Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of students marching toward Indonesia’s Parliament on Monday.
Protesters expressed anger at reports of lawmakers receiving lavish housing allowances since September 2024.
They attempted to breach police barricades but officers pushed them back with tear gas volleys.
Demonstrators retaliated by throwing rocks and bottles and setting fires under a flyover near the Parliament compound.
Lawmaker Allowances Spark Outrage
Reports revealed 580 House of Representatives members have received monthly housing allowances of 50 million rupiah (€2,637).
The allowance equals nearly 20 times the minimum wage in poorer provinces, fueling public outrage.
Protesters argued the payments insult citizens struggling under worsening economic hardship.
They demanded authorities abolish these benefits, which come in addition to regular parliamentary salaries.
House Speaker Puan Maharani defended the allowances, claiming they were carefully calculated based on Jakarta’s rising living costs.
Heavy Security and Widespread Distrust
Authorities blocked several streets and toll roads around the Parliament, creating severe traffic jams in Jakarta.
Officials deployed more than 1,200 security personnel to secure the heavily guarded compound.
Police confirmed no immediate reports of injuries despite the chaos around the protest site.
Indonesians widely perceive corruption as endemic among politicians and police, fueling distrust of state institutions.
Activists warned the housing allowance controversy deepens public frustration in a nation of over 280 million people.
