Madewasraya Bali Ceremony: Reading the Cosmic Clock
In our previous article about the upcoming ceremony of Madewasraya centred on Pura Tuluk Biyu in Kintamani, we introduced the idea that in Balinese philosophy time isn’t something that just passes in a linear sense. In this article, we’re going to try and expand on that. If you’ve lived in Bali for long enough, you’ll […]
Danantara Indonesia: Can It Match Norway’s Oil Fund?
Looking closely at Danantara Indonesia brings into focus two nations, two fortunes, and two very different ideas of stewardship. I grew up watching Norway save. Instead of spending our wealth, we chose to save it. When oil came out of the North Sea, our leaders decided to lock most of it away for future generations. […]
Why Indonesia’s Wealth Strategy Works for Family Offices
For decades, global wealth management centered on a few established financial hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and London. Indonesia rarely entered those discussions. That dynamic is changing rapidly. Jakarta is not trying to replace Singapore as a hyper-liquid trading hub. Instead, Indonesian policymakers are actively courting a different class of investor—one that prioritizes multi-generational […]
Madewasraya in Bali: The Cosmology Behind the 2026 Ceremony
Most people view time as a straight line. Seconds become minutes, hours turn into days, and life moves forward according to digital clocks. In Bali, time works differently. Local traditions follow sacred calendars that assign unique spiritual qualities to different days. Specific moments suit building a house, starting a journey, or holding a temple ceremony. […]
Indonesia 2045: Ambition Is No Longer the Problem. Execution Is
Every country has a vision. Walk into the planning ministries of almost any developing nation, and you will find ambitious blueprints and glossies detailing a prosperous future. Yet, history tells us that some countries write brilliant plans that never leave the pages of government reports, while others quietly turn those long-term goals into roads, factories, […]
Danantara, BUMN Reform, and Indonesia’s Next Chapter
Indonesia has never been shy about thinking big. From downstreaming nickel and minerals to creating sovereign investment vehicles and pushing strategic industries, the country has been steadily moving toward a stronger and more coordinated economic model. Some see this as intervention. Others see it as long-term nation building. The latest move comes through Presidential Instruction […]
Eighty-One Years On, A President Raises His Fist
Jakarta, August 14. Friday morning. Parliament sits. The cameras roll. Gibran listens from his seat beside the podium. Somewhere in the room, Jokowi watches the man who succeeded him deliver a speech neither of them could have written the same way. Prabowo Subianto stands before the MPR for the second time as president. Fist raised. […]
Why Prabowo Chose Purbaya: A New Fiscal Mind for Indonesia’s Next Growth Era
1. From Technocrat to Nation Builder Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa may not yet be a household name globally, but within Indonesia’s economic circles, he’s long been respected as a measured, data-driven, and nationally minded economist. With a background that blends engineering logic (ITB) and U.S.-trained economic insight (Purdue University), he brings both analytical precisionand global credibility […]
Why Many Still Doubt Prabowo — and Why He Still Has a Chance to Prove Them Wrong
Legacy, Shadows, and the Long Arc of Redemption Roots of a Legacy: The Djojohadikusumo Lineage To understand Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s current president and one of its most polarizing figures, one must first look backward — deep into the roots of his family’s history, where nationalism, intellect, and controversy have long intertwined. Prabowo is not just […]
#2 Inside Indonesia: A Nation Consolidating for the Future
Opening Note The past week reminds us that Indonesia’s process of consolidation is far from linear. Protests erupted nationwide, sparked by inequality and elite excess—and what began as outrage at parliamentary perks has morphed into a broader contest over who controls the state and whether centralized reforms are legitimate. In response, President Prabowo has moved […]