Dwi Andayani, Jakarta – The Indonesian Workers Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) will announce its choice for presidential candidate (capres) on May Day. A number of names such as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto are still being considered.

Bagus Prihantoro Nugroho, Jakarta – The author of the novel Ghost Fleet, Peter Warren Singer, has uploaded a photo of Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto on his Twitter account.

The Timber and Forestry Trade Union (SPKahut) is demonstrating at the House of Representatives (DPR) demanding the payment of back wages and severance pay from a pulp and paper company owned by Prabowo Subianto.

Dias Saraswati, Jakarta – The Anti-Communist Youth Movement (GEPAK) plans to report the organising committee of a recent discussion titled The Revival of the PKI: Reality or Propaganda to police.

Abi Sarwanto, Jakarta – United Development Party (PPP) chairperson Muhammad Romahurmuziy suspects that there is a “powerful individual” behind the recent spate of attacks on Islamic scholars and religious figures.

“If Jokowi and Prabowo go head to head in 2019, they almost definitely cannot, and should not, repeat the strategies they used in 2014”.

Dadang Kurnia, Bambang Noroyono – The sensitive LGBT issue has become a political hot potato following a statement by People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Zulkifli Hasan.

Aryo Bhawono, Jakarta – Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) General Chairperson Prabowo Subianto claims that he feels saddened by the current state of the democratic system. This is because figures with prestige and good character are unable to become leaders if they do not have money.

Jakarta – His failure to be endorsed as a candidate in the 2018 East Timor gubernatorial election has not left La Nyalla Mattalitti powerless.

Seysha Desnikia, Jakarta – Islamic Community Forum (FUI) Secretary general Muhammad Al-Khaththath has expressed his disappointment with several political parties contesting the 2018 regional elections (Pilkada).

Rakhmat Nur Hakim, Jakarta – Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 (Perppu Ormas) has finally been passed into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) during a plenary session at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday October 24.

Glery Lazuardi, Jakarta – Four political parties – the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), the Democrat Party (PD) and the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) – have declared their opposition to the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 on Social Organisations (Perppu Ormas).

Warta Kota, Menteng – A survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) shows that 86.8 percent of people do not believe that there is a revival of the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Andhika Prasetia, Jakarta – The government has issued Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 2/2017 on Social Organisations. It has already been received by the House of Representatives (DPR) and will be deliberated at the next sitting of the House.

Furqon Amrullah, Jakarta – The House of Representative’s (DPR) official Twitter account (@DPR_RI) held a poll following the issuance of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 2/2017 on Social Organisations. The poll however suddenly vanished from circulation leading many netizens to ask why.

Sudarsono, Jakarta – Several lawmakers are calling on the government to close down or expel non-government organisations (NGOs) working for foreign interests because they are undermining national sovereignty and disrupting the Indonesian economy.

Arbi Sumandoyo – “Jakarta is filthy. We have to be macho. Jakarta is filthy. It must be cleaned up... must be cleaned up”, shouted a speaker through a loudspeaker from a command vehicle on May Day in front of the Jakarta City Hall.

“So make a pile. All in one place. We’ll clean the City Hall of these unclear messages...”

Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) President Said Iqbal says that hundreds of thousands if not a million workers affiliated with the KSPI are ready to take part in the Action to Defend Islam by holding a national strike.

Jakarta – A demonstration by thousands of people in Jakarta calling on Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to be arrested and charged for blasphemy has elicited a variety of responses from labour groups.

Jakarta – Islamic Defenders Front’s (FPI) leader and patron Rizieq Shihab rode atop one of the command vehicles during the mass demonstrations against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama in Jakarta on Friday November 4.