Economist Podcasts Indonesia ablaze: Riots test Prabowo
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Sep 1, 2025 
Sulin Wong, Asia correspondent and host of Scam Inc., joins Oliver Morton, Planetary Affairs Editor, and Don Wineland, China business and finance editor. They discuss the violent protests in Indonesia ignited by economic inequality, revealing rising public discontent and government disconnect. The conversation shifts to climate change, particularly worrying declines in ocean currents, which could threaten Europe’s climate. They also explore a quirky trend in China, where fashionable 'facekinis' are becoming popular among young women, reflecting changing cultural attitudes.
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Violence And A Symbolic Casualty
- Protesters set cars on fire and burned two regional parliament buildings during a week of unrest in Indonesia.
- The killing of 21-year-old delivery driver Afan Kuniwan became a potent symbol as couriers escorted his coffin through the streets.
Allowances Spark Broader Outrage
- The protests erupted over lawmakers granting themselves huge allowance increases, exposing deep inequality and corruption grievances.
- Viral videos of frivolous parliamentary behaviour amplified public anger against an out-of-touch elite.
Populist Policies, Weak Economy
- Prabowo's populist, vote-winning policies have not generated strong economic growth and masked deeper problems.
- Indonesia faces slowing growth, rising unemployment, and high inequality that fuel recurring protests.