Many Indonesians want opposition check on Prabowo's coalition: Poll

A survey conducted shortly before Indonesia saw massive protests over lawmakers' perks found a majority of people want an opposition presence in Parliament, underscoring public unease about the dominance of President Prabowo Subianto's coalition.

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JAKARTA - A survey conducted shortly before Indonesia saw massive protests over lawmakers' perks found a majority of people want an opposition presence in Parliament, underscoring public unease about the dominance of President Prabowo Subianto's coalition.

An Aug 11-14 Kompas survey released on Sept 8 found that 58.4 per cent of respondents want at least one party to counterbalance the government in the legislature, where Mr Prabowo's allies hold about 81 per cent of the seats.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, holds the other seats but has declared it is not an opposition, even as it remains outside the administration.

The survey helps explain why revelations of hefty lawmaker housing allowances in late August triggered violent demonstrations, with parliamentary buildings attacked and at least 10 people killed.