Jakarta Faces Protests: Indonesian Cabinet Reshuffle

Jakarta, Indonesia, Sep 8 (AP) Indonesia's president has announced a Cabinet reshuffle following significant protests over lawmakers' benefits. The changes, revealed on Monday, include the replacement of key economic and security ministers.

The Cabinet shake-up comes amid rising public discontent with President Prabowo Subianto's leadership and dissatisfaction with the parliament's handling of economic issues.

Among the five ministers relieved of their duties are Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a highly esteemed technocrat and former managing director of the World Bank, and Budi Gunawan, the coordinating minister for politics and security.

President Subianto appointed Indonesian economist Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, the chairman of the Deposit Insurance Corporation, to succeed Indrawati.

The protests, resulting in seven deaths, erupted in Southeast Asia's largest economy, which has a population of more than 280 million. The unrest followed reports of a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (USD 3,075) for all 580 members of the House of Representatives, on top of their regular salaries.

This allowance, introduced last year, is nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta. Critics have argued that the benefit is not only excessive but also insensitive, considering the majority of citizens are struggling with rising living costs, taxes, and unemployment. (AP)

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