Image Credentials: Image Title: Massive Protest in Jakarta Over Lawmakers’ Allowances Brings City to Standstill Source: (Gemini) Date: August 2025. Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Gemini), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Jakarta, August 25, 2025 – Central Jakarta descended into chaos on Monday as thousands of students, workers, and activists rallied outside the House of Representatives in Senayan, condemning what they described as the government’s insensitivity to public hardship. The protest was triggered by lawmakers’ decision to grant themselves a Rp 50 million (around 3,000 US dollars) monthly housing allowance, a move seen as tone-deaf amid ongoing economic struggles.
The demonstration began at 9 a.m. with chants calling for the dissolution of parliament. By midday, tensions flared near the Gerbang Pemuda flyover, leading to violent clashes with police. In response, authorities closed Jalan Gatot Subroto and sealed the inner-city toll road, paralyzing traffic until evening.
Video situasi terkini di kawasan Palmerah–Slipi.
Massa demo yang awalnya di Kompleks Parlemen Senayan kini bergeser, sebagian kocar-kacir masuk gang rumah warga saat aparat menertibkan aksi anarkis. Hingga sore, massa masih berorasi menolak gaji fantastis anggota dewan yang… pic.twitter.com/byCOKwAaEy
— LIPUTAN6 (@liputan6dotcom) August 25, 2025
The unrest peaked around 5 p.m. when protesters breached the toll road at KM 07+400 near the Semanggi–Slipi section, halting traffic entirely. According to Ginanjar Rakhmanto, senior manager at Jasamarga Metropolitan Tollroad, tactical vehicles were deployed to disperse crowds. Traffic from Cawang to Slipi was rerouted via the off-ramp KM 05+000, while vehicles heading toward Cawang exited at KM 12+500. Motorists were advised to avoid Semanggi and Senayan, relying on the TRAVOY app and Jasa Marga’s hotline for updates.
The ripple effects extended across the capital. Demonstrations spread to Spark Senayan, the Semanggi flyover, Hotel Mulia, and the Pancasila building. By 6:30 p.m., most protesters had dispersed, enabling the gradual reopening of major arteries, including Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jalan Gerbang Pemuda, and Jalan Asia Afrika.
Public transport faced major disruptions. KAI Commuter reported that trains from Rangkasbitung, Parung Panjang, and Serpong were forced to stop at Kebayoran Station due to unrest near crossings, halting services to Palmerah and Tanah Abang. Transjakarta buses also suffered suspensions and rerouting. Several routes, including S61 (Blok M–Alam Sutera), 8C (Kebayoran Lama–Tanah Abang), 9E (Kebayoran Lama–Jelambar), and 8N (Kebayoran–Petamburan), were canceled. Route 10H (Tanjung Priok–Bundaran Senayan) was cut short to Kemanggisan, while 6V (Ragunan–Senayan Bank DKI) was briefly diverted before being restored.
Authorities deployed 1,250 police officers to secure the area. Several sustained minor injuries, although no fatalities were reported.
The protest highlighted deepening frustration over government priorities. Organizers vowed to continue pressuring lawmakers to roll back their benefits and address the economic challenges facing ordinary Indonesians.
As traffic resumed and the city returned to a fragile normal, critics warned that the government’s perceived disconnect from public hardship could ignite further demonstrations if grievances remain unaddressed.