AGP Executive Report

Yemen Crisis: Indonesia urged an immediate ceasefire and restraint after fresh cross-border attacks hit Saudi Arabia, calling for dialogue-led, Yemeni-owned political steps. Mental Health: Suicides are rising as demand for help outpaces services; the Health Ministry’s Healing119 hotline has surged to about 600 contacts a day, with thousands expressing suicidal intent. Trade & Connectivity: Indonesia wants stronger strategic port corridors under IMT-GT to keep regional “living arteries” moving and protect supply chains when shipping lanes slow. BRICS Watch: India’s BRICS Summit (Sept 12–13) is ramping up with heavy security and a big media presence; Indonesia’s President Prabowo is listed among expected leaders as the agenda centers on resilience, food/energy security, and supply chains. Digital Inclusion: Indonesia pushed for better ASEAN digital connectivity and public trust so rural and remote communities aren’t left behind. Business & Industry: Sweden’s Midsummer and Indonesia’s Metalogika signed a deal to build flexible CIGS solar cell/module manufacturing in Indonesia, starting at 20 MW/year with expansion plans. Tech & Cyber: Researchers flagged a widely used Chrome/Windows exploit kit by multiple hacking groups, underscoring fast-moving cyber threats. Health Innovation: Kerry says Indonesia’s regulatory changes are opening the door for live-culture probiotics and postbiotics in everyday bakery and snack foods.

BRICS Summit Watch: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto is set to attend the expanded BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12–13, as India pushes a resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability agenda while security tightens across Delhi ahead of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin arrivals. ASEAN & Regional Stability: A new commentary warns Southeast Asia isn’t “at war,” but insecurity still comes from disasters and cross-border hazards—linking incidents like Anak Krakatau eruptions, wildfires and haze to real risks for daily life and public health. Climate & Food Prices: OCBC economists say El Niño is more likely to hit ASEAN inflation than growth, with rice, wheat, maize and vegetable oil prices driving pressure—Indonesia among the more exposed economies. Indonesia’s Wildfire Fallout: Reports highlight worsening haze and health impacts across Indonesia and neighboring countries, as authorities intensify fire response ahead of peak El Niño conditions. Politics & Democracy: Democrats’ AHY (Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono) says power has a time limit and elections must not be obstructed, while pointing to real economic hardship facing Indonesians. Business & Finance: Indonesia’s push for financial inclusion continues, with plans for mass bank accounts, while fintech partnerships like PhonePe–Visa expand cardless payment options. Ethics & Integrity: A Jakarta study finds honesty is widely valued but institutional systems to sustain integrity are weak, raising concerns about trust and whistleblowing.

ASEAN Anti-Scam Push: Axiata’s Thomas Hundt urged a faster, stronger ASEAN-wide anti-scam intelligence exchange, linking banks, telecoms, regulators, enforcement and digital platforms to share data and disrupt fraud networks. Security Cooperation: Malaysia’s home minister cited a cross-border drug smuggling case involving a Malaysian co-pilot at Soekarno-Hatta, saying police-to-police information sharing helped arrest syndicate members across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Energy & Economy Watch: Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel rollout hit a milestone with 104 operational delivery points and 6,050 Pertamina stations dispensing the blend, while officials warned volcanic eruptions could still dent regional economic activity. Disaster Preparedness: Indonesia’s higher education ministry asked universities to identify disaster-management experts and link them with local governments through a higher-education consortium after the Anak Krakatau eruption. BRICS Spotlight: Indonesia’s President Prabowo is listed among expected leaders for the New Delhi BRICS summit, with the agenda centered on resilience in food, energy, health and disaster reduction. Regional Diplomacy: Indonesia joined Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others welcoming the UK’s ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements and backing a two-state solution.

Volcanic Disruption: Flights into and out of Jakarta resumed after Anak Krakatau ash forced a two-day shutdown, with Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma reopening just after midnight and airlines required to inspect aircraft before flying. Disaster Response: Search teams resumed for a missing speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists sent to cover the eruption, as Basarnas expanded the search area amid rough seas and poor visibility. Central Banking & Policy: Bank Indonesia governor Destry Damayanti was approved for the 2026–2031 term, as the revised P2SK law broadens BI’s role toward growth—raising fresh questions about central bank autonomy and rupiah stability. Regional Economy & Trade: Indonesia and the US expanded cooperation on AI and child online protection, while BRICS leaders gear up for the New Delhi summit with India chairing and Modi-Putin talks on the agenda. Energy & Industry: Indonesia’s push for green investment and downstream growth continues alongside global supply-chain pressure from critical materials and electrification. Public Health & Environment: Indonesia’s haze and wildfire impacts remain a regional concern, with calls for stronger enforcement and better prevention as smoke spreads across borders.

