The February 2019 edition of Indonesian Update raises a main topic on the group of people who will abstain from voting (golput) in the 2019 elections. Golput has become a hot issue lately. Some parties have declared to be Golput on 17 April 2019. Even though to abstain from voting is the right of a voter, the benefits of becoming a golput should be reconsidered, as the elections are the contests to find government leaders who will decide on the course and the policies of our country.

On politics, this month’s edition of the Indonesian Update discusses two issues. The first one is looking at the behavior of millennials in the lead-up to the 2019 elections. It also includes the political participation and criticism against the golput agenda in the 2019 elections. It is estimated that the number of millennials (17-35 years of age) will be at a level of between 40 and percent. This pool of potential voters will be the target of the competing candidates.  The second one talks about three types of political participation and the golput agenda, which is deemed not strategic.

On legal affairs, the Indonesian Update first discusses the problems around Law on Music, which according to the author, will curb creativity and freedom of expression. The second article talks about the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions. The author argues that we examine the constitutional basis of the law, as the law has curbed individual freedom of expression, taking many victims.

On social affairs, the Indonesia Update touches on three topics. The first one is the dengue fever handling by the Jakarta Provincial Government. The second one is Presidential Regulation Number 82/2018 on JKN, which does not provide coverage for the victims of violence. The third one is the bill on the eradication of sexual violence, which has been discussed in the perspective of morality, putting aside the victims’ recovery and protection.

The regular publication of the Indonesian Update with its actual themes is expected to help policymakers in government and business environment — as well as academics think tanks, and other elements of civil society, both within and outside the country, to get the actual information and contextual analysis of economic, legal, political, cultural and social developments in Indonesia, as well as to understand the public policy in Indonesia.

Happy Reading.