Demonstrations and protests ripped across Indonesia over the past week. Rocks were thrown at riot police wielding tear gas and water cannon, regional parliaments and police headquarters were set on fire, and the houses of legislators, including that of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, were targeted by looters, who were seen running off with designer handbags and even bathtubs.
The fury heightened after a video circulated of a 21-year-old motorcycle ride-hailing driver named Affan Kurniawan being hit by an armoured police vehicle, which rather than stopping then ran him over. Affan later died of his injuries in a Jakarta hospital.
The cause of the rage? The protests initially started outside the national parliament in Jakarta after reports that the country’s MPs had granted themselves a huge monthly housing allowance on top of their salaries. Coming at a time when a shrinking middle class is facing a cost-of-living crisis, youth unemployment is more than 16 per cent and the effects of President Prabowo Subianto’s populist policies that are meant to help the poor have not been fully felt, this lit the fire of anger against elites.
The latter, in the popular imagination, most certainly includes MPs, some of whom did not help their image by being filmed dancing in parliament after receiving these new perks, which also included a monthly rice allowance.
The streets are calm for now, but several people have died in what has been the worst violence the country has seen since the late 1990s. Indonesia has always been beset by terrible inequality. The advent of social media has only served to make the extravagances of the wealthy all the more obvious to those earning an average monthly wage of $400. Their discontent is an urgent challenge for Mr Prabowo – who, to his credit, acted decisively once the scale of the uproar became clear.
Last Friday, the day after Affan died, the President visited the family home to offer his personal condolences. Photos and film of Mr Prabowo hugging the young delivery driver’s parents, who were crying as he attempted to comfort them, were powerful and moving images of the former special forces general who has transformed himself into a kind of patriarch, by turns grandfatherly and stern, of the nation.
On Sunday, he gave a televised address in which he said the MPs’ perks – including the housing allowance – would be scrapped. While instructing the military and police to take firm action against arsonists and looters, he ordered an investigation into Affan’s death, and seven officers have been detained.
By Tuesday, the current situation was considered stable enough for Mr Prabowo to fly to China; having cancelled his participation at the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation gathering over last weekend, he arrived in Beijing in time for the Victory Day military parade on Wednesday morning.
Some may question the importance of these events. After all, demonstrations and protests are common in many South-East Asian countries, and the reported fatalities, while tragic, were confined to the single digits. But deadly riots have a special significance in Indonesia.
When commentators make comparisons to the late 90s, they are referring to the mass violence and civil unrest of 1998, which led to the resignation of then-president Suharto and the downfall of his New Order establishment that had been in power for 32 years. In a perceptive analysis, the veteran Malaysian journalist Wong Chun Wai wrote this week that protests in neighbouring Malaysia tend to be “a carefully negotiated message” from a majority middle class that doesn’t really want to rock the boat. In Indonesia, however, they are a “battle cry” that “have often carried the weight of national transformation”.
The Jakarta Post made the link explicit in an article titled “Not a ’98 repeat” on Monday. The editorial board commended Mr Prabowo’s Sunday address for having “struck several correct notes”.
Making all Indonesians feel they have a share of the country’s economic growth will be a battle
“He pledged respect for peaceful protest, cited international human rights conventions and openly condemned excessive police force,” they wrote. Noting that legislators had been rebuked for making arrogant statements about the riots, that the perks had been revoked, and that “wasteful overseas junkets” would also not be allowed, they said that the President had “also offered something rare in Indonesian politics: accountability”.
Going forward, however, Mr Prabowo has a lot that the country needs him to deliver while he must simultaneously negotiate a tricky balancing act. He is personally popular, enjoying approval ratings of 81 per cent, according to one survey in May. Legislators and elites are not. Anger at MPs has not so far transferred itself to the President, although insulating himself against a body in which his administration has a vast majority – and so can shape the order of business – may be a challenge.
Moreover, Mr Prabowo comes from an elite background himself. His father served as a minister under both Indonesia’s first two presidents, Sukarno and Suharto – the latter of whom was once his father-in-law (Mr Prabowo separated from Suharto’s daughter in 1998) – and his brother is a very wealthy businessman.
But by 2024, during his third – and ultimately victorious – run for the presidency, Mr Prabowo successfully projected an image of himself as a great uncle or grandfather of the nation, as I noted above. His confident ease with members of the public from all walks of life and winsome videos with his cats earned him a commanding 59 per cent of the vote against two rival candidates.
A president in such a situation can still distance himself from unpopular elites and legislators; indeed, Mr Prabowo did exactly that in his speech last Sunday. But there are many nettles he will have to grasp – including to tackle the country’s endemic corruption, institute any number of reforms and slash the “benefits” to which many officials and businessmen feel entitled – in order to deliver for the ordinary Indonesians who voted for him.
In his televised address, Mr Prabowo said that his government is “determined to always fight for the people’s interests, including those of the most vulnerable and marginalised”. Many of those showed their frustration and desperation last week. Bringing them back from the brink and making all Indonesians feel they have a share of the country’s economic growth will be a battle – and one perhaps harder than any Mr Prabowo faced in his years at the top of the military.
Company%20profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Switching%20sides
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
HOW TO WATCH
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The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Kill%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nikhil%20Nagesh%20Bhat%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Lakshya%2C%20Tanya%20Maniktala%2C%20Ashish%20Vidyarthi%2C%20Harsh%20Chhaya%2C%20Raghav%20Juyal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.5%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