Volcanic Disruption: Soekarno-Hatta Airport reopened at 12:01 a.m. after nearly four days of closure from Mount Anak Krakatau, but 178 grounded planes must undergo mandatory airworthiness checks before resuming service, while the volcano remains on Alert Level III with fresh eruptions recorded. Digital Economy & Consumer Protection: Indonesia’s parliament summoned TikTok and Tokopedia over frozen TikTok Shop vendor funds, with lawmakers seeking explanations and fair dispute handling after balances worth billions of rupiah were withheld. AI & Child Safety: Indonesia and the US expanded cooperation on AI development and online child protection, with Indonesia preparing a risk-based AI governance framework. Green Growth & Energy Security: The government backed green investment to support growth and transition, while the B50 biodiesel rollout is reported to cut diesel imports and save about Rp170 trillion in foreign exchange. Finance & Markets: OJK plans to cap Indonesia Stock Exchange ownership at 5% after demutualisation, and Gojek Singapore launched capped-fare short trips. Human Trafficking Prevention: Officials urged stronger early detection and victim identification, including monitoring digital recruitment channels.

Transboundary Haze Talks: Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim urged ASEAN to tighten mechanisms on cross-border haze after Serian’s air hit hazardous levels (API 302), warning open burning in Indonesia must be investigated before blame is traded. Volcano Disruption: Anak Krakatau’s eruption kept Jakarta-area travel in chaos, with flights resuming after a two-day closure; officials reopened Soekarno-Hatta and Halim, while other airports stayed shut longer to inspect runways and aircraft. BRICS Spotlight: India’s 18th BRICS Summit (Sept 12–13) is set to shape global trade and digital/energy cooperation, with Indonesia included among full members. Jobs Push: Indonesia targets 3 million new jobs in 2027, but business groups call it ambitious without faster investment and lower operating costs. Local Finance: Jakarta is pressing ahead with municipal bond plans to fund transport and healthcare, despite delays in formal approvals. Health & Safety: Wildfires in Indonesian Borneo are worsening haze across borders, forcing school closures and straining clean-air access. Regional Security: Indonesia’s defense diplomacy is in focus as it runs major drills with the US and prepares another with China.

Volcano Disrupts Aviation: Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruption kept ash in the air over western Indonesia, forcing Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta to stay shut past its original 6 p.m. deadline, with AirNav extending closures and flight rules shifting as ash levels change. Travel Fallout: Authorities reported about 2,300 flights disrupted and roughly 270,000 passengers affected across seven to eight closed airports, while some areas temporarily moved schools to online learning. Public Health Readiness: Banten put all health facilities on high alert for possible respiratory and eye irritation from ash, with 24-hour emergency services activated. Disaster Preparedness Push: President Prabowo ordered a comprehensive disaster mitigation master plan, including pre-positioning equipment and using aircraft for weather modification and heavy-lift drones for firefighting. Financial Inclusion Drive: Prabowo also directed banks to help ensure every Indonesian has a bank account, using integrated population and civil registration data with Bank Indonesia systems. Human Rights Concern: Activist groups condemned a Jakarta military appeals court for reducing sentences in an acid attack case involving human rights defender Andrie Yunus.

Volcano Disruption: Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruption has shut Indonesia’s main Soekarno-Hatta airport and seven others, stranding about 170,000 passengers and cancelling or delaying hundreds of flights as ash drifts over Jakarta, Java and Sumatra; authorities warn people to stay at least 3 km from the crater and say closures may extend into Monday morning. Travel Fallout: Airlines including Batik Air and Singapore Airlines cancelled routes, while passengers scramble for refunds or rescheduling amid shifting airport reopening times. Regional Health & Environment: Indonesia’s wildfire haze continues to choke parts of Southeast Asia, with air quality worsening in the region and prompting calls for stronger mitigation. Politics & Public Trust: Analysis and polling coverage suggest President Prabowo’s approval has slipped sharply since his 2025 peak, with voters citing economic and governance concerns. Indonesia-Russia Ties: Prabowo and Putin’s close relationship at the Eastern Economic Forum sparks debate over whether diplomacy will translate into concrete investment gains. Business & Industry: Tetra Pak appoints Michael Wu as Managing Director for Oceania, while banking coverage highlights rising AI-driven fraud risks across Asia-Pacific.

