The Indonesian hex: When political rhetoric rewrites reality
The administration has erected a political hologram over Indonesia’s economic landscape.
President Prabowo Subianto has set up a political illusion over Indonesia's economic scene, mirroring a reality-warping "Hex" in the WandaVision show. In his Aug. 14 State of the Nation address, he portrayed an affluent Indonesia disconnected from citizens' actual economic struggles. He depicted a housewife earning an inflated Rp 700,000 per kilogram for peeling onions, when in truth, she earns Rp 700 per kilogram as a part-time sewing and food-washing worker.
The administration markets its economic strategies as a transformation, citing initiatives like free nutritious meals and thousands of state cooperatives. However, these programs have failed due to poor administration and lack of demand. The asset fund Danantara's push to streamline state enterprises promises efficiency, but without oversight, it merely consolidates power without improving productivity.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
