Against the backdrop of ongoing protests in Indonesia, on August 31 local time, Indonesian President Prabowo convened leaders of various political parties to issue a joint statement on the current situation in Indonesia.Indonesian President Prabowo said he accepted the protesters' demands, scrapping subsidies for lawmakers and imposing a ban on their travel abroad.
Prabowo said in a speech broadcast live at the Presidential Palace: "In response to the sincere demands of the people, I have received information from leaders of various political parties that they will take decisive measures against members of parliament starting from Monday, September 1, 2025, against those who may make false remarks."
Mr. Prabowo said subsidies for MPs would be removed, adding: "At the same time, there will be a ban on work travel abroad."
According to reports, large-scale protests in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, have lasted for a week and gradually spread to many regions. Thousands of people took to the streets, and the subsidy of lawmakers was the initial trigger for the protests in Indonesia.
Previously, the Indonesian government approved a monthly housing subsidy of 50 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately 21635 yuan) for each member of parliament. The new subsidy is almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta and about 20 times the minimum monthly wage in poor areas of the country.
Critics believe the subsidy is completely disproportionate to the difficult situation faced by most Indonesians. Protest organizers called for cuts in MPs 'wages and ridiculed MPs as "corrupt elites." Demonstrators also called for an increase in the minimum wage based on inflation.
The death of a 21-year-old motorcycle driver has brought protests in Indonesia to a turning point
On August 28, a video of a motorcycle driver's death went viral on social mediaShocked the whole country of IndonesiaThe situation deteriorated rapidly. It is reported that the 21-year-old motorcycle driver worked for an online ride-hailing company. He was knocked down by an armored police car while riot police were dispersing the protesters. At the time of the incident, he was processing a takeout order. The sudden and fatal incident further angered protesters. The next day, a new round of protests broke out in Jakarta, Surabaya and other places. Demonstrators burned police booths and stormed government agencies.
On August 29, demonstrations arrived at the headquarters of the Police Mobile Team in Jakarta. Some people destroyed traffic signs and other infrastructure, causing traffic to be paralyzed. There was also news that a lawmaker's residence in Jakarta was ransacked. In Surabaya, the second-largest city, protesters broke fences and burned vehicles, and even stormed the governor's office building. On the same day, an arson incident occurred in the Makassar City Council Building, the capital of South Sulawesi Province, killing three people.
Makassar council secretary Mapatoba admitted that the situation had exceeded expectations. "Usually during demonstrations, protesters only throw stones or burn tires outside the office building, never break into the council building, let alone set fire to it."
At present, demonstrations have swept across many parts of Indonesia, including the resort island of Bali. Tear gas canisters were fired when protesters clashed with police. In view of the escalation of protests, Short Video app TikTok said on the 30th that it had suspended its live broadcast function in Indonesia to prevent the spread of false information.
China Embassy and Consulate in Indonesia issued a document on the 30th, reminding China citizens and institutions in Indonesia to strengthen security precautions.
Prabowo's first major test
Public opinion believes that the outbreak of mass protests in Indonesia is the first major test for President Prabowo, who has been in office for less than a year.
Mr. Prabowo, who is Indonesia's eighth president since independence in 1945, is described as a tough-minded member of a prominent family. His grandfather was the founder of Bank Negara, his father was a member of the cabinet of Sukarno and Suharto, and he was the son-in-law of the late former president Suharto. He has long held a senior position in the military and has extensive contacts in the military and political circles.
Prabowo became president last October, beginning a five-year termHaving vowed to fight poverty, hunger and injustice, promising to increase external investment, create more jobs and crack down on corruption, Mr. Prabowo sought to boost economic growth to 8 per cent within five years. Mr. Prabowo came to power early this year to deliver on one of his promises, launching a multibillion-dollar free meals programme that aims to provide free meals to more than a quarter of Indonesia's population. The goal is to reach 82.90 million of Indonesia's 280 million population by 2029.However, there is public opinion that the government's measures do not match its goals.
Prabowo was originally scheduled to attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing on September 3, but now he has to cancel the trip to China due to domestic tensions.
The presidential spokesman said in a video statement on the 30th that Prabowo wanted to stay at home and continue to pay attention to the situation and seek the best solution, so he was unable to be invited to participate in the commemorative activities. He would like to apologize to the China government.
In response, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded on September 1 that China has noticed changes in the domestic situation in Indonesia and believes that under the leadership of President Prabowo, the Indonesian government can properly handle the situation and restore domestic stability as soon as possible. China also hopes that Indonesia will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Indonesia. Guo Jiakun said that China understands and respects the Indonesian government's adjustments to arrangements for China due to domestic needs.
Source | Comprehensive
Typesetting Shu Pan Siyi
Editor: Wang Sihua
Reviewer 丨 Song Jingjing
ProducersShu Wang Yunxia, Li Can