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In focus
- The corruption probe drawing in figures from major tech firms
- Indonesia signals it’s serious about cleaning up startup governance
Hello reader,
Indonesia’s tech sector has brought in billions, built unicorns, and even sent founders like Gojek’s Nadiem Makarim into the government.
Now, after scandals like eFishery, that tech-government relationship has come under more pressure.
Today’s Big Story looks at the 9.9 trillion rupiah (US$608 million) Chromebook procurement program that was supposed to transform classrooms. Spearheaded by Makarim during his time as education minister, it’s become a full-blown corruption investigation.
Prosecutors allege the project was steered toward Google’s Chromebooks despite earlier recommendations for Windows devices. Prices were reportedly inflated, while many devices were ultimately unusable in remote areas.
Four people have been named as suspects, some with ties to the country’s major tech companies. Makarim has been questioned and placed under a travel ban, but he remains a witness – not a suspect.
As if that’s not enough, just this week, Indonesian authorities detained two ex-TaniHub executives and the CEO of state VC firm MDI Ventures in a separate corruption case.
In the Spotlight, I ponder how legal action is perhaps the only deterrent powerful enough to prevent these blunders.
Putra Muskita, editor
The Big Story
Indonesia’s Chromebook corruption probe, in visuals
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Indonesia’s Chromebook rollout was meant to modernize classrooms. But behind the scenes, a quiet network of tech insiders helped steer decisions that are now under scrutiny.
Spotlight
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