Volcanic Disruption: Indonesia shut Soekarno-Hatta and seven other airports after Anak Krakatau’s ash cloud grounded flights, stranding about 170,000 passengers and disrupting hundreds of routes across western Indonesia. Travel Fallout: AirNav Indonesia closed key airspace areas, while airlines including Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air cancelled dozens of Jakarta-bound flights; authorities urged passengers to watch updates and use alternative airports. Refund Push: Indonesia’s transport ministry said affected travelers are eligible for 100% ticket refunds for cancellations tied to volcanic ash. Regional Health Watch: As haze and smoke lingered across Southeast Asia, air quality in Metro Cebu improved to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” though fine particles still pose risks. Diplomacy on Gaza: Indonesia joined Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia in condemning Israeli ministers’ calls for forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, warning it violates international law. Climate & Nature: A new report says the world’s mangrove forests are expanding faster than they’re shrinking, highlighting their role in biodiversity and carbon storage. Business/Policy: Indonesia published long-delayed implementing rules for its Personal Data Protection law, clarifying how firms can transfer data abroad.

Volcanic Disruption: Mount Anak Krakatau erupted again, sending ash over western Indonesia and forcing Soekarno-Hatta Airport to suspend flights temporarily, with schools and fishing activities also disrupted as residents in Banten reported eye irritation. Regional Cooperation on Haze: Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said it’s coordinating with ASEAN partners to manage cross-border impacts from forest and land fires, aiming to keep relations stable. Elections & State Neutrality: Democratic Party chair AHY urged the military, police, intelligence and civil servants to stay neutral during elections, saying state facilities must serve public interests, not political ones. Leadership & Peace: Former President Jokowi called for people-centred leadership and mutual understanding as the basis for lasting peace. Education Integrity: Indonesia’s graft watchdog KPK warned that weak oversight in “independent” university admissions could enable wealthy applicants to buy spots, after arrests tied to Jenderal Soedirman University. Manufacturing & AI Demand: Surveys point to stronger factory activity across parts of Asia as AI hardware demand lifts semiconductor-linked production, even amid broader uncertainty. Food Safety Alarm: Reports say nearly 2,000 people fell ill in suspected food poisoning linked to Indonesia’s free school meals program.

Food & Safety: Nearly 2,000 people—mostly students and teachers—fell ill in suspected food poisoning linked to Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals program between Sept 1–3, with cases reported across Central Java, East Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi; no deaths were reported, but the incidents add pressure to the flagship scheme that has affected 50,000+ people in hundreds of cases since launch. Social Aid Tech: Coordinating Minister Luhut says GovTech data integration could cut misdirected social assistance from 77.6% to below 10%, with a near-complete system targeted for launch in October 2026 and a single digital ID by end-2026. Forest Fires & Haze: South Kalimantan is testing a locally developed peatland-cooling liquid to fight underground smoldering fires, while Singapore’s air quality improved to the moderate range after earlier unhealthy readings tied to regional haze. Energy/Industry: A new market focus emerges for Indonesia’s nickel as tighter ore approvals shift the question from building refineries to securing compliant feedstock. Regional Security: Indonesia and Singapore air forces held their 20th Annual Staff Meeting in Manado to reinforce bilateral defense cooperation. Justice Diplomacy: India’s CJI Surya Kant urged BRICS to become a “living Nalanda University” for healthy judicial disagreement and faster, predictable justice. Business/Health Research: BPOM calls for pharma firms to collaborate on a stronger clinical trial ecosystem to boost Indonesia’s medicines and medical devices self-reliance. Sports: India’s junior men’s hockey team started the AHF Junior Asia Cup title defense with a 14-0 win over Indonesia.

Haze Emergency in Malaysia: Malaysia declared a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, after haze from Indonesia pushed air pollution to “hazardous” levels, closing 647 schools and suspending non-essential work while cloud-seeding operations run. Regional Health Fallout: In the Philippines, Metro Cebu kept suspending in-person classes as haze lingered, with air quality still in the “very unhealthy” range, blamed on Indonesian wildfire smoke. Indonesia Fire Response: Indonesia stepped up firefighting across Kalimantan as ISPU readings hit hazardous levels, using ground operations, water bombing, drones and peatland moisture measures where aerial efforts were hampered. EV Battery Waste Planning: Indonesia’s Environment Ministry is building an EV battery waste management ecosystem, warning used-battery waste could peak around 2040 and aiming for a full rollout by next year. Energy Deal with Russia: Indonesia invited Russian investors to bid on 138 oil and gas exploration blocks to deepen bilateral energy cooperation. Jakarta Mobility & Air Quality: Jakarta is considering a major hike in parking fees to curb car use and improve air quality, with proposed rates far above current levels. Meaningful AI Push: Indonesia’s communications ministry urged “Meaningful AI” focused on public benefits, digital inclusion and resilience against cyber and climate threats.

