03/06/2026

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 3, 2026

7 Gojek founder denies wrongdoing

JAKARTA: A former Indonesian education minister and the founder of the country’s largest start-up warned yesterday that investors have been spooked by growing legal risks in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, as he delivered his final defence plea in a high-profile corruption case. Prosecutors alleged that Nadiem o Former education minister warns legal risks deter investors Chinese, US militaries meet BEIJING: China and the US held “candid and constructive” exchanges at a meeting in Hawaii on air and maritime safety last week, agreeing that improved communication could reduce miscalculations and enhance professionalism, the Chinese Navy said. The May 28-29 meeting was attended by representatives from both sides’ militaries, it said in a statement. A separate statement from the US Indo-Pacific Command said that it hosted representatives from the People’s Liberation Army in Honolulu for discussions focused on reducing the risk of unsafe and unprofessional encounters. The meeting follows a summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump last month and could ease concerns about a lack of communication after the absence of top Chinese military officials at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore last week. At last month’s summit, Xi and Trump agreed to pursue a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”, which analysts say could set practical boundaries for how the two powers interact. “This shared strategic framing shifts the bilateral dynamic beyond reactive crisis management to more deliberate, forward-looking stability-building,” said Wang Dong, an international studies professor at Peking University. – Reuters MANILA: A Philippine senator who is the son of a former president was detained on Monday after surrendering to police in line with a court order on suspicion of taking kickbacks as part of a scandal that sparked huge protests last year. The anti-graft court ordered the arrest of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada for plunder, a non-bailable offence. The Office of the Ombudsman last week charged Estrada with violating anti-corruption laws for taking illicit payouts worth US$9.3 million (RM36.9 million). Estrada was taken to a jail facility in Quezon City within the capital region of Metro Manila, to be held until the end of his trial. His co-accused, including former public works minister Manuel Bonoan, were also placed under arrest. Estrada told reporters at the

Makarim, a Harvard Business School graduate, said potential investors were worried by the legal uncertainties in his case and by the criminalisation of professionals. “Young professionals are scared that they can become the next victims,” he said tearfully. “Business communities see a bad precedent because they don’t understand why the case went to trial.” The court has so far imposed jail sentences of up to four and a half years on three officials linked to the ministry for their involvement in the case, including a consultant sentenced last month. – Reuters

investment in Gojek’s parent company influenced the procurement of the laptops, and claimed that the ministry went ahead with the purchase after Makarim met several times with representatives of Google Asia Pacific and Google Indonesia. Google has not been indicted. Makarim said Google’s investment in Gojek was separate from the procurement. In January, Google said its investments in Gojek related entities occurred between 2017 and 2021, most of which pre dated Makarim’s appointment as minister.

They alleged Makarim created tender specifications that only fit the Chrome system to “make Google the sole controller of the education ecosystem in Indonesia”. Standing before a panel of judges yesterday, Makarim denied his involvement in the procurement of the laptops and cast doubt over the prosecutors’ claims that the laptops were more expensive than necessary. “Experts and witnesses have said: there were no state losses, no law violations, no self-enrichment or enriching others as well as corporations, no mens rea ,” he said. Prosecutors alleged that Google’s

Makarim had been involved in improper laptop procurement leading to US$125.64 million (RM498 million) in state losses. Last month, they sought an 18-year prison sentence for him and demanded that he pay about US$336.32 million in fines and restitution. Makarim, who resigned as chief executive of technology start-up Gojek in 2019 to serve as education minister until 2024, has been accused of enriching himself to the tune of around US$46.33 million through the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome OS for schools between 2020 and 2022, prosecutors said.

IN GRATITUDE ... Hindu devotees of the Tengger community ascend Mount Bromo to present offerings of rice, fruit, livestock and other items as part of the Yadnya Kasada festival near Probolinggo, East Java, on Monday. In the Yadnya Kasada ceremony offerings are thrown into the crater of Mount Bromo as a form of gratitude, prayer for safety and fulfillment of a legendary vow to the mountain’s deity. – AFPPIC

Filipino Senator Estrada detained in graft case

Cambodia refers dispute to UN BANGKOK: Cambodia said yesterday it has informed the United Nations and Thailand that it has launched a compulsory conciliation process under international law aimed at resolving a maritime boundary dispute with Bangkok. The move follows a Thai government decision last month to terminate a 2001 agreement with Cambodia that provided a framework for negotiations over the disputed area in the Gulf of Thailand where the two countries’ maritime claims overlap. “We have taken this step to protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with international law,” Prime Minister Hun Manet said. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he was not aware that Cambodia had initiated a conciliation process. – Reuters

Senate that he would not opt to seek refuge from arrest in the upper house: “I am ready to defend myself before the court and I will not hide behind the institution to evade the process.” He posted bail last week for a separate offence. The corruption scandal, which has centred on dangerously flawed flood control facilities across the Philippines, has shaken the graft weary nation and slowed economic growth in recent quarters. Estrada has been jailed twice before, also on corruption offences, while his father, Joseph Estrada, was the first former president to be convicted of plunder. His successor, Gloria Arroyo, pardoned the former president and ordered his release, paving the way for his return to politics. – Reuters

Estrada at police headquarters in Quezon City on Monday. – REUTERSPIC