Latest news with #Gibran
Asia News Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- Asia News Network
Indonesia VP Gibran's Papua test: The Jakarta Post
July 22, 2025 JAKARTA – The administration has changed seven times since Papua's official integration into the Republic in 1969, but the old stories of poverty, marginalization and human rights abuses plaguing the natural resource-rich land have remained the same. While previous governments proved unable to offer a lasting solution to the Papua issue, President Prabowo has charged his novice deputy, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to make a difference. Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said recently the President has decided to assign the Vice President to spearhead acceleration of development in Papua. To implement the agenda, Gibran will lead a special body mandated by the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law. Speculation was rife that the Vice President would be required to work directly in Papua, effectively sidelining him from daily political dynamics in Jakarta. However, Yusril clarified that Gibran will not be stationed in Papua. Instead, only staff of the Special Agency for the Acceleration of Development of Special Autonomy for Papua will be based in the region, with the Vice President overseeing the efforts remotely. Gibran's mandate comes on the heels of mounting pressures from a group of retired military generals, many of them were Prabowo supporters in the 2014 and 2019 elections, for the House of Representatives to initiate a move to impeach the Vice President, citing his legally flawed nomination as Prabowo's running mate in the 2024 election. The Constitutional Court changed the age limits for presidential and vice presidential candidates just to give Gibran, the eldest son of then-president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, a shot. The court justices were later found guilty of code of ethics violations. While Prabowo is unlikely to support the motion, rumors of cracks between him and Gibran have spread since old posts from an account allegedly linked to Gibran between 2013 and 2019 surfaced on social media last year. Many of the posts contained insults and inappropriate remarks directed at Prabowo, who back then fought against Jokowi for presidency. In fact, since taking office in October last year, President Prabowo has not clearly specified what he will delegate to his Vice President, who is constitutionally the second man in command of the state. Many believe the Papua stint will be the first major opportunity for Gibran to prove his doubters wrong. However, the central question about the government's new Papua initiative is not regarding Gibran's presumed inadequacy. Previous vice presidents received the same mandate, but the problems characterizing Papua have continued unabated. The formation of a new agency that Gibran will oversee repeats the old top-down approach that has proven to be a failure. It remains unclear whether the government has conducted meaningful public consultation involving various groups and tribes that have long been inhabiting Papua before it came up with the new body, which will focus on accelerating development in Papua. The emphasis on development, too, is a simplification of the deeply rooted and complex history of injustice and underdevelopment in the region. Major infrastructure works were built during the Jokowi administration to fuel the local economy, but provinces in Papua remain the poorest in the country. A significant amount of special autonomy funds has been allocated to Papua, yet they do not translate into improvement of Papuan people's well-being. Corruption and misuse of these funds are believed to be rampant, thanks in part to the central government's weak supervision. Following the formation of new provinces, a move resembling the colonial divide and conquer strategy, the promises of quicker delivery of public services have largely been unfulfilled. Sporadic armed conflicts victimizing civilians remain, but popular yearning for peace in Papua appears elusive as the government keeps its security approach intact. Without adequately addressing the fundamental problems of historical injustice, Papua will remain a burning issue. We can give Gibran the benefit of the doubt, but only if he convinces President Prabowo to pursue a humane and dignified path toward peace and welfare in Papua.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indonesia V-P Gibran's Papua assignment puts spotlight on his place in Prabowo's government
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Political observers said Mr Gibran's (left) assignment should also be viewed through the lens of internal power dynamics within the Prabowo administration. SINGAPORE – Indonesia Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's assignment to oversee development in Papua has triggered scrutiny over his role in President Prabowo Subianto's administration, as observers question whether the move reflects political trust or calculated marginalisation. Mr Gibran was named head of the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Development in Papua in early July, a post created under the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law to help coordinate development across ministries in the underdeveloped eastern region.