Wildfire Crisis: Indonesia’s haze emergency deepened as ISPU readings in Kalimantan surged to hazardous levels, with aerial firefighting hampered by poor visibility and cloud conditions; authorities kept ground operations going and used thermal drones and peatland moisture measures. Regional Air Impact: Malaysia declared an emergency in Sarawak’s Serian as haze linked to Indonesian fires pushed air pollution into emergency territory, while Singapore also saw unhealthy PSI levels and businesses prepared to adjust activities. Disaster Recovery: Vice President Gibran apologized to North Sumatra disaster victims and said permanent housing construction for flood and landslide survivors will start this month. Food Safety Alarm: Indonesia’s rights body Komnas HAM urged police to investigate new outbreaks of food poisoning tied to the free school meals program, after more than 2,000 students and teachers fell ill. Health & Science: Health Minister Budi Gunadi showcased Indonesia’s genomic advances to Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria, highlighting precision medicine and epidemic preparedness. Digital Economy Push: The government launched efforts to make Indonesia a global content powerhouse, aiming to boost financing and co-production for creators.

Eurasian Trade Push: President Prabowo urged EAEU members to complete ratification of the Indonesia-EAEU FTA, saying it would open five markets to Indonesian producers and give Eurasian firms access to Indonesia’s 290 million consumers. Russia Link-Up: At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Prabowo pitched Indonesia as Russia’s “gateway” to ASEAN, calling for faster cooperation in trade, connectivity, payment systems and joint projects. Malaysia Border & Investment: Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to boost Entikong–Tebedu border trade and strengthen the MIIC-WG under the JTIC framework to improve investment climate and trade facilitation. Wildfire Fallout: Analysis warns unchecked business concessions are behind recurring Indonesian wildfires, worsening haze across the region. Free Meal Crisis: Indonesia reported another wave of food poisoning from government free meals, with more than 1,700 sick in three days. Energy & Climate Risk: UN/WMO warned El Niño is set to become “very strong” into February, raising risks of drought, floods and extreme heat. Urban Transit Gap: Jakarta’s MRT/LRT/TransJakarta ridership rose, but Greater Jakarta remains disconnected from mass transit.

El Niño Alert: The UN weather agency says El Niño is “very strong” and likely to persist through February, raising risks of floods, drought and extreme heat across the region. Haze Crisis in Cebu: Metro Cebu faced a long power-grid red alert while “acutely unhealthy” haze from Indonesian wildfires pushed students and teachers to shift online. Free Meals Fallout: Indonesia reported another wave of suspected food poisoning tied to the government’s free school-meals program, with hundreds hospitalized in East Java and other provinces over the past days. STEM Push for Kids: Indonesia launched a national STEM learning drive for early childhood, using hands-on activities and updated digital materials to curb gadget addiction. Bank Indonesia Leadership: Destry Damayanti was sworn in as Bank Indonesia’s first female governor, pledging stability and tighter coordination as the rupiah faces global volatility. Indonesia-Russia Trade: President Prabowo urged Russian investment in 138 new energy blocks and highlighted deeper ties under the I-EAEU free trade plan. Court Upholds TaniHub Case: The Jakarta High Court upheld former BRI Ventures chief Nicko Widjaja’s three-year sentence in the TaniHub investment case. Digital Child Safety: UNICEF warns 1 in 5 youths are targeted by online sexual abuse, with social media playing a major role.

Central Banking & Investment Climate: Bank Indonesia told G20 Finance Ministers and central bank governors that policy certainty, anchored inflation expectations, and clear communications are key to attracting investment and supporting jobs. Forest Fires Crackdown: Indonesia’s Environment Ministry launched enforcement against 21 firms after fires scorched about 11,400 hectares across Kalimantan and Sumatra, with investigators verifying sites and installing monitoring markers. Illegal Mining Probe: Indonesia charged two Chinese nationals over alleged illegal gold mining in North Sulawesi, with roles traced from field supervision to operation coordination; suspects face up to 10 years in prison. Visa Policy Shift: Thailand moves to tighten visa-free access for Americans and Europeans, cutting stays to 30 days from Sept. 15, while some ASEAN countries keep longer allowances. Energy & Climate Pressure: As El Niño intensifies, Indonesia ramps up wildfire response including cloud-seeding and aircraft, warning the heat and dryness are accelerating fire spread. Geopolitics: President Prabowo is in Russia for the Eastern Economic Forum, with Putin calling Indonesia a key Southeast Asia partner. Education Links: Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed on student/lecturer exchanges, joint degrees, research, and expanded scholarships. Digital Infrastructure & Finance: BI and regional partners highlight AI-ready systems and payments upgrades, including VTB expanding QR payments in Indonesia and the Philippines.