Abusive education

Kid (speaking to President Yudhoyono): Where do you want me to take this Mr?

The public outcry over the latest child abuse case at the Jakarta International School has renewed calls to reform Indonesia's outdated national education system which is plagued by problems such as student brawls, the cheat-prone national exams (UN) and the 2013 curriculum that emphasizes nationalism and religion at the expense of the sciences.

Kompas - April 26, 2014

Horse trading

Kid: So coalitions are like that yeah Dad? (cake reads 'power', badges read 'political party X', 'political party Y', 'political party Z')

With none of the three big political parties (parpol) garnering enough votes to nominate a presidential candidate in the July 9 presidential election, they are now vying with each other to win the backing of the smaller parties in exchange for the promise of ministerial and cabinet posts.

Kompas - April 19, 2014

Political dynasties

Man: What we're invariably left with is nepotism/lots of hassles (a play on the word nepotisme)

Despite the massive public outcry over the corruption scandal surrounding former Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, the head of a powerful political dynasty in Banten province, exit polls suggest that the April 9 legislative elections have actually entrenched political dynasties around the country.

Kompas - April 16, 2014

Failed candidates

As quick counts (exit poll) start to come in from Wednesday's election, failure to secure seats has begun to impact some legislative candidates (caleg) who spent exorbitant amounts of money to buy votes, with several mental hospitals (RSJ) announcing that they have prepared special VIP facilities to treat candidates who are dealing with severe psychological pressure following election defeats.

Kompas - April 12, 2014

Legislative election

According to a recent survey by a coalition of NGOs, no matter which legislative candidates (caleg) people vote for in today's general election, corrupt, lazy and incompetent politicians are set to dominate national and regional parliaments, with only 95 out of more than 200,000 candidates having clean records and reasonable levels of competency.

Kompas - April 9, 2014

Used votes

Man: Well, there's lots of used up legislative candidates aren’t there!

Signs read: Election stall, Buy and sell used votes. Documents read: Ballot papers.

With widespread vote buying in the lead up to the April 9 elections, legislative candidates (caleg) whose 'success teams' (read vote brokers) have been unable to secure enough votes prior to polling day are resorting to selling their voter lists to other candidates who stand a better chance of winning.

Kompas - April 5, 2014

Promise emissions

1st Man: Look out, carbon emissions!

2nd Man: Look out, promise emissions!

With the region shrouded in a thick noxious haze as companies take advantage of the dry season to clear land with fire for palm oil plantations, conspicuously absent from the slew of campaign promises trotted out by candidates for the April 9 legislative elections are any kind of programs to address Indonesia's widespread environmental destruction and deforestation.

Kompas - April 2, 2014