Indonesia: President Prabowo scraps lawmakers’ perks in bid to quell protests that left 6 dead

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday has announced plans to scrap lawmakers’ perks, including a $3,000 monthly housing allowance, after days of nationwide protests that left six people dead.

At a televised press conference in Jakarta on Sunday, flanked by leaders of eight political parties, Subianto said parliamentarians’ housing allowance would be revoked and overseas trips suspended. The move marked a rare concession to mounting public anger.

“Starting Monday, certain allowances will be cut and foreign trips put on hold under a new moratorium,” he said.

The protests erupted last week after reports revealed that all 580 lawmakers receive the allowance—nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage—on top of their salaries. Critics condemned the perk as excessive and insensitive amid rising living costs, taxes, and unemployment.

Public anger deepened after the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police vehicle during a rally in Jakarta on Thursday. Witnesses said he had been delivering food when an armoured car sped into the crowd and struck him. The incident, caught on video, sparked nationwide outrage. Police are now investigating seven officers.

By Sunday, authorities confirmed six protest-related deaths, including a university student killed in clashes in Yogyakarta.

In response, Prabowo cancelled a planned trip to China and instead met 16 religious leaders and eight political figures, including former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, to calm tensions.

The president defended Indonesians’ right to protest but warned against unrest. “When demonstrations turn anarchic, destroy public facilities, or endanger lives, this becomes a serious violation of law,” he said, cautioning that such acts could amount to treason or terrorism.