What Happened
On Mar 6, 2026?

National Policy Updates

Mental Health Advocacy: Mendagri Mandates APBD Allocation for Youth

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian has instructed regional governments (Pemda) to prioritize child and adolescent mental health in their 2026 budgets.

• Funding Mandate: Regional heads are required to allocate specific funds within the APBD for mental health programs. For regions with fiscal limitations, the central government will provide interventions.
• Inter-Ministerial Action: A Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) was signed on March 5, 2026, by nine ministers (including Health, Education, and Social Affairs) to synchronize prevention and handling strategies.
• Accountability: The Ministry of Home Affairs will issue a Circular Letter (SE) and proposes an incentive/award mechanism for regions that successfully implement youth mental health programs.

Industrial Strategy: Addressing Nickel Oversupply in 2026

The nickel sector faces significant pressure from global oversupply and price volatility entering 2026.

• Regulatory Control: Under PP 28/2025, the government is restricting new smelters, particularly for Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) and Ferronickel (FeNi).
• Hilirisasi Shift: Experts from the Energy Shift Institute suggest moving away from export-dependency toward domestic manufacturing (e.g., kitchenware, construction frames) to stabilize the industry.
• RKAB Policy: The government aims to use annual Work Plans and Budget (RKAB) quotas based on finished products (MHP, NPI) rather than just mining activity to ensure environmental sustainability.

Civil-Servant Status Re-Labeled: “PNS/PPPK” Erased in Favor of Unified “ASN” Tag

Jakarta – Beginning 2026, the occupations column on national ID cards (KTP) and family cards (KK) will no longer read “PNS” or “PPPK” but will instead show the uniform designation “ASN” (Aparatur Sipil Negara). The change is anchored in Permendagri No. 6/2026, replacing Permendagri No. 109/2019.

• Structural Revision: Under the 2026 ASN Law Revision, the "Part-time PPPK" status has been abolished. The system will now only recognize PNS and Full-time PPPK.
• Transition: Existing part-time holders have until late 2026 to transition to full-time status based on competency evaluations.

New Merit System Regulations: PermenPANRB 19/2025

Vice Minister of PANRB Purwadi Arianto stated that PermenPANRB No. 19/2025 aims for a "World Class Bureaucracy 2045" by focusing on integrity and neutrality, integrating talent management with objective merit indices.

National Environmental Drive: 'Indonesia ASRI' Movement

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian issued a Circular Letter (SE) institutionalizing the Indonesia Aman, Sehat, Resik, Indah (ASRI) movement, mandating weekly cleanups every Tuesday and Friday.

Digital Protection: Youth Access Restrictions – 16-and-Under Social-Media Ban in Force 28 March

Starting March 28, 2026, Komdigi will enforce age-based restrictions for high-risk digital platforms, requiring strict verification systems.

• Historic First: Indonesia becomes the first non-Western country to implement a mandated digital-delay system for under-16s, barring access to social media and messaging services deemed high-risk.
• Gradual Roll-out: Accounts will be disabled progressively, not overnight. Platforms required to comply at launch include TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, YouTube Kids, Spotify Kids, X (formerly Twitter), and other major apps.
• Parental Focus: Communications Minister Meutya Viada Hafid emphasized the policy shields children from pornography, cyberbullying, scams and addictive algorithmic design, describing the move as “a way to reclaim our children’s future from manipulative algorithms”.

New Lobster Regulation: Permen KP No. 5/2026

The government has officially banned the export of Clear Lobster Seeds (BBL) to Vietnam. Exports are now only permitted for cultivated lobsters of minimum 50 grams to boost local economic value.

PP 9/2026 & PMK 13/2026: THR & 13th-Month Salary Technical Guidelines

President Prabowo signed PP 9/2026 allocating IDR 55 trillion for 2026 Eid bonuses. Following this, the Ministry of Finance issued PMK No. 13/2026 as a comprehensive technical guide.

• Direct Disbursement: Payments will be made directly to recipients via the SPM-LS (Direct Payment Order) and SP2D (Fund Disbursement Order) mechanisms to ensure transparency.
• Funding Source: The budget is charged to the DIPA of each government unit (satker).
• Inclusion Polemic: While the PMK streamlines civil servant (ASN) and retiree payments, a polemic remains regarding Part-time PPPK personnel who are currently excluded from the list, leading to calls for regional intervention.

Economic Resilience: Fitch Outlook Revision & Financial Sector Oversight

While Indonesia's sovereign rating remains at BBB, Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook to Negative as of March 2026, citing global volatility.

• Oversight: The OJK has conducted a search of Mirae Asset offices regarding suspected capital market crimes.
• Growth & Fintech: BI projects 2026 GDP growth at 4.9–5.7%. In the fintech sector, Akulaku Finance targets 12% growth in new financing for 2026 after recording Rp7.44 trillion in 2025.
• Gold Investment: Pegadaian is expanding gold investment access via the PRIMA network.

Parliament & Legislation Tracker

RUU PPRT: Urgency and Structural Protection Demands

The Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) has gained significant momentum following calls from high-ranking officials and civil society.

