margaret scott

[Tom Wright @TomWrightAsia]

Google’s big problem in Indonesia.

Yesterday I wrote about Indonesia’s political witch hunt of former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim — who is spending Xmas in jail, away from his wife and kids.

Prosecutors allege (with extremely flimsy evidence, to be clear) that Nadiem colluded with Google. How so?

The accusation is that Nadiem’s ministry bought Google Chromebooks for Indonesian schools. In return, Google invested in his ride-hailing company, GoJek.

The allegations of this supposed corrupt quid pro quo are without any basis in fact. The timelines don’t match, the motives are unbelievable, and, most importantly, the prosecution hasn’t bothered to go after Google.

If Google was bribing a minister by investing in his company, wouldn’t Indonesian authorities indict Google too? But they’ve only charged Nadiem.

The argument that Google — a company with a nearly $2 trillion market cap —would risk a massive international corruption scandal (and violating the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) for a project worth less than 0.1% of its annual revenue is the primary reason many observers find the prosecution's case weak.

GoJek was Indonesia’s unicorn — a tech company at the forefront of the nation’s transformation. Google — like Seqouia, Facebook, and many other powerhouses — was happy to invest.

Now Google is caught in a difficult situation. Here’s what they’ve said:

"Although we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, we are committed to complying with all applicable laws, including those in Indonesia."

Pretty standard no comment. But if this charade goes on, can Google remain on the sidelines?

What’s really going on behind the scenes is unclear. Indonesian politics is messy — and this affair risks further damaging the nation’s global standing.

In the meantime, you’d hope Google would find the mettle to publicly support a partner in whom they bet so much.

[margaret scott @mascott99]

The Real Reasons for the Thai-Cambodia Conflict https://t.co/om1eHApOhA lewat @CFR_org
Here's Josh Kurlantzick's take on what's behind the border fight:

[Sheila Coronel @SheilaCoronel]

Very disappointed that @WSJ fired @selena_cheng for defending press freedom in Hong Kong. Selena is a #cjsStabile @columbiajourn alumna.

[Gwen Robinson @RobinsonBKK]

Life in (and out of) post-coup Myanmar: book launch @FCCThai of essays by academics, activists, artists & writers, Mon. July 1, 7pm, all welcome https://t.co/0I1QwQbFbh

[New York Southeast Asia Network @NYSEA_network]

Are you interested in joining a community of students and professionals with a shared interest in Southeast Asian culture, politics, and society? Become a member of the New York Southeast Asia Network today!

Apply here! https://t.co/5B8g8CLuIC

[margaret scott @mascott99]

@RobinsonBKK thanks for this up to the minute, grim reporting.

[Gwen Robinson @RobinsonBKK]

As Northern Rakhine state burns and tens of thousands of people are displaced, dark echoes of communal tensions & violence that targeted Rohingya Muslims underlie historic triumphs for Arakha Army and Myanmar's anti-regime forces. See update @NikkeiAsia https://t.co/CHbIfnYQDt

[Columbia Daily Spectator @ColumbiaSpec]

And one of our photographers took over 100 portraits of members of the community, who all had their own message to Columbia: https://t.co/9B0pR1ji1J

[Columbia Daily Spectator @ColumbiaSpec]

In collaboration with @NYMag, @ColumbiaSpec created the magazine’s new cover package, providing an intimate look at the crisis on the ground at Columbia University that has gripped the nation. Writing and photography was done entirely by our staff.

🔗: https://t.co/HKdf5VVtX5

[margaret scott @mascott99]

Bravo Columbia Spectator! https://t.co/rBb4BRq7aA

[margaret scott @mascott99]

CJS Fact-Check is making a fantastic contribution. Thanks!

[CJS FACT-CHECK @CJS_FACTCHECK]

Want to learn more about who we are and what we're doing? Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions here: https://t.co/Tg61FRd7TD

[Sheila Coronel @SheilaCoronel]

It’s nearly midnight & the ⁦@columbiajourn⁩ newsroom is buzzing.

[Jonathan Corpus Ong @jonathan_c_ong]

Happening now: Elections and Political Change in Southeast Asia Conference at @nyuniversity featuring @SheilaCoronel discussing Philippine middle-classes’ disenchantment with democratic promises 🔥

[New York Southeast Asia Network @NYSEA_network]

📣 Attention enthusiasts of Southeast Asian politics! 📣

There is still time to register for NYSEAN's conference on "Elections and Political Change in Southeast Asia Conference" at NYU! Join us this Friday, April 26th: https://t.co/pJt21Sim5k

[margaret scott @mascott99]

Congrats Peter!

[Peter Mandaville @pmandaville]

Excited to join the Biden-Harris administration today and swear in as the Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement at USAID! https://t.co/o0NqwvibnG

[Andreas Harsono @andreasharsono]

Kursus ini berguna buat wartawan, aktivis, yang ingin menulis dengan bertenaga, mengikat pembaca, sudah berlangsung sejak 2001 bersama Janet Steele dan saya https://t.co/cpyge47AXw

[Meredith Weiss @merweissphd]

Now cheaper! 😀

[sidney jones @sidneyIPAC]

Here's the latest report on the political maneuvering and potential for violence in Mindanao prior to the 2025 BARMM elections. https://t.co/IvtWDXMoLV

[Allen Hicken @a2hicken]

For those interested, our latest book is finally out in paperback! h/t @merweissphd, @EdwardAspinall , and Paul Hutchcroft! Click here: https://t.co/SrnV5ldAEb

[Gwen Robinson @RobinsonBKK]

A staggering 2.8m people in Myanmar are internally displaced -5% of population.. countless more have fled the country. On Mon night April 1 @FCCThai screens 4 short films with powerful insights into the IDP (& refugee) crisis. All welcome, 150 baht entry
https://t.co/OuJkFT8Dq3

[ANU Indonesia Institute @IndonesiaatANU]

The ANU Indonesia Institute is now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on ANU's huge range of activities, programs, and research on Indonesia!