Indonesia unrest: Prabowo says parliament to remove controversial perks for MPs,

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JAKARTA: Indonesian political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians, President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday (Aug 31), following protests and rioting across the Southeast Asian country.

Widespread anti-government protests and rioting over issues such as extra pay for parliamentarians and housing allowances have rocked Indonesia, resulting in at least five deaths in recent days.

Public outrage boiled over after police violence claimed the life of Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old ride-hailing rider, during a protest on Thursday prompting angry crowds to later target police stations and the national parliament building.

Angry demonstrators have also looted the homes of senior officials and torched regional parliament buildings over the weekend.

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Prabowo was addressing the nation in a live broadcast from the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta, flanked by leaders of major political parties.

These included PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, Golkar chief Bahlil Lahadalia, NasDem chair Surya Paloh and PKB leader Muhaimin Iskandar, alongside House Speaker Puan Maharani and Senate Speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin.

He acknowledged the scale of public anger, pledged to act on lawmakers' perks, and promised that the government would listen to citizens' demands while maintaining law and order.

Prabowo said party leaders had "taken firm action" against their members of parliament, with sanctions to take effect from Monday.

"The leadership of the House has conveyed that a number of policies will be revoked, including the size of allowances for members and a moratorium on overseas work visits," he said.

Party chiefs had also agreed to strip errant lawmakers of their seats, with Prabowo stressing that "members of the House must always be sensitive and side with the interests of the people".

The president underlined that freedom of expression would be respected.

"The right to peaceful assembly must be protected," Prabowo said, citing Indonesia's law on demonstrations and international conventions. But he warned that violence — including looting and the destruction of facilities — would not be tolerated.

"If there are anarchic activities destabilising the state, damaging or burning public facilities, looting homes or institutions, this is a violation of the law. The state must be present to protect its people."

Prabowo added that "signs of subversion and terrorism" had begun to appear as he ordered the police and military "to take the firmest possible action" against destruction of public facilities, looting of private homes and attacks on economic centres.


Prabowo called for dialogue, instructing parliament to invite students, community figures and civil society leaders to convey their aspirations directly.

"We assure you that your voices will be heard and followed up," he said, urging ministries and agencies to receive delegations and consider proposals for reform.

He also appealed for calm.

"I urge citizens to trust the government," he said, adding that all political parties were committed to fighting for the interests of the people, including "the most vulnerable and disadvantaged."

Prabowo warned Indonesians not to get their family members to join the unrest and cautioned against groups that "do not want Indonesia to prosper and rise".

LOOTING OF MINISTER AND LAWMAKERS' RESIDENCES
Protests over what demonstrators termed excessive pay and housing allowances for parliamentarians started last Monday. They expanded into riots on Thursday after Affan, a motorcycle rideshare driver, was killed in police action at a protest site.

The incident occurred at around 7.25pm in the Pejompongan area in central Jakarta, near the parliament building where various protests have taken place this week.

Affan was killed when he was struck and run over by a police armored vehicle deployed to disperse protesters. At the time, he had been delivering a food order and was not part of the protest.

Seven police officers involved in the armored vehicle incident were found to have breached the force's code of ethics. They have been placed in 20 days' internal detention for questioning, which may be extended pending further investigation and trial.

Related:

Indonesia's president cancels China trip as protests continue

Indonesia protest blaze kills three as anger erupts over driver death
Over the weekend, angry demonstrators have looted the homes of senior officials, torched regional parliament buildings and overwhelmed local security in several cities.

In the capital and its outskirts, looters targeted at least four lawmakers' homes and the residence of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

Local media Detik reported that Sri Mulyani's house in Bintaro, South Tangerang, was ransacked twice within hours on Sunday shortly after midnight. A resident said one wave of looters arrived around 00.30am, followed by a larger group at about 3.30am.

In successive raids, groups carted away televisions, a sound system, air-conditioners, refrigerators and other appliances, as well as kitchenware including plates and a rice cooker.