• High-Level Support: MPR Vice Chair Lestari Moerdijat urged immediate passage, noting that the bill has been stalled for 22 years (since 2004). She highlighted that 3,308 cases of violence against domestic workers were reported between 2021-2024.
• Civil Society Recommendations: During an RDPU with Baleg DPR on March 5, a coalition (Komnas Perempuan, JALA PRT, YLBHI) demanded that worker status be formalized via written contracts, recognition of the right to unionize, and an arbitration mechanism under the Ministry of Manpower to resolve disputes efficiently.
• Mediation Focus: Baleg Chairman Bob Hasan confirmed discussions with the Ministry of Manpower regarding institutional frameworks for mediation to ensure legal certainty for both workers and employers.
• Timeline: Baleg aims to finalize the bill within 2026, with public hearings scheduled to include labor unions and business associations.

Election Law Stagnation

Puskapol UI and Perludem warn that delays in the Revision of the Election Law could disrupt the 2029 cycle.

Corruption Probes: Regional Scandals

• Luwu (South Sulawesi): Five suspects, including former MP Muhammad Fauzi and Deputy Speaker Zulkifli, were detained on March 5 for extorting farmer groups in the P3-TGAI irrigation case.
• Pekalongan: MP Mukhtaruddin Ashraff Abu remains under KPK investigation regarding IDR 1.1 billion in local corruption.
• Linked Meeting in Solo: KPK detainee Fadia Arafiq—Bupati of Pekalongan—had earlier visited Joko Widodo in Solo to personally hand over wedding invitations for Prabowo’s child before competing in the 2024 Pekalongan regency election. President Jokowi commented: “Salute the legal process”.

DPRD Seat Re-Shuffle: Bali Calculations

Bali Provincial KPU Chairman I Dewa Agung Gede Lidartawan released 2025 population-based simulations showing Kabupaten Buleleng risks losing 2 legislature seats in DPRD Bali, potential beneficiaries being Denpasar & Badung due to rapid demographic growth.

• Mechanism: Calculated through Bilangan Pembagi Penduduk (BPP); final 2026 data (semester I/II) will serve as the baseline for 2027 elections.
• Klungkung must also merge its constituency (e.g., with Bangli) to keep ≥3 seats per zone mandatory under Constitutional Court ruling.

Street Protest: DPR Sieged Over BoP, US-Indonesia Cooperation

• Demands: On 6 March, hundreds of citizens and students surrounded the Parliament complex carrying Palestinian flags, demanding:
  1. Cancellation of Indonesia-US trade or partnership agreements;
  2. Rejection of Board-of-Peace (BoP) membership;
  3. Blocking Indonesian military deployment to Gaza.
• Security: 1,436 joint personnel from Metro Jaya Police and Jakarta Central Police secured the protest, ensuring a non-violent assembly.

Regional Governance Updates

Sulawesi Selatan – Clean Energy from Waste: Makassar PSEL Contract Secured

• Contract Award: PT Grand Puri Indonesia–SUS Environment consortium has officially won the tender to build the Waste-to-Electricity (PSEL) plant in Makassar, transitioning 1,200 tpd of municipal waste into 20–25 MW of renewable power.
• Governor’s Support: Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman emphasised waste management as a top priority after meeting with Environment & Forestry Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, pushing Makassar onto the national short-list for central-government funding and technical assistance.
• Location Still Undecided: Land-use negotiations ongoing among Provincial, City and community stakeholders;
• Timeline: Construction scheduled 2026–2028, with power-purchase agreement negotiations beginning Q2-2026.

Kalimantan Selatan – Bangga Kencana Targets Stunting Reduction

• Governor: H. Muhidin, represented by Acting Assistant for Public Welfare H.M Muslim, opened the 2026 Bangga Kencana Provincial Coordination Meeting in Banjarmasin.
• Stunting Progress: Governor reports five-year downward trend in stunting prevalence, attributing success to integrated programmes: – Genting: Foster-parent movement for high-risk toddlers; – Tamasya: Early-childhood nutrition centres (Taman Asuh Sayang Anak); – GATI: Promoting model-father behaviour; – MBG Free Meals for pregnant women, nursing mothers & under-5s.
• 2045 Goals: Demographic bonus management and ageing-population preparations highlighted in joint commitment signed among BKKBN Kalsel, 13 regencies/cities and myriad stakeholders (200 attendees).

Papua Barat – Governor Lobbies Minister of Trade for Market Revitalisation

• Meeting: Governor Drs. Dominggus Mandacan, M.Si met Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on 6 March, accompanied by provincial secretaries, heads of Bappeda, Dinas Perindustrian & Perdagangan, Education Offices and other senior staff.
• Proposed Infrastructure: – Construction / revitalisation of people’s markets (pasar rakyat) across regencies; – Provincial distribution warehouse to stabilise commodity prices; – Thematic markets showcasing native Papuan commodities (spices, forest products, fisheries); – Upgraded sanitation, roads and cold-storage.
• Mechanism: Requested support via APBN funding, inter-ministerial synergy and public–private partnerships, all aimed at benefiting Orang Asli Papua (OAP) micro-entrepreneurs and consumers.

Sulawesi Selatan – Makassar Prepares for ASITA National Conference

• Host Readiness: Vice-Mayor Aliyah Mustika Ilham received ASITA South Sulawesi Board (Didi L. Manaba – Chair; Hakam Sanusi – Deputy; Ratu Noorita – Secretary) to discuss RANAS (Rapat Kerja Nasional) II scheduled for mid-2026 in the city.
• Economic Impact Expected: 1,000 + industry delegates; city budgeting for venue upgrades, Dufan Makassar culinary expos and city-tour packages.
• Collaboration: Tourism Office Achmad Hendra Hakamuddin pledged full municipal support for logistics, safety and co-branding with existing PSEL green-initiative promotions.