JAKARTA: Indonesian political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians, President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday (Aug 31), following protests and rioting across the Southeast Asian country.
Widespread anti-government protests and rioting over issues such as extra pay for parliamentarians and housing allowances have rocked Indonesia, resulting in at least five deaths in recent days.
Prabowo was addressing the nation in a live broadcast from the State Palace in Central Jakarta, flanked by party leaders including PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.
He acknowledged the scale of public anger, pledged to act on lawmakers’ perks, and promised that the government would listen to citizens’ demands while maintaining law and order.
Prabowo said party leaders had “taken firm action” against their members of parliament, with sanctions to take effect from Monday.
“The leadership of the House has conveyed that a number of policies will be revoked, including the size of allowances for members and a moratorium on overseas work visits,” he said.
Party chiefs had also agreed to strip errant lawmakers of their seats, with Prabowo stressing that “members of the House must always be sensitive and side with the interests of the people.”
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