Indonesian president agrees to revoke MPs’ privileges after protests leave five dead

Indonesia’s president has announced he will revoke several privileges for members of parliament and punish misbehaving MPs after violent protests left five people dead.

Foreign news agencies reported that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday, August 31, 2025, that the country’s various political parties have agreed to cancel many of the compensation and benefits of members of parliament following violent riots across the country.

Several issues, including privileges for parliamentarians such as paychecks and housing allowances, have sparked widespread public discontent, sparking anti-government protests across Indonesia in recent days that have left at least five people dead.

In addition, public outrage over police brutality led to the death of 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kourniawan, leading to protesters targeting police stations and the National Assembly building, looting the homes of high-ranking government officials and setting fire to the provincial parliament building.

The protests forced Prabowo to cancel a trip to China before he was due to deliver a live address to the nation on Sunday (Aug 31) from the presidential palace in Jakarta, with leaders of the country’s major political parties standing by him.

Prabowo acknowledged public anger and pledged to address the issue of parliamentary privileges, vowing that the government would listen to public demands while maintaining law and order.

The Indonesian president also said that political party leaders have taken strict measures against their own parliamentarians, with the sanctions taking effect from Monday (September 1)

“The House Leader has informed us that several policies will be cancelled, including certain allowances for MPs and the suspension of foreign business trips,” Prabowo said.

Furthermore, party leaders have agreed to remove misbehaving MPs from their positions, with Prabowo emphasizing that MPs must always be sensitive to and act in the public interest.

Prabowo said freedom of expression would be respected, with “the right to peaceful assembly protected” under the law on peaceful assembly and international conventions. However, he warned that violent behavior, including looting and vandalism, would not be tolerated.

The Indonesian leader added that signs of subversion and terrorism were beginning to emerge, prompting him to order police and military to take the most decisive action against the destruction of public facilities, the looting of private homes and attacks on economic centers.