Given the prolonged rule of Suharto's New Order regime, the political and economic systems of Indonesia still have features of an oligarchic system, i.e. power is controlled by a small group of people usually distinguished by family ties and wealth. In the past, religious or military status also played a crucial role. However, as democracy continues to develop some of these features wane, while others still exist. President Joko Widodo, for example, is the first Indonesian president who does not belong to the traditional (political, religious or military) elite.

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Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings cut its outlook on three Indonesian palm oil companies - Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART), Ivo Mas Tungkal, and Sawit Mas Sejahtera - from stable to negative. The rating of the three companies was cut to AA (idn) by Fitch Ratings Indonesia. However, an AA (idn) rating still denotes a low probability of default for the company and its bonds. The rating of bonds of SMAR, due in 2017 and 2019, were also cut to AA (idn). The three palm oil companies are owned by Golden Agri Resources, part of the Sinar Mas Group that is controlled by Eka Tjipta Widjaja, one of the richest Indonesians.

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Ogan Komering Ilir Pulp & Paper Mills (OKI), sebuah unit dari Sinar Mas Group, telah diberikan libur pajak oleh pemerintah Indonesia untuk periode delapan tahun. Perusahaan-perusahaan lain yang mendapatkan insentif pajak ini adalah Unilever Oleochemical Indonesia, Petrokimia Butadine Indonesia, dan Energi Sejahtera Mas. Melalui insentif-insentif ini pemerintah Indonesia bertujuan untuk membuat Indonesia lebih menarik untuk investasi jangka panjang dan kemudian mendongkrak pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia yang masih tetap sedang melambat.

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The four largest privately-held Indonesian conglomerates that have assets listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) are the Astra Group, Salim Group, Lippo Group, and Sinar Mas Group. Combined, all listed companies controlled by these four groups account for 17.50 percent of total market capitalization on the IDX (total market capitalization on the IDX was IDR 5,027.27 trillion or USD $430 billion on 15 July 2014). Currently, the largest listed firm on the IDX is Astra International, the ‘vehicle’ of the Astra Group.

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Indonesian real estate developer Bumi Serpong Damai, part of the Sinar Mas Group, has ample room for expansion. According to its latest quarterly financial report, the company owns 3,954.88 hectares of land that has not been developed yet, 70 percent of which is located near BSD City, an ambitious urban planning scheme that combines housing, business and commercial properties not far from Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta. The company also has land banks in Jakarta, Bogor, Surabaya, Palembang, Balikpapan and Samarinda.

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