Indonesia Highlights: Minister Named as Suspect in Covid-19 Social Aid Graft | Malaysia Deports Over 240 Illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers | Thousands Flee as Flooding in Indonesia’s North Aceh Spreads

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – For two consecutive weeks, Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission, or known by its acronym KPK, has named two cabinet ministers as suspects in different alleged graft cases.

Last week, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo was arrested over lobster seed export. Edhy then immediately tendered his resignation letter to President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo.

In the early hours of Sunday, Social Affairs Minister Juliari P Batubara, along with four others, were suspected of alleged involvement in the graft case related to Covid-19 social assistance.

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri said that Juliari had allegedly accepted about 17 billion rupiahs ($1.2 million) in bribes. He was accused of receiving fees from the companies that distributed staple food packages to the poor. The government-led program to alleviate the burden of the people during the Covid-19 pandemic was done by the ministry and vendors from the private sector.

Meanwhile, 245 illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) have been deported from Malaysia for violating immigration laws and for their involvement in other crimes.

During the process, one of the migrant workers was sent to the Port Health Authority and the Covid-19 Task Force for further treatment after the results of the rapid test was reactive.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors: