Sastra Wijaya
Sastra Wijaya is a journalist at the ABC's Asia Pacific Newsroom. You can follow him on Twitter: @lsastra_wijaya
Latest by Sastra Wijaya
'It's just so overwhelming': Migrants left frustrated by points-based visa system
By Dong Xing and Sastra Wijaya
Applicants for permanent residency visas say the system is confusing and occasionally arbitrary, and sometimes the goal posts are moved without warning.
Fri 16 Sep 2022 at 11:33pm 16 September 2022 Fri 16 Sep 2022 at 11:33pm
'They simply don't know us very well': Indonesians in Australia dispel misconceptions about their home country
By Erwin Renaldi, Farid M Ibrahim, Hellena Souisa and Sastra Wijaya
Indonesia aims to become a superpower in Asia with its massive population and growing economy. However, without knowing the country better, there are warnings Australia may miss out on opportunities.
Tue 16 Aug 2022 at 9:57pm 16 August 2022 Tue 16 Aug 2022 at 9:57pm
'The threat is real': Farmers concerned at potential foot-and-mouth spread as Australia and Indonesia tackle outbreak
By Sastra Wijaya and Hellena Souisa
Farmers and authorities in Indonesia are working hard to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease, while the Australian government has committed millions of dollars towards biosecurity measures to tackle the outbreak.
Sat 13 Aug 2022 at 6:48pm 13 August 2022 Sat 13 Aug 2022 at 6:48pm
Australians returning to Indonesia for first time since COVID hit mark Eid at gravesites
By Sastra Wijaya
Before the pandemic, Andrian Wiguna always returned to Indonesia to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with his mother and brother. This year, when he was finally able to return to Indonesia, he marked Eid at their gravesites.
Sat 7 May 2022 at 8:14pm 7 May 2022 Sat 7 May 2022 at 8:14pm
'Like a second home': Australians return to Bali without needing to quarantine
Bali is welcoming back most international tourists, including Australians, without a requirement to quarantine. Other holiday destinations in South-East Asia are also scrapping restrictions for foreign travellers.
Fri 18 Mar 2022 at 8:25pm 18 March 2022 Fri 18 Mar 2022 at 8:25pm
What lessons has Indonesia learned from its devastating Delta outbreak as Omicron cases climb?
Indonesia's daily case numbers are reaching new records while just under 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated, yet the country insists it is prepared to tackle the Omicron wave.
Updated Thu 24 Feb 2022 at 2:07am 24 February 2022 Thu 24 Feb 2022 at 2:07am
COVID has claimed 5 million lives. Here are the human faces behind the numbers
By Som Patidar in Delhi, Erin Handley, Catherine Graue, Sastra Wijaya and Bang Xiao
The ABC spoke to five people from around the world about the toll COVID-19 has taken, both on their communities and on them personally.
Updated Mon 1 Nov 2021 at 8:25pm 1 November 2021 Mon 1 Nov 2021 at 8:25pm
The ambulance sirens have silenced in Indonesia but some fear 'revenge travel' could spark a new wave
Indonesia's active COVID-19 cases has fallen from more than 570,000 in July to about 50,000. But experts are concerned so-called "revenge travel" as a result of eased travel restrictions could fuel yet another wave of the virus.
Updated Thu 23 Sep 2021 at 9:27pm 23 September 2021 Thu 23 Sep 2021 at 9:27pm
Amalia lost her parents two days apart to COVID and now she is the main carer for her brother
By Natasya Salim and Sastra Wijaya
As coronavirus continues to ravage Indonesia, there are fears that thousands of children who have lost at least one parent could be facing an increased risk of being forced into child marriage or child labour.
Updated Sat 21 Aug 2021 at 2:13am 21 August 2021 Sat 21 Aug 2021 at 2:13am
'Disaster situation': Indonesian COVID patients turned away from hospitals die in isolation
By Hellena Souisa, Sastra Wijaya and Zena Chamas
As Indonesia's hospital system struggles with a surge of new COVID-19 cases, many are being turned away from hospitals and are being forced to isolate at home. Some have even died at home.
Updated Sat 26 Jun 2021 at 11:34pm 26 June 2021 Sat 26 Jun 2021 at 11:34pm
Working from home? These public servants are going to be working from Bali
The Indonesian government plans to introduce a "Work From Bali" scheme for civil servants aimed at helping to revive the island's battered economy. But not everyone is happy about it.
Updated Sun 6 Jun 2021 at 7:28am 6 June 2021 Sun 6 Jun 2021 at 7:28am
Mailie hoped to connect with her partner's culture through studying Hindi, but her dream could soon be dashed
By Oliver Lees, Sastra Wijaya and Erwin Renaldi
There could soon be only one Australian university teaching one of the fastest-growing languages in the country under proposed changes, and experts fear cuts to language programs will leave the country ill-equipped for the future.
Fri 4 Dec 2020 at 7:29pm 4 December 2020 Fri 4 Dec 2020 at 7:29pm
Indonesian migrants in Malaysia intimidated as they face COVID-19 infection, hunger
By Max Walden and Sastra Wijaya
As Indonesian workers — particularly women — face an increasingly desperate situation abroad, there are growing calls for Jakarta to do more to help.
Sat 25 Jul 2020 at 7:18pm 25 July 2020 Sat 25 Jul 2020 at 7:18pm
Malaysia says Australia's immigration system encourages visa rorting
By political reporter Jackson Gothe-Snape and Sastra Wijaya
Malaysians have been using Australia's humanitarian visa system as an excuse to stay in the country, according to a member of the Malaysian Government.
Updated Wed 3 Jul 2019 at 9:35pm 3 July 2019 Wed 3 Jul 2019 at 9:35pm
Indonesian community selling food through Facebook
Erwin Renaldi and Sastra Wijaya
Despite Indonesia being one of Australia's closest neighbours, there are very few Indonesian restaurants in our capital cities compared with Chinese, Japanese, and Thai. But thanks to social media, a lucrative 'private' trade in home-cooked meals for Indonesian expats is thriving.
Updated Fri 5 Oct 2018 at 5:56am 5 October 2018 Fri 5 Oct 2018 at 5:56am
Seven things common to elections in India and Indonesia
By Sastra Wijaya and Vipul Khosla
Almost a billion people will head to the polls over the next couple of months in two countries - India and Indonesia.
Updated Mon 7 Apr 2014 at 4:46am 7 April 2014 Mon 7 Apr 2014 at 4:46am
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