The July 2022 edition of the Indonesian Update raises a main report on the issue of the implementations of the regulations on social media campaigns for the 2024 Simultaneous General Elections and Regional Head Elections. Reflecting on the 2019 Elections, the arrangement of these rules is needed to maintain democracy in the digital space. On the one hand, the influence of social media on campaigns provides an opportunity for all political parties and candidates to compete. On the other hand, the use of social media in campaigns raises the threat of polarization in the society.
On the economy, the Indonesian Update discusses the impact of the foot and mouth disease outbreak on the beef market. The outbreak of the foot and mouth disease has created obstacles in the sales and purchases of beef. It is suspected that the cause is the massive opening of imported beef. However, import policies also need to be evaluated to prevent cartels. Furthermore, we also discuss the efforts to ease the burden on the state through reducing fuel subsidies, as in 2022, the allocation of subsidized fuel is bigger than that in the previous year. It has been used used to protect the people’s purchasing power from rising prices due to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Therefore, it is necessary to make efforts to ease the burden on the state budget.
On politics, the Indonesian Update discusses the Articles of Association/ Bylaws (AD/ART) of political parties related to gender equality. Not all political parties include the word gender equality in their AD/ART, once again proving that political parties are still half-hearted in representing women. Next, we discuss the implementation of Sipol as part of the registration and verification stages of the 2024 General Elections and Regional Head Elections, which raises a number of challenges. Nevertheless, Sipol is important as one of the steps to realize data digitization in the context of openness of election data. In addition, we also discuss the polemics over maternity leave in the Maternal and Child Welfare Bill (RUU KIA).
On social affairs, the Indonesian Update discusses the government’s policy regarding equitable access to education; namely, the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP). After being implemented for more than six years, despite the various benefits of PIP, there are still various obstacles in the process of implementing the program. Next, we also discuss the handling of stunting in Indonesia. Various factors need to be optimized to end stunting, including household food security, quality health services, a friendly environment for women, and quality parenting with a gender perspective. The government also needs to emphasize the various rules for preventing stunting that already exist, while continuing to encourage and oversee the ratification of the Maternal and Child Welfare Bill to strengthen the efforts to prevent and eliminate stunting in Indonesia.
The monthly publication of the Indonesian Update with actual themes is expected to help policy makers in government and business institutions – as well as academics, think tanks, and elements of civil society, both at home and abroad, to obtain actual information and contextual analysis of economic conditions, political, social, and legal issues in Indonesia, as well as an understanding of public policy in Indonesia.
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