Episode 207 (with Maxwell Abbott)

We examine new data on air quality and disease risk from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), as Palangkaraya's measurement for 2.5 μm particulates averaged an astounding 120 μg/m3 throughout September - 24 times the maximum safe WHO guideline of 5 μg/m3, and conditions worsened in October.  CREA's analysis examines what this means for residents, especially children, and what should constitute a national disaster.  Also: Kevin and Erin discuss the mass mobilization of Marines to Jakarta last week, a supposed eavesdropping operation that allegedly constitutes treason, and incipient moves to impeach the vice president.Read CREA's report here: https://energyandcleanair.org/indonesias-air-pollution-deaths-surged-by-42-in-september-as-government-resists-declaring-karhutla-a-national-emergency/Watch YouTube version of Reformasi Dispatch here: https://youtu.be/IBZ5NfOR2_MIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Student protesters returned again to the HI Roundabout and faced off with police in an orderly but eminently civil manner, with fire haze at the forefront.  The MSCI calamity is still roiling the market, as Danantara's CIO Pandu Sjahrir emerged as a shareholder in a securities firm complicit, allegedly, in fraudulent trading. And KPK investigators are taking aim, ominously, at alleged tobacco-excise tax malfeasance on the part of Djarum -- the cigarette producer with the same owners as BCA (coincidence?). BCA remains the object of takeover rumors since the seemingly hostile and state-abetted acquisition of shares in Bayan Resources by Haji Isam's Jhonlin Group. Also: rhetoric-slinging from Indonesian officials and former officials on Singapore.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Another dire and unanticipated warning from MSCI precipitated another crash of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), and for insights we consulted the Indonesia-based  independent equities analyst Angus Mackintosh of Cross ASEAN Research.  Also: Kevin and Erin discuss another limited reshuffle of some key posts, startling poll findings, Bali fuel queues and the arrival (and departure) of the first key deadline in the election-preparation process.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Munira Mustaffa joins then podcast for a discussion of memetic violence in Southeast Asia as well as Russian recruiting of Indonesians for combat in Ukraine.  Also: a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle delicately preserves the status quo, and the oresident revives the defunct Advisory Council (Wantimpres).It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Smoke and mirrors this week in Indonesia: Palangkaraya's air-quality index (AQI) routinely tops 1,000; a technocratic new finance minister suddenly takes over; Nadiem must appeal again; a ferry disaster kills over 130; and elites start maneuvering for an election. Also: in Malaysia, Najib Razaq wins house arrest.Please visit our YouTube channel as well: https://youtube.com/@reformasidispatchIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Nazir Foead, formerly head of the now defunct Peatland Restoration Agency (Badan Pengelola Gambut) joins Kevin and Erin to talk about the fire ravaging Indonesia, especially peatland fires, of which Indonesia has 12-14 million hectares of. Also: The rise of Dedy Mulyadi's popularity gives Prabowo a run for his money, a string of disasters, natural and man-made struck Indonesia: Anak Krakatau eruption, forest and land fire, food poisoning that strikes over 2000 children in a week. And finally, Haji Isam gets an offer he couldn't refuse.Watch the Youtube version here: https://youtu.be/VP9wdk-4yK0It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

New data provided insights on smog-producing emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx), which we discuss with the analyst Katherine Hasan of the Centre for Clean Energy and Air (Crea).  Also: Kevin and Erin delve into the nuances surrounding a moderate-sized demonstration, plans for a commodity trading bourse and cross-border haze from forest-and-land fires.Read CREA's report here: https://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EN-CREA_Press-release_First-of-its-kind-satellite-based-analysis-reveals-29-hazardous-NOx-hotspots-across-Indonesia.docx.pdfIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

As Indonesia's export control policies increasingly attract attention, Vietnam is tentatively embracing the Korean Chaebol model.  Max Abbott, a seasoned analyst of both countries, helps compare and contrast their respective policy approaches.  Spoiler: the more market-oriented trajectory happens to be in the Communist country...Watch the YouTube version here: https://youtu.be/JqoB5jbxK18It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Magnitsky human rights award recipient for Outstanding Young Human Rights Activist Award and activist of the human rights NGO #Sisters2Sisters joins the Reformasi Dispatch podcast to share the realities of oppression in Myanmar and the diplomatic gains being made by the junta in Asean and beyond.  Also, Kevin and Erin discuss the ouster of Indonesia's central bank governor and the upcoming pre-trial suit of the disgraced deputy attorney general Febrie Adriansyah.Watch the Youtube version here: https://youtu.be/NvJjNcD4rMwIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Reliable new polling suggests the national mood may be shifting away from the president.  BI's esteemed governor abruptly resigns and attention will focus on whether the central bank will fall fully under personalized political control. MUI discusses Anti-LGBT legislation. A push is underway for recycling and composting in Jakarta.  And the ASEAN Ministers Meeting marks another incremental step towards accepting Myanmar's junta.Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y-IgjajkciEIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!