Indonesia to cut MPs' perks

JAKARTA, Aug 31 (Reuters/AFP): Indonesian political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians, President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday, in a major concession to anti-government protests that left five people dead.
Protests over what demonstrators termed excessive pay and housing allowances for parliamentarians started on Monday. They expanded into riots on Thursday after one person - a motorcycle rideshare driver - was killed in police action at a protest site. The homes of some political party members and state installations were ransacked or set ablaze.
Prabowo, speaking at a news conference at the Presidential Palace and flanked by the leaders of various political parties, said he had ordered the military and police to take stern action against rioters and looters, warning that some of the actions were indicative of "terrorism" and "treason".
The home of Indonesia's finance minister was looted overnight, soldiers guarding her residence and a witness told AFP on Sunday, as protest anger at police spreads to lawmakers.
Southeast Asia's biggest economy has been rocked by protests in major cities since the death of motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by police during a rally against financial perks for lawmakers.
The demonstrations are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo Subianto's presidency, a key test for the ex-general less than a year into his rule, and anger has now spread to some members of parliament.
The house of minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in South Tangerang, a city neighbouring the capital Jakarta, was ransacked in the early hours of Sunday in two waves, said neighbour Damianus Rudolf.
"In the first group of looters, there were dozens of motorcycles ridden by two to three people each. In the second group, there were around 150 people," the 34-year-old told AFP.
"They looted a television, sound system, living room decorations, clothes, plates, bowls."
Sri Mulyani was not inside the house when the incident occurred, state news agency Antara reported, citing two witnesses.
She is an influential figure who once served as managing director of the World Bank and has served as finance minister for three different presidents.