Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
15 February 2024 | 09:24 a.m. SAST
2 minute read

Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s Defence Minister, has claimed victory in the presidential election after preliminary vote counts showed that he is well ahead of his opponents.

The outcome of the elections holds significant implications for Indonesia’s future trajectory domestically and in the broader Southeast Asia region, Foreign Policy Analyst Sanusha Naidu, told Radio Islam.

“[There are] about two hundred million people registered to vote in Indonesia, so it’s one of the biggest elections in the Southeast Asia region, but also it’s one of the biggest elections in the world,” Naidu said.

Amidst rain and inclement weather disrupting election day proceedings, concerns over regional politics and international relations with key players like China and the US are being considered.

Meanwhile, in India, the capital, New Delhi, has been locked down as farmers protest over crop prices, demanding accountability from the government. Allegations of unfulfilled promises regarding increased subsidies for crops have sparked unrest, leading to clashes between farmers and law enforcement.

“Last year, there were promises made following similar types of protest where the government decided that they would actually pay farmers an increased subsidy for their crop,” Naidu said.

Clashes between farmers and police have brought the city to a standstill. “Farmers had become quite agitated and descended onto New Delhi… And what police had done is they barricaded the city and they barricaded the roads, especially from the rural areas coming into the city. And they ended up in major clashes between police and farmers with tear gas… And this doesn’t work well for the image of the Modi government,” Naidu said.

The protests underscore the vital role farmers play in India’s food security and highlight growing discontent with the government’s handling of agricultural policies.

In Australia, a different kind of struggle unfolds as more Australians resort to shoplifting groceries amidst rising food prices and dissatisfaction with supermarket chains.

“The Australian economy hasn’t really been, well like every economy in the world, hasn’t been doing very well… More and more people are finding themselves in a very desperate set of times and they are beginning to realise that the food inflation, theprice of food, has been skyrocketing,” Naidu said.

Naidu related the incident to South Africa’s increasing food insecurity and hunger.

Economic strains exacerbated by the pandemic have pushed individuals to desperate measures, reflecting broader issues of food insecurity and economic inequality. The case underscores the urgent need for systemic solutions to address affordability challenges and ensure access to essential goods.

Listen to the Asia-Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.