Entrepreneur
15-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
AI Startup Gibran Raises USD 2.6 Mn Funding from Together Fund
The Bengaluru-based startup aims to develop foundational AI models that function effectively even with limited data, starting with applications in drug discovery. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. AI research startup Gibran has secured USD 2.6 million in seed funding from the Together Fund, co-founded by Freshworks' Girish Mathrubootham and Eka Software's Manav Garg. The Bengaluru-based startup aims to develop foundational AI models that function effectively even with limited data, starting with applications in drug discovery. Gibran was founded by Govind Balakrishnan and Srikant Chakravarti. Their work combines large language models (LLMs) with systems inspired by nature to enable AI that can generate original ideas by recombining known patterns. This could prove particularly valuable in domains like medical research, where large datasets are often scarce. "Our central thesis is that AI should not replace humans, but rather evolve with them," said Balakrishnan. "That means building systems that learn not just from data, but from people—continuously and contextually." The company plans to license its proprietary AI tools through a research-and-platform model, targeting sectors such as life sciences, education, and media. According to the founders, the goal is to enable AI agents capable of scientific hypothesis generation and creative exploration, supporting human intelligence rather than imitating it.
Asia News Network
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Asia News Network
Indonesian VP Gibran prepares for Papua role as pressure grows for peace talks
July 11, 2025 JAKARTA – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has affirmed his readiness to oversee development and address ongoing human rights issues in Papua, as he prepares to lead the Special Autonomy Acceleration Board in accordance with existing legal mandates. Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra revealed recently that President Prabowo Subianto is finalizing Gibran's assignment to lead a special body mandated by the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law. The law tasks the Vice President with overseeing the coordination, evaluation and harmonization of autonomy and development programs in the country's easternmost province. 'As the President's aide, I am ready to serve anywhere, anytime,' Gibran told reporters during a visit to Klaten Regency, Central Java, on Wednesday, adding that the same assignment was previously held by his predecessor, Ma'ruf Amin. While President Prabowo has yet to issue a formal decree, Gibran said his office has already taken initiative by dispatching teams to Sorong in West Papua and Merauke in South Papua to assess local needs, deliver school supplies and laptops as well as evaluate the implementation of the government's free meal program. When asked whether he would establish an office in Papua, Gibran said he was open to working from any location, be it Jakarta, Papua, or Nusantara in East Kalimantan, the country's future capital where the Vice Presidential Palace is currently under construction. 'It's important for me to regularly visit the regions, engage with business actors, listen to input, accept criticism and conduct evaluations. Being able to work from anywhere and connect with the people, that's what truly matters,' the 37-year-old added. Presidential spokesperson and State Secretary Hadi Prasetyo emphasized on Wednesday that Gibran's assignment to Papua stems from a legal mandate, not a new initiative. 'We want to clarify that it is not accurate to say the President has [personally] assigned the task to Gibran, as the law clearly mandates that the Vice President is responsible for coordinating Papua's development,' Prasetyo said. He further explained that while Gibran will not be permanently based in Papua, the Special Autonomy Acceleration Board's secretariat and operational staff will be stationed there. However, the Vice President may frequently visit or temporarily take up office in Papua as needed. 'It will not be a problem [for the Vice President] to occasionally visit, lead coordinating meetings or even temporarily work from Papua,' Prasetyo added. Soldiers from the Indonesian Army's 112th Raider Infantry Battalion secure a ceremony at a military base in Japakeh, Aceh, on June 25, 2024, ahead of their deployment to Papua. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin) Papua, rich in natural resources, has experienced conflict between separatist groups and security forces since the 1970s, with tensions escalating sharply since 2018 as pro-independence armed groups increased attacks. Many critics argue that the Indonesian Military's (TNI) heavy presence in the region has further deepened the crisis. While the Vice President's presence in Papua may lend symbolic weight to government efforts to maintain stability, human rights groups emphasize that real progress requires a shift from security-focused policies to inclusive, rights-based governance. Amnesty International Indonesia has urged the government to prioritize peaceful dialogue and ensure that Papuan voices are central to developing solutions. 'Dialogue is the most rational and humane path forward,' said Amnesty's Executive Director Usman Hamid on Wednesday, stressing that as long as the government continues a militaristic approach and fails to uphold human rights, the conflict will persist. This view is echoed by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM), which demands that the President 'form a negotiation team to sit at the table with us.'
