The politics of frothing at the month

Man: It's not the politics of procrastination... but the politics of frothing at the month! (fuel pump reads 'policy')

Endless announcements touting some new but unworkable scheme to limit subsidised fuel use, only to then declare that the plan has been "postponed indefinitely", is fueling uncertainty among a public already fed up with ill conceived and counterproductive government polices, with inflation accelerating at its fastest pace in seven months and consumer confidence dropping to its lowest since November 2010.

Kompas - April 28, 2012

Subsidised fuel will be limited...

Loudspeaker: Subsidised fuel will be limited...

Drivers: It's very shrill. Will it happen or not...

VP Boediono has criticised the volume of loudspeakers used to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, appealing to mosques to turn the volume down. The government meanwhile, which is bombarding the public with calls to limit subsidised fuel use, announced that a fuel management program will "definitely" be launched in May, only to declare a few days later that the plan was still being deliberated.

Kompas - April 25, 2012

Going their own way

Man: Harmony is damaging, disagreements are damaging (a play on a Javanese proverb about family quarrels). Flag reads 'Joint Secretariat', sign reads 'Fuel'.

Tensions within the government's fractious ruling coalition similar to those that erupted over last month's fuel price hike are set to intensify in the lead up to the 2014 elections as the coalition's larger partners – the Justice & Prosperity Party (left) and the Golkar Party (second right) – see more political gain in going their own way.

Kompas - April 21, 2012

Military impunity

An admission by police that members of the Indonesian military – allegedly backed by senior general – were involved in a string of motorcycle gang attacks in Jakarta over the past week that left two civilians dead and dozen of others injured, has again highlighted the military's continuing involvement in illegal businesses activities such as narcotics, gambling and prostitution.

Kompas - April 18, 2012

Government coalition

Chair legs: National Awakening Party, United Development Party, Justice & Prosperity Party (PKS), National Mandate Party.

Despite angry calls for the PKS to be expelled from the ruling government coalition over its opposition to a planned fuel price hike earlier this month, President Yudhoyono is likely to retain the often uncooperative and underperforming PKS, partly so it can burnish its Islamic credentials but also over fears it would become too dependent on its equally problematic but larger coalition partner Golkar.

Kompas - April 14, 2012

Illegal fish imports

Advocates for local fishing communities say the government is turning a blind eye to illegal fish imports and ignoring a 2010 law on imported fishery products by failing to destroy illegally imported shipments, which are sold cheap on local markets by corrupt officials and are destroying the livelihoods of local fisherpeople, already struggling to survive in the face declining fish stocks due to private ownership of islands, environmental degradation and unpredictable climate change.

Kompas - April 11, 2012

Were we fooled?

Man: Were we fooled? Doesn't matter... the more we're lied to the smarter we get...

Branches: Ruling Coalition Joint Secretariat. Label: Political Fuel

Political parties in the government's ruling coalition have been accused of duplicity and trying to fool the public for the sake of their self image by rejecting the plan to raise subsidised fuel prices but amending the state budget law to give the government the authority to increase prices as early as next month if the ICP hits $135 per barrel in April.

Kompas - April 7, 2012

You must economise

Politician: Subsidies are blowing out... you must economise on fuel and electricity...

Reports that luxury car owners are still filling up on cheap petrol came as no surprise to anyone – except perhaps the government – which has been "urging" the rich not to use subsidised fuels. According to automotive industry data meanwhile, luxury car sales in the medium to upper price segment jumped by 18.8% and 28.74% respectively in 2011, with Porsche, Lamborghini and BMW all predicting continued sales growth this year.

Kompas - April 4, 2012