The Indonesian government has withdrawn MPs' housing allowances after a wave of massive protests erupted in several major cities.
The country's anger peaked when it was revealed that each of the 580 MPs received a monthly allowance of 50 million rupiah, about RM14,500, while the minimum wage in Jakarta is only around 5.3 million rupiah or RM1,537 a month.
The protests turned into riots when a food delivery man, Affan Kurniawan, was killed when he was hit by an armored police vehicle, sparking a popular uprising demanding justice and the cutting of MPs' privileges.
To calm the situation, President Prabowo Subianto announced the cancellation of the allowance and suspended all official overseas travel by MPs.
He also stressed that a full investigation is underway into Kurniawan's death.
The riots have so far caused several deaths, hundreds of injuries, and extensive damage, including the burning of public buildings and the invasion of politicians' homes.
The crisis also affected financial markets as stock indices fell and the value of the rupiah became volatile.
The government's move to withdraw allowances was seen as a quick attempt to appease the people, but analysts say the incident highlights the need for institutional reform and greater transparency in Indonesia's administration.