Business Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Lesson from eFishery's fraud: A wake-up call for Indonesia's startup ecosystem
In late 2024, Indonesia's pride in its first aquaculture unicorn turned to shock when it emerged that eFishery, once valued at US$1.4 billion, was embroiled in a massive fraud. In April, co-founder and former chief executive officer Gibran Huzaifah admitted to systematically manipulating eFishery's financial reports since 2018 to attract investors and 'survive' a cash crunch. He told Bloomberg that the company had been keeping dual books: an accurate internal set and an inflated version for investors. These falsified figures helped eFishery raise funds and avoid bankruptcy, boosting the startup to unicorn status with backing from global investors such as SoftBank, Temasek, Northstar and Sequoia. In truth, eFishery had overstated its revenue at US$752 million for the nine months ending September 2024, rather than US$157 million. It boasted a US$16 million profit for the same period when, in reality, it had lost US$35.4 million. The company even inflated operational metrics (reporting 400,000 fish-feeding devices in use instead of 24,000) to bolster its growth story. Gibran defended the fraud as a desperate act 'to survive' and apologised to stakeholders, especially the farmers the startup had intended to help. But the 'shameful act', as one prominent investor called it, ultimately wiped out an estimated US$300 million in investor value and shattered the credibility of a once-celebrated startup. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The scandal has exposed serious loopholes in Indonesia's legal and regulatory framework for startups. Over the past five years, Indonesia's tech boom largely outpaced its oversight mechanisms. This meant startups such as eFishery operated with minimal regulatory scrutiny, unlike banks or publicly listed firms. Since their financial reports are also not subject to public disclosure or regulatory audits, red flags can go undetected. Moreover, eFishery fell outside the purview of financial regulators. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) confirmed that eFishery was not a licensed financial institution under its supervision. In effect, no government body was actively monitoring eFishery's corporate compliance or investor reporting, a stark loophole that the fraudsters exploited. In Indonesia, fraud enforcement is typically reactive, often requiring aggrieved investors or whistle-blowers to sound the alarm. Indeed, in eFishery's case, it was the company's own board and investors that reported the wrongdoing to the police. Internal governance gaps compounded the problem, as checks and balances are often absent in startups. Analysts noted that eFishery's governance structure lacked independent directors or an audit committee. The failure of external gatekeepers also raised eyebrows – reputable accounting firms had been signing off on eFishery's books, with investors seemingly accepting the implausibly high numbers. This suggests that due diligence was insufficient, highlighting an ecosystem-wide issue where hype sometimes trumps verification. In recent years, Indonesia's regulatory framework for startups and fintech has focused on consumer-facing risks, but not corporate fraud by venture-backed firms. New financial sector laws may have strengthened OJK's powers but they still leave ambiguity about its oversight of venture investments. Even if OJK has the authority to investigate financial misconduct in startups, in practice, it has remained relatively passive. For example, eFishery was removed from OJK's investment alert list a few months after it was added in early 2023. This suggests that OJK's supervisory role may have been insufficient in deterring or even detecting potential fraud. In short, the hands-off approach created a perfect storm where a seemingly high-growth tech startup could inflate its performance for years without rigorous detection. This scandal underscores that good governance and transparency are essential – not optional – for Indonesia's startup ecosystem, and key reforms are critically needed. First, regulatory oversight must improve. The government, including law enforcement, should participate more actively to investigate private-startup fraud. A dedicated startup-monitoring unit or public-private task force could fill current oversight gaps. Even without heavy regulation, requiring high-valuation startups to confidentially report financials would support early detection. Second, investors must conduct more robust due diligence. Venture capitalists should move beyond trust-based investing, by hiring an independent company to perform background checks, as well as requiring bank statement verifications, audited reports and a board-level audit committee. Stronger term sheet protection can also reduce risk. Third, startups must embed corporate governance early. Independent advisers, regular board oversight, reputable finance teams, and internal controls must become standard, even ahead of going public. A thorough supervision by the commissioner and shareholders, as well as a whistle-blower mechanism, can further help detect problems before they escalate. Finally, a cultural shift is needed. Founders, investors and accelerators must prioritise ethics and long-term value over vanity metrics. Celebrating sustainable growth and integrity compliance will help attract responsible capital and rebuild trust. In an era of shrinking investor trust, robust governance is no longer a compliance checkbox; it is the cornerstone of long-term credibility and competitiveness. Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma is a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, specialising in law and criminology. R Bayu Perdana is a partner at RBP Asia who focuses on white-collar crime.