Furniture, clothing, mattresses and even life-size standing standees of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé were seized. Fireworks were reportedly set off before entry as a signal to the crowd. Soldiers later secured the property.

Local outlet Kumparan reported that lawmakers' residences were also stripped.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon at Ahmad Sahroni's house in North Jakarta, protesters took household items, land certificate, and personal collectibles, including Iron Man and Spider-Man statues valued at more than 100 million rupiah (US$6,400) each.

A Richard Mille watch reportedly valued at about 11.7 billion rupiah (US$750,000) was taken by protesters, along with two Louis Vuitton handbags and large amounts of Singapore dollars. Sahroni was not home at the time, as he had reportedly flown to Singapore.

Sahroni, a senior member of parliament from the NasDem Party, has faced criticism for responding insensitively to calls for parliament to be dissolved amid anger over lawmakers' allowances. He previously described such critics as "the stupidest people in the world."

Amid mounting criticism of lawmakers' perks and conduct, the NasDem Party announced on Sunday that it has suspended both Sahroni and fellow lawmakers Nafa Urbach effective Sep 1, citing statements made by them that "offended and hurt" public sentiment.

Nafa Urbach's residence in Bintaro was also raided in the early hours of Sunday, with protesters taking a television and clothing.

Lawmaker Eko Patrio's South Jakarta home was breached, with doors and windows smashed on Saturday night. Looters carried off refrigerators, water dispensers, televisions, wall décor, carpets, clothing and studio speakers.

In East Jakarta, lawmaker Uya Kuya reported extensive damage to his house, saying furniture, electronics and even his pet cats were taken. Graffiti reading "police killers" was scrawled on the exterior wall of the member of parliament's residence.

Both Eko Patrio and Uya Kuya have been suspended by National Mandate Party (PAN).

Additional reporting by Ericssen.

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Indonesia has been rocked by the worst violence in years in which at least five people have been killed.

The demonstrators were enraged by recent reports that 580 members of the House of Representatives had been receiving a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($4,739) per month since September 2024.

What's the latest
Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians.

By Monday, "lawmakers will see certain allowances scrapped and overseas work trips suspended under a new moratorium," he said.

Mr Subianto has ordered military and police to act against rioters and deployed soldiers to guard key locations and warned against protesters engaging in acts of  "terrorism or treason".

A group of people turning over a burnt out car.
People overturn the wreckage of a car that was burned during violent protests in Jakarta,  Indonesia.(AP: Dita Alangkara)
Student groups have demanded deeper reforms beyond the cut to MPs' perks. Critics argue the new allowance was not only excessive but also insensitive at a time when most people are grappling with soaring living costs and taxes and rising unemployment.

Read more: Subianto agrees to revoke some privileges for parliamentarians
 
What's behind the violence
Rallies started earlier last week in Jakarta after reports that MPs were receiving a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($4,739) per month to stay in the capital — about 20 times the monthly minimum wage in impoverished areas, and nearly 10 times the minimum wage in the capital.

Riot police shot multiple rounds of tear gas at thousands of stone-throwing students who attempted to reach Parliament in Indonesia 's capital to protest the lavish allowances.

Police fired tear gas as the protesters tried to approach Parliament. Protesters fought back, hurling rocks and bottles at riot police and setting fires under a flyover near the heavily guarded Parliament compound.

A line of police officers with shields in front of them.
Police have taken to the streets following the violent protests in Indonesia.(AP: Dita Alangkara)
Protests grew throughout the week after 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan was hit by a police vehicle and later died in the hospital.

Homes of political party members and state buildings were ransacked or set ablaze, shaking investor confidence in Indonesia's economy and triggering a steep sell-off on its stocks and currency markets.

At least three people died after an angry mob set fire to the parliamentary building in Makassar. Five other people were taken to hospital with burns or broken bones after jumping from the building.

Looters broke into a house owned by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati outside the capital Jakarta, state news agency Antara reported. She was not in the house at the time and it was not clear if she uses the property often.

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