Now pushing 40, instead of singing our own praises, The Jakarta Post reached out to a handful of distinguished readers on their views of the role we fill in the national media landscape.

The government has expressed confidence that the tradition of mudik (exodus) in which millions of people throughout the country return to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri, will not cause another wave of COVID-19 cases.

The move comes as the government shifts to preventing rather than treating disease in its public health approach.

The Supreme Court has rejected a petition to revoke provisions on consent in a progressive regulation for on-campus sexual violence, much to the relief of those who have been fighting to end violence against women.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has named four suspects, including a senior government official, in a case of corruption that led to a lack of of cooking oil and high prices for the commodity on the local market.

Public activity restriction (PPKM) level 2 is extended in all Greater Jakarta areas until May 9.

A Health Ministry official said the PeduliLindungi app did not violate any human rights, noting that a US government report merely raised civil society concerns on privacy interference.

The rate of COVID-19 testing in Indonesia has dropped significantly in the last two months as the pandemic situation continues to improve across the country after the Omicron-fueled third wave reached its peak in mid-February.

The March study of 2,100 people, conducted on Java and Bali revealed 99.2 percent of people had COVID antibodies, a 6 percentage point increase from a December survey.

Easter celebrations went smoothly with people returning to church as the coronavirus pandemic recedes, despite the number of church visitors still being limited.

The move marks a step forward in the case that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said constituted a “gross human rights violation.”

Rights groups are calling on the government to immediately prepare the law's implementing regulations.

Indonesia has seen a declining number of daily COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks despite the continued relaxation of pandemic rules and an increase in public mobility.

The government is seeking to improve childhood vaccination rates this year, which have been greatly impacted by disruption in health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and as parents avoid doctor's visits over fears of contracting the coronavirus.

The government has expanded its free mudik transportation program amid the surge in demand from people eager to unite with their families back home over the holiday season.

Lawmakers make good on their promise to pass a bill that offers greater protection for survivors of harassment and other forms of sexual violence.

Lawmakers passed the bill in a plenary meeting on Tuesday after deliberations were fast-tracked in late March, which marked a culmination for activists after years of campaigning for the passage of the bill.

Indonesia’s many Muslims rejoice as the government relaxes most pandemic-era restrictions to allow for the annual mudik exodus to take place, the first in two years.

The holiday arrangement means that many offices across the country will be closed for the first week of May.

CISDI is urging the government to impose excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages amid lacking support in handling the country's growing diabetes crisis.

Bill is a comprehensive legal framework in handling sexual violence much awaited by the Indonesian public.

The acting corporate secretary of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, a Pertamina subsidiary, confirmed on Thursday that the company had yet to import crude oil from Russia, adding that the plan was still being studied.

The government has declared May 2 and 3 national Idul Fitri holidays, alongside mandatory collective leave on April 29 and May 4 to 6, an arrangement that will see many offices closed for the whole first week of May.

The case against Munarman, a former secretary-general and spokesperson of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), follows the jailing last year of FPI leader, Rizieq Shihab, for spreading false information about COVID-19. Followers of the controversial organisation have said the cases are politically motivated.

The Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK) has frozen 345 accounts allegedly related to illegal investment schemes worth Rp 588 billion (US$40.9 million).

The court handed down its verdict on Monday after prosecutors filed an appeal against a lower court’s sentence of life imprisonment.

The government's COVID-19 booster program has seen the number of daily recipients double following the publicization of the mudik travel requirements.

Indonesia has moved a step closer to enacting sexual violence law as lawmakers and government officials completed deliberations on the bill at the working committee level on Monday. Much to the relief of women’s groups, it contains progressive provisions that expand on the definition of sexual violence.

It is important that Indonesia, which holds the rotating Group of 20 (G20) presidency this year, swiftly pass its long-awaited personal data protection (PDP) bill to ensure that the country can have a stronger footing in leading discussions on cross-border data flows among members, experts have said.

A recent survey by Kompas has found that while a majority of Indonesians would support reviving the now defunct state policy guidelines (PPHN) through a constitutional amendment, many remain concerned that the process could be hijacked by other political interests.