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2 Sep 2025 19:58
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  •   Home > News > International

    Indonesian MPs' homes looted amid increasingly violent protests over perks for politicians

    After protests turned violent over MP perks in Indonesia, mobs looted the homes of four suspended parliamentarians, stealing some luxury items while destroying others including sports cars.


    For the first time in Indonesia's democratic history, mobs have looted the homes of several members of parliament and a government minister.

    The looting followed violent nationwide protests against MP allowances, which left one 21-year old food delivery worker dead after being struck by an armoured police vehicle and more than 460 people hospitalised in Jakarta alone, according to official figures.

    Deadly riots were also reported in several other cities across the archipelago with a total of seven people killed.

    Over the weekend, dozens of mobs targeted the home of Ahmad Sahroni, a MP from the National Democrat Party, or Nasdem.

    His unoccupied house was broken into, with looters seizing collections of expensive watches, designer bags, jewellery, and even a safe box.

    Videos of the looting quickly spread across social media platforms, including TikTok.

    One video showed his luxury sports car had been destroyed by the mob.

    Images also showed looters taking a life-sized Iron Man figurine from the property.

    Mr Sahroni recently drew significant online criticism for saying that people who want the current Indonesian parliament dissolved were "the dumbest people in the world".

    During the looting, social media users speculated about his whereabouts, with some claiming he had fled overseas.

    Mr Sahroni's whereabouts remain unknown.

    The ABC understands that the addresses of the MPs were leaked and then shared on social media platforms.

    Finance minister apologises

    After her private residence in Jakarta was looted over the weekend, finance minister Sri Mulyani made a public apology on Monday.

    She did not reference specific thefts, but said "thank you for the sympathy and moral support" following the incident which she described as a "disaster".

    "We apologise for any shortcomings. In the name of God, we will continue improving," she wrote on her Instagram post.

    There has been mounting criticism of Ms Mulyani over her plan to boost state revenue by raising taxes.

    Bonar Tigor Naipospos, from human rights group the Setara Institute, told the ABC that it was not clear who was involved or responsible for the looting.

    "It's interesting to see mobs were looting politicians and officials for the first time in our history," Mr Naipospos said.

    "But as some reports suggested, it seems that it has been planned."

    He said it appeared that both the protests and the subsequent thefts involved several groups that had their own "interests".

    "At the end of the day, it seems like someone, or some groups, would like to take advantage of the unrest," he said.

    On Monday, Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said officials had "detected significant flows of money" through digital platforms linked to the riots and looting.

    "Violent and anarchic acts were live-streamed and monetised through large donations and 'gifts'," she said in a statement.

    "Several of the accounts involved were reportedly connected to online gambling networks."

    Ms Hafid said the government respected the public's right to protest and express its views.

    "However, officials also noted that certain groups appeared to be deliberately mobilised via social media, directed to specific locations, streaming content continuously, and receiving unusually large payments," she said.

    Reports emerged that a live-streaming feature of TikTok was no longer working in Indonesia, but Jakarta said it was a voluntary decision by parent company, ByteDance.

    In a statement, the company confirmed that the feature would be suspended in Indonesia for "the next few days".

    Celebrities-turned-politicians also targeted

    Surya Utama, known as Uya Kuya, was a celebrity-turned-politician and represented the city of Jakarta in Indonesia's parliament.

    His house was also destroyed and looted.

    Local media reported that his cats were stolen from the property, prompting his wife, who is also an MP, to plea for their return.

    Police said they had arrested seven people involved, but none had yet been charged.

    "It's OK. I accept it. But I just hope people see the kind of work I've done all this time," Mr Utama said to local media.

    "What really makes me sad is that even the cats, living creatures, were looted," he said.

    Mr Utama's house, often referred to as "the white castle", has been featured on television programs several times and reviewed on YouTube.

    Under former president Joko Widodo, public officials were barred from flexing their wealth publicly or online.

    The residence of Nafa Urbach, a former actress and singer, was also targeted, but media reports later said it ws not her house but her ex-husband's.

    Eko Hendro Purnomo, a former comedian, was also subjected to looting on Saturday night.

    Police said mobs came at three different times and they were most likely not coming from his neighbourhood.

    The three former entertainers have attracted criticism over their comments about MP perks, which many perceived as "mocking" the public.

    Five MPs, including the four targeted by thieves, were dropped by the political parties following the unrest.

    Each of the former entertainers made public apologies on their social media accounts.

    Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said he would cut housing allowances for MPs and suspend them from taking overseas work trips following days of unrest across the country.

    In a nationally televised press conference on Sunday night, he also said he had ordered the military and police to "take firm action" in response to the burning and looting.

    Despite that warning, thousands again hit the streets on Monday.

    Some 500 protesters gathered outside the parliament in Jakarta, before dispersing before sundown in line with orders from Mr Subianto.

    But protesters clashed with police in Gorontalo city on Sulawesi island, with police firing tear gas and water cannons to try and disperse crowd.

    In Bandung, on Java island, protesters threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks at the provincial council building.

    Thousands more rallied in Palembang, on Sumatra island, and hundreds gathered separately in Banjarmasin, on Borneo island, and Yogyakarta, on the main island of Java, and Makassar, on Sulawesi, according to AFP journalists around the country.

    Schools and universities in Jakarta were holding classes online until at least Tuesday, and civil servants based in the city were asked to work from home.

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

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