omnibus Law in 2020. Credit: Antara/Arnas Padda Introduction Indonesia’s adoption of the Omnibus Law back in late October of this year despite strong concerns and rejection from communities highlights growing concerns that the Indonesian government seems to be out of touch with ongoing negative public sentiment caused by the …

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In Dire Need of Tougher Tobacco Control Regulations in Indonesia

An anti-smoking mural in Grobogan, Indonesia, in 2016. Credit: Antara Photo/Yusuf Nugroho Introduction Up till 2024, the regulation policies for tobacco control is unlikely to experience significant progress. This is despite tobacco consumption being a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Reasons include strong resistance and protest from the majority of parliamentary factions and …

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Pressure Test in the Age of New Normal: Indonesia’s Pilkada 2020

Despite rising COVID-19 infections, Indonesia is set to conduct simultaneous regional elections in December 2020. Credit: SP/Muhammad Reza Introduction The concern that Indonesia’s 2020 simultaneous regional elections (Pemilihan Kepala Daerah 2020, hereafter Pilkada) will breed new COVID-19 clusters have become an increasingly regular topic as the government pushes on with its 9 December 2020 schedule. …

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Key Roles of Businesses in Indonesia to Prevent Hateful Content in a COVID-19 Era

Businesses in Indonesia play an important role in preventing hateful content. Credit: Unsplash/Jon Tyson Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic does not simply entail deadly waves of infections, but also a rising wave of hate and misinformation towards specific groups and identities in Indonesia. Unfortunately, this rising wave will continue to be a heightened challenge during this …

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