'Listening to concerns, being more sincere': Closer look on Indonesians' demands of their MPs

Some of the protesters who took part in the protest in Jakarta on late of August shared their stories, and a social science academician at the University of New South Wales shared her views.

Demonstration in Jakarta, 29 August 2025. Credit: Supplied/Viriya Singgih/Project Multatuli

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'Listening to concerns, being more sincere': Closer look on Indonesians' demands of their MPs

SBS Indonesian

22:14Indonesian

Jakarta protesters took to the streets in late August over several grievances, including planned increases to parliamentary allowances and the death of an online motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police tactical vehicle.

SBS Indonesian spoke with two Indonesians, Toku Naufal and Michael HB Raditya, who participated in the demonstrations in Jakarta on August 28 and 29 to gather their opinions. SBS Indonesian also interviewed Dr Elisabeth Kramer, Senior Lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, UNSW, who has expertise in Indonesian politics.

Dr Kramer said the salary gap between Indonesian MPs and ordinary citizens was extreme compared to other countries. Her research shows that Australian MPs earn around three times the national average wage, similar to those in Sweden.

Dr Elisabeth Kramer, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at UNSW. Credit: Supplied/Dr Elisabeth Kramer/UNSW website

"In Indonesia, MP's salaries are at least 20 times Jakarta's minimum wage. In other Indonesian regions, there's an even larger gap," Dr Kramer said.

Parliament can celled the housing allowance plan following the protests, but Dr Kramer said more systematic changes are needed. She said that it's important for MPs to open communication channels and genuinely listen to citizens' concerns.

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