Fresh Outrage as Indonesian Lawmakers Award Themselves Massive Pay Hike Weeks After Protests

Barely weeks after Indonesians flooded the streets to protest lawmakers’ lavish perks, parliament has approved another controversial benefit — a sharp increase in recess allowances that nearly doubles what MPs already receive.

Lawmakers will now collect 702 million rupiah (about $42,400 / £31,800) per recess, up from 400 million rupiah, according to Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. The allowance is intended to cover lawmakers’ constituency visits and other official duties when parliament is not in session.

The decision, which took effect on 3 October, has reignited public anger and revived accusations that Indonesia’s political elite are out of touch with ordinary citizens.

August’s massive protests began after it was revealed that MPs were being paid a $3,000 monthly housing allowance — nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta. Although the government scrapped that benefit following public backlash, the latest pay rise has fuelled perceptions of arrogance and impunity among lawmakers.

Dasco defended the hike, saying it was needed to offset rising food and transport costs. He also promised the launch of a public tracking app where citizens can monitor how MPs spend their recess funds.

But critics say the explanation rings hollow.

“It’s like Indonesians have been pranked,” said Lucius Karus of the parliamentary watchdog Formappi. “We were pleased when the housing allowance was cancelled — but now another fantastic allowance has appeared.”

Public frustration has been amplified by reports that some lawmakers were mistakenly overpaid an additional 54 million rupiah, which authorities later blamed on a “human error” and said had been recovered.

Across social media, Indonesians expressed disbelief.

“[The government’s] behaviour isn’t surprising,” one X user wrote. “What’s surprising is that people still vote for them.”

Despite the uproar, parliament shows no signs of reversing the decision — deepening resentment in a country where corruption and inequality remain hot-button political issues.