New Indonesia leader strikes harsher tone as he takes power

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s new leader Prabowo Subianto endeared himself to voters as a kindly grandfather vowing to give free meals to schoolchildren. Now to get things rolling in South-east Asia’s largest economy, the president is signaLling a strongman approach. The former general used his maiden speech on Sunday (Oct 20) to rail against corruption and poverty, a...

Prabowo completes whirlwind tour of Asean countries ahead of inauguration

JAKARTA: Defence Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto has completed a high-profile diplomatic tour of five Asean nations a little over a month before his inauguration as the country’s new leader in October, a move seen by many as a way to bolster the country’s influence within the region amid rising tensions. The tour started on Thursday...

Indonesia president-elect Prabowo recovering well from leg surgery, says spokesman

JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto has undergone leg surgery but is continuing to work as he recovers, a spokesman said Tuesday. The defence minister and former general, who had suffered for years from a limp attributed to parachuting accidents, underwent surgery on his left leg at the National Defence Central Hospital in Jakarta, his team...

Malaysia expresses preparedness to cooperate with Indonesia on peacekeeping efforts, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has expressed its preparedness to cooperate with Indonesia in peacekeeping assignment if given a mandate by the United Nations, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the matter was discussed with Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto during a three-minute phone conversation on Monday (July 1). "In the three-minute phone conversation, we exchanged views...