Elite policies such as Jakarta MPs' perks fuel public anger, erode trust: Analysts

Surge in lawmakers' allowances, provincial tax hikes make leaders appear out of touch

- Arlina Arshad

JAKARTA - The decision by Indonesian lawmakers to sharply increase their allowances at a time when ordinary people are struggling with rising prices — and which sparked protests in Jakarta — has emerged as a glaring symbol of elite insensitivity, said analysts.

The recent unrest occurred just weeks after provincial protests over tax hikes.

While MPs' basic monthly salary remains unchanged at around 6.5 million rupiah (S$510), the additional package that was announced on Aug 19 — including a 50 million rupiah housing allowance, 12 million rupiah in food support, and 7 million rupiah in transport perks — underscores how out of touch legislators are with ordinary citizens struggling with rising prices.

Analysts warned that the move risks further eroding public trust and fuelling more street demonstrations.

The perks push a politician's total monthly take-home pay to roughly 75.5 million rupiah — nearly 14 times Jakarta's minimum wage of 5.396 million rupiah.

Analysts said that is wildly disproportionate to the economic realities faced by most Indonesians.

The figure could be higher with other allowances.

Dr Ambang Priyonggo, a political analyst at Multimedia Nusantara University, warned of lasting damage to trust in the government.

"The public sees this as a sign of the lawmakers' insensitivity, showing no empathy for citizens who are struggling to cope with increasingly difficult economic conditions," he told The Straits Times.

The backlash erupted on Aug 25, when hundreds of protesters gathered outside the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Central Jakarta, denouncing lawmakers' "excessive pay" and entrenched corruption.

The crowd, comprising mostly students and ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers still in ride-hailing uniforms, attempted to breach police barricades.

Officers responded with tear gas and water cannon, while some demonstrators hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails.