ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia continues to trail behind Singapore and Malaysia in terms of rule of law enforcement in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the latest World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2025 quoted on October 30, 2025.
The annual index evaluates the strength of legal systems in 143 countries, based on eight key factors including government transparency, judicial independence, and protection of fundamental rights.
Indonesia’s Score Falls Below Malaysia, Far Behind Singapore
In the 2025 Rule of Law Index, Indonesia scored 0.5239, ranking 69th globally, a slight decline from the previous year.
By comparison, Singapore achieved a strong score of 0.7833, while Malaysia recorded 0.5700, positioning both countries ahead of Indonesia in legal integrity and governance standards.
The data underscores Indonesia’s ongoing challenges in strengthening judicial independence and ensuring equal access to justice across its institutions.
Decline Driven by Civil Liberties and Public Participation
The WJP report highlights that Indonesia’s lower score was mainly driven by declines in three key areas:
1. Freedom of expression,
2. Freedom of association and assembly, and
3. Civic participation.
These findings reflect a shrinking civic space in Indonesia—mirroring a broader global trend, as more than 70% of countries worldwide experienced setbacks in civil liberties during 2025.
Nonetheless, Indonesia’s civil justice system remains relatively stable, avoiding the steep declines seen in several other nations.
Asia-Pacific Rankings: Where Indonesia Stands
According to the WJP 2025 report, the top-performing countries in the Asia-Pacific region are:
1. New Zealand: 0.8339
2. Australia: 0.7963
3. Japan: 0.7837
4. Singapore: 0.7833
5. Malaysia: 0.5700
6. Mongolia: 0.5322
7. Indonesia: 0.5239
8. Thailand: 0.5029
9. Vietnam: 0.4955
10. China: 0.4771
11. Philippines: 0.4625
12. Myanmar: 0.3361
13. Cambodia: 0.3103
With this ranking, Indonesia places seventh in the Asia-Pacific, highlighting the need for stronger institutional reforms and greater accountability in law enforcement.
Global Trend: 68% of Countries See Rule of Law Decline
Globally, the WJP reports that 68% of countries experienced declines in rule of law performance in 2025, up from 57% the year before.
This downward trend is largely attributed to the rise of authoritarian governance, reduced judicial independence, and erosion of civil freedoms.
The top performers in the global ranking include Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and New Zealand, while Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, and Nicaragua remain at the bottom.
Path Forward: Reform and Institutional Integrity
Legal analysts emphasize that Indonesia must accelerate judicial and legal reforms to improve its ranking and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
Enhancing judicial transparency, protecting civic rights, and ensuring fair law enforcement are critical steps for the country to advance its rule of law standing in the years ahead. (AT Network)
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