Arlina Arshad and Stania Puspawardhani, Jakarta – Nationwide student protests against Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's budget cuts continued in Jakarta on Feb 21, marking a key test of his leadership.
The "Dark Indonesia" rally on a damp, drizzly Friday afternoon saw hundreds of students from leading universities carrying banners reading "Children eat for free, parents are laid off" and "Before: Love People. Now: Love People's Money".
Many clad in black chanted: "Our fight for democracy is not only today, this week, or this month. This is our continuous struggle" and "The greatest power in this country is in the people's hands. Long live the people!" as they gathered outside the presidential palace in central Jakarta.
A spokesperson for the Dark Indonesia protest, Mr Togar Afriansyah, told the local media that he expects 2,500 people to gather in the capital on Feb 21.
Similar protests drawing thousands of students have taken place over the past week in other parts of the country including Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya, Bali, Medan and Yogyakarta.
They are demanding the immediate repeal of the presidential instruction (Inpres) issued on Jan 22 which mandates 306.7 trillion rupiah (S$25.8 billion) of cuts in government spending, measures they have condemned as "rushed and harmful".
The sweeping cuts, targeting ministries and government agencies, have sparked public outrage, with critics claiming vital sectors have been severely impacted. In response to the backlash, the government has announced some policy reversals, including reinstating funds for scholarships and government contract workers.
Protestors also demanded the government pay overdue lecturers' wages, and reassess Mr Prabowo's 400 trillion rupiah free meals programme to combat malnutrition, launched on Jan 6 for students and pregnant women.
The government has defended the budget cuts, saying they are necessary to finance the flagship programme aimed at delivering free meals to 19.5 million people by 2025, and expanding to 82.9 million people – or a third of the population – by 2029, the final year of Mr Prabowo's current term.
Around 71 trillion rupiah has been allocated for the first phase of the programme. The Indonesian leader said at his Gerindra Party's 17th anniversary celebrations on Feb 15 that 24 trillion rupiah will be sourced directly from the budget cuts.
"What am I compelled to use the 24 trillion rupiah for? For the nutritious meals programme. Our people, our children must not starve," he said.
Dark Indonesia has gained traction on social media to represent students' concerns about the budget cuts and other policies that would undermine social support systems and their futures.
The series of protests marked the first significant opposition to Mr Prabowo since he received an impressive 80 per cent approval rating on Jan 28, which marked his first 100 days in office.
The Jakarta Post, in its Feb 17 editorial, argued that the budget cuts "may not just be a policy misstep; they reflect skewed priorities".
"In the absence of a genuine emergency, the government's actions seem less like prudent fiscal management and more like a reckless gamble with the country's future," it stated.
Analysts told The Straits Times the cuts are set to jeopardise essential services and critical government functions. Some civil servants have already expressed their frustration, with lights and air-conditioning switched off and offices locked at 4.30pm sharp – marking a rigid end to the workday, unlike before when offices remained open until tasks were completed.
The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency reportedly saw its budget slashed by 50 per cent, raising concerns about disaster preparedness in a country prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. However, the government has denied these claims.
Businesses, too, are expected to face disruption, with fewer resources expected to slow down bureaucracy further and frustrate investors. Even the national police and defence ministry, traditionally among the biggest beneficiaries of state spending, have not been spared from spending cuts.
Mr Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a political analyst at the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, said the decision was "too abrupt" with unintended consequences for public service workers, including frontline workers such as disaster volunteers and teachers. With reduced government spending on local meetings, the Mice (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector will also feel the pinch.
"Civil servants will face budget cuts, official vehicles will be reduced, and contract workers will be terminated. The ripple effect is huge, disrupting public services and impacting the community, particularly the low to middle class. Without enough funding, the quality of services will suffer," he told ST. "The question is, will all these savings guarantee better quality food for the children?"
Critics are calling for a more thorough analysis and consultation before further cuts are made, urging the House of Representatives to take a stronger stance.
Students are becoming an increasingly powerful force in protests across Indonesia. In August 2024, university student protesters pressured lawmakers to abandon a controversial Bill that would have barred candidates not supported by Mr Prabowo and former President Joko Widodo from running in last November's regional elections.
[Arlina Arshad is The Straits Times' Indonesia bureau chief. She is a Singaporean who has been living and working in Indonesia as a journalist for more than 15 years. Stania Puspawardhani is Indonesia correspondent for The Straits Times, based in Jakarta.]