Why is Indonesia in turmoil?
The Southeast Asian country of Indonesia is in turmoil. The country’s general public is outraged by the huge allowances given to members of parliament. Members of parliament receive an additional $3,000 for house rent in addition to their salaries. On the other hand, the average income in Indonesia is only $188. On top of that, there are widespread allegations of corruption against politicians. There are 580 members of the lower house of the Indonesian parliament. Each of them receives an additional allowance of 50 million Indonesian rupiah, which is 370,000 taka in Bangladeshi currency, as an additional allowance for house rent. The current government introduced this controversial allowance in September last year. Recently, a report in local media about the salaries of members of parliament sparked outrage among the general public. Although Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, the average income in Indonesia is only $188. While the minimum wage in the capital Jakarta is $330, it is half that in rural areas. As a result, the country’s parliamentarians receive housing allowances that are almost 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta. There are allegations of widespread corruption against the country’s politicians and administration. This huge allowance has sparked outrage. Ordinary Indonesians are also suffering from inflation and excessive taxation. Therefore, students and the public have taken to the streets, responding to the calls of various organizations. “I pay all my taxes to the government. But I don’t know where my tax money goes? None of the representatives in the House of Representatives listen to the people. That is very worrying for us.” It is worth noting that Prabowo Subianto came to power a year ago in Indonesia, which was in the grip of an economic crisis, promising to increase economic growth to 8 percent within five years. Even a year later, the president is facing public criticism for not taking effective steps to fulfill his promises. The ongoing protests are the largest movement in the country since Prabowo came to power.
