Indonesian academics based in the United Kingdom have called on President Prabowo Subianto to immediately reshuffle the Red-and-White Cabinet and for Indonesia to carry out a total reform of the House of Representatives (DPR) in response to the ongoing nationwide demonstrations.
“We urge the President to carry out a comprehensive reshuffle and downsizing of the cabinet to ensure an efficient and accountable government,” the group said in a written statement on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
They stressed that Prabowo must replace ministers who have failed in their duties, shown incompetence, faced conflicts of interest with business or political ties, or are implicated in corruption cases. Ministers and agency heads in charge of economic, financial, agrarian, social welfare, security, and police affairs were specifically highlighted as needing urgent evaluation.
The group also demanded a sweeping reform of the DPR, calling for greater transparency, openness to audit, and a halt to passing policies that deepen social and economic inequality. The academics criticized lawmakers’ allowances, which had sparked public outrage in recent protests.
“In particular, we demand that the DPR review disproportionate remuneration that is far removed from the minimum wage of ordinary citizens, and instead benchmark compensation fairly against Indonesia’s GDP per capita,” they said.
The statement also condemned the distribution of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and institutional positions as political rewards.
“This practice not only undermines professionalism but also serves as a tool to buy political support while ignoring competence. We demand the government stop such practices and appoint only professional and ethical individuals to strategic posts, to ensure clean and accountable governance,” they stressed.
The academics further condemned police violence against demonstrators and urged responsible police officials to resign.
“We demand accountability from those responsible, particularly police officers and officials involved in the violence, at the very least by stepping down,” the statement read.
They also called for comprehensive reform of Indonesia’s security and police institutions “to ensure that law enforcement and security agencies carry out their duties professionally.”
The statement was signed by 16 academics and professionals of Indonesian origin in the UK:
● Dr. Ahmad Rizky M. Umar, Aberystwyth University;
● Dr. Siti Sarah Muwahidah, University of Edinburgh;
● Dr. Galih Ramadana Suwito, University College London;
● Dr. Dhanan Sarwo Utomo, Heriot-Watt University;
● Dr. Desy Pirmasari, University of Leeds;
● Dr. Betty Featherstone, Canterbury Christ Church University;
● Dr. Kandrika Pritularga, Lancaster University;
● Dr. Parulian Sihotang, University of Dundee;
● Dono Widiatmoko, University of Derby;
● Dr. Sigit Wibowo, Glasgow Caledonian University;
● Dr. Soe Tjen Marching, SOAS University of London;
● Dr. Endah Saptorini, Bournemouth University;
● Dr. Zahrina Mardina, University of Leeds;
● Ade Indah Muktamarianti, University of Cambridge (alumna), Fauna & Flora;
● Dr. Dian Mayasari, University of Wales Trinity St David;
● Muhammad Nabil Satria Faradis, University of Cambridge.
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