ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Public anger in Indonesia continues to escalate.
After the homes of three parliament members were ransacked, the residence of Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani in Mandar Bintaro, South Tangerang, became the next target in the early hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Videos of the incident went viral across social media platforms, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The footage shows crowds carrying away chairs, vases, and paintings from the two-story house believed to belong to the minister. The looting occurred around 1:40 a.m. without any visible security presence at the site.
By 3:00 a.m., soldiers in camouflage uniforms were seen arriving, but by then much of the property had already been taken away. As of this report, police and government authorities have not officially confirmed whether the residence indeed belongs to Sri Mulyani.
Tax Policy Sparks Public Anger
Sri Mulyani has been under intense criticism in recent months. Many Indonesians argue that her fiscal policies have placed an unbearable burden on ordinary citizens.
Her statement announcing that the government would raise the 2026 tax revenue target to Rp 2,692 trillion has been widely perceived as a symbol of worsening economic hardship.
This frustration, observers say, has fueled symbolic acts of retaliation, with her house becoming the latest target of looting—mirroring the fate of several politicians accused of ignoring the people’s suffering.
Three Parliament Members’ Homes Attacked Earlier
Before Sri Mulyani’s house was stormed, public fury had already descended on the residences of Ahmad Sahroni, Eko Patrio, and Uya Kuya:
In Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, Ahmad Sahroni’s luxury home was looted on Saturday afternoon, August 30, 2025. Household furniture, electronics, and even important documents were taken.
Later that evening, mobs turned their anger toward Eko Patrio’s residence in East Jakarta and Uya Kuya’s home. Viral videos showed people carrying sacks and suitcases, some even storming the upper floors to ransack the interiors.
The attacks came shortly after videos circulated of lawmakers dancing during an MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly) session—at the same time the public learned of planned salary and allowance increases for DPR members.
A Symbol of Public Frustration
The looting of politicians’ homes—including that of the Finance Minister—marks a dramatic shift: what began as public protests has spiraled into waves of mass retaliation.
Political analysts argue these incidents are not merely spontaneous crimes, but a symbol of deep-seated public frustration with political elites who are perceived as detached from everyday struggles.
The targeting of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani’s residence, along with those of three DPR members, underscores the deepening crisis of public trust in Indonesia’s leadership. Fiscal policies seen as burdensome, combined with insensitive behavior by lawmakers, have ignited public anger into direct action.
For the government, this wave of looting serves as a stark warning: if public grievances continue to be ignored, social unrest could intensify into a broader nationwide movement. (MS)
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