Public Outrage Over 'Allowance 20 Times the Minimum Wage'
Mass Protests Erupt in Downtown Jakarta
In Indonesia, it was belatedly revealed that since last year, members of the National Assembly have been receiving a monthly housing allowance exceeding 4 million won. This revelation sparked massive protests in the capital city of Jakarta. Citizens voiced strong opposition, chanting, "Abolish excessive allowances immediately" and "Dissolve the House of Representatives."
According to Indonesian media outlets such as the Jakarta Globe and Antara News Agency on the 26th (local time), thousands of university students and workers held a large-scale rally the previous day near the National Assembly building in Senayan, South Jakarta.
Public Outrage Over 'Allowance 20 Times the Minimum Wage'
Protest Against Housing Allowance Payment for Members of the National Assembly. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
Previously, a local media outlet reported that since September of last year, 580 members of the House of Representatives have been receiving a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (approximately 4.3 million won). When combined with their salaries, each lawmaker’s monthly income exceeds 100 million rupiah (about 8.5 million won), which is 20 times the minimum wage. As news of these excessive privileges spread, citizens became enraged, quickly taking to the streets in protest.
The controversy gained further momentum as it coincided with President Prabowo Subianto’s austerity policies. Public backlash intensified after it was revealed that lawmakers’ allowances had increased while budgets for education, welfare, and public works were being drastically cut. In fact, the government has reduced ministry budgets in order to allocate 306.7 trillion rupiah (about 19 billion dollars) to priority projects such as free meals. Measures have included canceling social infrastructure projects, suspending scholarships, and restricting the use of air conditioning in government buildings.
Protests Escalate... Police Respond With Tear Gas
Protest Against Housing Allowance Payment for Members of the National Assembly. Photo by AP Yonhap News
The protest began near the National Assembly building and quickly escalated. Demonstrators hurled stones and glass bottles and set fires under overpasses in protest. According to The Guardian, some protesters carried pirate flags from the popular Japanese manga "One Piece," which have become symbols of opposition to government policies.
Authorities deployed 1,200 police officers and soldiers around the assembly building and fired tear gas multiple times to prevent protesters from entering the National Assembly. All roads leading to the assembly were completely blocked, and even toll roads were closed, paralyzing traffic throughout Jakarta.
According to the Associated Press, there were no reported fatalities from clashes between protesters and police the previous day, but the number of injured remains unknown. Police arrested 15 people, including students, and plan to further investigate involvement in violent acts based on CCTV footage and eyewitness testimonies.
Experts predict that these protests could expand beyond mere expressions of discontent to demands for structural reform. The hashtag "#IndonesiaGelap" (Dark Indonesia) is rapidly spreading online, reflecting the anger of young people over economic instability and lack of opportunities.
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