Mall Visitors Plummet Due to Protests in Indonesia, Hippindo Calls for Security Assurance

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September 1, 2025 | 10:51 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Association of Retailers and Shopping Mall Tenants of Indonesia (Hippindo) stated that the protests against the House of Representatives (DPR) members' allowances had affected mall visitor numbers "In terms of the number of visitors, there has been a slight decrease compared to the usual weekend period," said the Secretary-General of Hippindo, Haryanto Pratantara, when contacted on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Haryanto mentioned that during the protests, several shopping centers shortened their operating hours. He said that the decision was made considering the conditions around the shopping centers. "Nearby, there is a burned-out building that still needs to be cleaned up," Haryanto said.

He stated that, for the time being, security at shopping centers is still being maintained. He also ensures that no shopping centers have been looted.

Haryanto also hopes that the government will provide security guarantees for the public. Thus, the community and businesspeople feel safe to resume their activities normally.

According to Haryanto, this sense of security also affects the smooth distribution of necessities, such as food, to prevent panic among the public due to market scarcity.

The SETARA Institute, an organization focusing on security issues, reminds the public not to be provoked into looting, including the homes of DPR members and state officials. Looting is confirmed not purely by the masses who are holding demonstrations constitutionally.

The Coordinator of the SETARA Institute, Hendardi, considers that such actions, taking advantage of public anger, are organized movements commonly carried out by a group with specific goals. "Anarchistic acts in the evening, early morning, and targeted actions are patterns that can only be mobilized by trained individuals," said Hendardi on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

This former member of the Fact-Finding Team (TFPF) for the death of human rights activist Munir explains that the tense situation usually arises due to elite tension. It is then pitted against power contestation, and conflicts of interest arise, taking advantage of several triggering factors that escalate peaceful actions into anarchistic ones.

Therefore, Hendardi urges the public not to follow such movements. Moreover, he said, whatever the reason, looting is not justified by law. "No matter how angry the people are with the state officials," he said.

Mobs flocked to the residences of several DPR members and state officials. They vandalized and looted various assets at the luxurious homes of three legislators, namely Ahmad Sahroni, Eko Patrio, and Uya Kuya.

Several perpetrators also damaged and stole items from the home of the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, in the early morning of Sunday, August 31, 2025. This action occurred amid heated situations that followed the demonstrations in the capital, which erupted from August 25 to 30, 2025.

Dede Leni Mardianti contributed to the writing of this article

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