Corruption is an act of abusing power through dishonest or fraudulent activities in order to create private gains, which typically happens within a government body. From August to September, various protests took place within Asian countries, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Nepal as corruption issues within their governments were unveiled, leading people to the streets in anger and frustration.
Indonesian politician’s luxury is at the cost of people’s misery
Protests in Indonesia were the result of backlash against monthly housing allowance of Indonesian Rupiah (Rp) 50 million (₱175,150) for 580 members of their House of Representatives (DPR) on top of their monthly compensation of above Rp 100 million (₱350,300).
In comparison, their allotted monthly housing allowance is already almost 10 times the minimum wage of Rp 5 million (₱17,515) in Jakarta. While ordinary citizens face a cost-of-living crisis, their lawmakers gain luxurious perks despite poor legislative performance.
Public policy expert, Achmad Nur Hidayat, said in an interview with JakartaGlobe that “Recent surveys show the DPR and MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly) as the least trusted institutions,” and noted that the lawmakers have yet to produce high-quality laws that defend public interests.
This led to the protests that started on Aug. 25, as people called for reform of the law. However, tensions grew heavy on Aug. 28 with the death of motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, after being hit by a police car during one of the demonstrations.
The protests spiraled into violence, with riots taking place, government buildings set ablaze, and looting of politicians’ homes, which prompted President Prabowo Subianto to order the military and police to strengthen crackdown against the protesters.
Generation Z leads a revolution in Nepal
In Nepal, a social media ban was implemented on Sept. 4, suspending 26 social media platforms. This move was condemned by rights groups as it disables the freedom of media from the people, access to communication channels, and press freedom.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Regional Director, Beh Lih Yi, calls out in an article by CPJ that “Nepal’s sweeping ban on social media sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom,” and also noted that “blocking online news platforms vital to journalists will undermine reporting and the public’s right to information.”
In addition, the “nepo kids”—children of politicians—who flaunt their luxurious items and foreign trips on social media caught the attention of the general public, facing backlash and call outs as people of Nepal suffer whilst they use taxpayer’s money to fund their lifestyle.
Fueled by the growing unemployment crisis and lack of economic opportunities in Nepal, by Sept. 8, people gathered at Kathmandu where the Parliament sits. Nepalese people protested against the ongoing corruption, demanded to lift the social media ban, and called for the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
In an interview with CNN, an anonymous protester said: “While the main trigger for the protest was the recent social media ban, the long history of corruption and bad governance is the main reason that thousands of people have come out on the streets to protest.”
However, the situation escalated when protesters clashed with the police, and the parliament was set on fire. Nepal officials reported 22 deaths and more than 400 people hospitalized due to the clash.
The floods of corruption within Philippines
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, corruption in flood control projects was uncovered with funds being used for “ghosts projects” while people’s homes were flooded due to storms that subsequently hit the country.
It was revealed that 15 contractors bagged ₱100 billion worth of flood control projects, wherein the projects are situated at non-flood-prone areas. Upon inspection of the projects that were recorded to be “completed” such as those in Bulacan—a flood prone area—it was found to be non-existent at all.
Several politicians were tied back to many of the contractors. Senate President Chiz Escudero’s top campaign donor, Centerways Construction and Development Inc. bagged a ₱5.16 billion flood control project. On the other hand, Senator Bong Go’s family was a business partner of the Discayas—one of the top 15 flood control contractors.
Within local governments such as in Ilocos Sur, the political dynasty of Singsons was found to be owner of Satrap Construction that bagged more than ₱2 billion worth of flood control projects. Going north, ₱1.8 billion in flood control projects was given to Megapolitan Builders and Construction Supply owned by Laoag city Mayor Bryan Alcid—who is backed by the Marcoses.
Similar to Nepal’s “nepo kids,” with the revelation of the contractor’s schemes, their children were easily found by the general public in social media, wherein they were shamed for flaunting their wealth that came from the pockets of the taxpayers.
In an open letter issued by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Kalookan Bishop Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David on Sept. 20, Filipinos were urged to join the protests to “strengthen our democracy,” while contractors and those involved were called out to “choose conversion, make restitution, and repair the damage you have caused.”
“We issue a serious appeal to our legislators, independent oversight bodies and prosecuting agencies: expedite the process of investigation and accountability,” he added.
Then on Sept. 21, rallies simultaneously happened with “Baha sa Luneta” and “Trillion Peso March” in EDSA, as tens of thousands people gathered to demand accountability on the flood control corruption.
Protest as testament of change
When people rally to the streets for a cause, it’s to amplify their voices and make use of their freedom of speech to air out concerns. It may be disruptive and chaotic, but its core is to exercise democracy and make a statement so that those in power should hear and take action.
The peaceful 1986 EDSA Revolution in the Philippines is an example of protests that catalyzed change, as it ended the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. It proved that a mass demonstration of people standing up for their rights can make tangible changes.
On a similar note, the Nepal protests resulted in the resignation of Oli and the election of former Chief Justice, Sushila Karki as their interim—and first female—Prime Minister. Meanwhile, for Indonesia, Subianto ordered for the politicians' housing allowance to be scrapped and their overseas trips suspended, alongside a promise to investigate the death of Kurniawan.
However, in the Philippines, the issue on the flood control projects remains unresolved, with hearings still ongoing. Filipino voices still echo in the street—“Ikulong na ‘yan, mga kurakot”—as they continue to rally, protest, and stage walkouts.
A crowd of people can be a spark of change, yet the bigger change is at the hands of those in power—the government. It is the right of the citizens to criticize, call out, and speak up against the people they had put in governance; as the government’s duty is to serve the citizens, and not to fuel their own gain.
