Jakarta, August 31, 2025 – Foot traffic in Indonesian malls has significantly decreased as protests continue in the capital, prompting the Indonesian Retailers and Shopping Centers Association (Hippindo) to request increased security guarantees from the government.
Hippindo Chairman Haryanto stated the decline in visitors is directly linked to the ongoing demonstrations, which began on August 25, 2025, and escalated through August 30, 2025. He expressed concern over reports of looting,stating some businesses have already been affected. “We hope the government will provide security guarantees so the community and businesspeople feel safe to resume their activities normally,” Haryanto saeid. He added that a sense of security is crucial for maintaining the distribution of essential goods and preventing public panic due to potential market scarcity.
The unrest follows demonstrations sparked by [article does not specify the cause of the protests]. Simultaneously,residences of several DPR members and state officials have been targeted by mobs. Homes belonging to legislators Ahmad Sahroni, Eko patrio, and Uya Kuya were vandalized and looted. The home of finance Minister Sri Mulyani was also damaged and robbed in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025.
The SETARA Institute, a security-focused institution, cautioned against being provoked into looting, emphasizing that such actions are not representative of the constitutionally protected demonstrations. Coordinator Hendardi believes these acts are organized movements carried out by groups with specific agendas. ”Anarchistic acts in the evening, early morning, and targeted actions are patterns that can only be mobilized by trained individuals,” Hendardi explained. He attributed the tensions to elite conflicts and power struggles exploiting triggering factors to escalate peaceful protests.
Hendardi urged the public to avoid participating in such movements, stressing that looting is illegal “no matter how angry the people are with the state officials.”
Dede Leni Mardianti contributed to the writing of this article.
