Indonesia’s democratic uprising a cautionary tale for Malaysia, MUDA warns

MALAYSIA must heed the warnings from Indonesia’s mass protests and avoid drifting into the same patterns of power abuse and democratic backsliding, said Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) in a statement on Monday.

MUDA’s National Mobilisation Chief Rahmat Amran said the recent uprising of thousands of Indonesians who flooded the streets of Jakarta reflects a deep-rooted frustration with political overreach and an erosion of democratic norms.

“This is not merely a protest — it is the voice of a people fed up with the abuse of power and injustice,” Sinar Harian quoted him saying on Monday. “The people are demanding that power must not be concentrated in the hands of a few, and laws should not be amended to protect those in power.”

He drew parallels with Malaysia’s own societal discontent, citing the public response to the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, which many view as emblematic of a system that failed to protect its citizens.

“This is clear evidence that Malaysians, too, will no longer remain silent when lives, futures, and national dignity are undermined by negligence and dysfunction,” he said.

Rahmat criticised the Malaysian government and political elites for being more preoccupied with grand projects and luxury initiatives than with the real needs of the rakyat.

“History shows us that governments that forget the people will eventually be abandoned by them. The message is clear: when leaders become complacent, the people will rise,” he said.

He stressed that the widening gap between the governed and the governing can only be closed through public courage and accountability.

“Malaysia must not fall into the same fate. The people have a legitimate right to assemble, to gather, and to demand answers from those in power. Let us not submit to fear, threats, or attempts to silence our voices,” he added.

“Make no mistake — the voice of the people will never die, as long as justice is pursued.”

Meanwhile in Jakarta, police have confirmed that 1,240 individuals were detained for involvement in “anarchic” demonstrations between 25 and 31 August, many of whom were reportedly not Jakarta residents, but had travelled from neighbouring regions including West Java, Banten and Central Java.

Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri stated, “Since the beginning of the incident, we have detained around 1,240 people. Most of them came from outside Jakarta.”

Authorities have also identified suspects behind the vandalism and looting of public infrastructure, with damages including Transjakarta bus shelters, MRT stations and the city’s CCTV systems. Estimated losses have reached Rp55 billion (RM17.2 million).

Commander of Jakarta Military Command, Major General Deddy Suryadi, revealed that many of those involved were secondary and technical school students. He urged communities to work together in maintaining peace.

Officials reiterated that while firm action would be taken against those inciting violence, peaceful demonstrations remain protected under Indonesia’s constitutional rights. - Sept 1, 2025