Lavish Elites Struggling Rakyat Rafizi Urges M Sia To Learn From Indonesia

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Politicians in Malaysia must learn from Indonesia’s recent turmoil, Rafizi Ramli warned, stressing that public anger can boil over when economic growth fails to translate into fair wages amid a backdrop of elites flaunting their wealth.
The PKR lawmaker highlighted that while Indonesia’s macroeconomic indicators showed strong performance, frustrations over living costs and the lavish lifestyles of its political class fuelled public protests - a scenario he said Malaysian leaders should be wary of repeating.
“How is it that Indonesia’s economy, which by most economists’ assessment appears encouraging, has generated such deep dissatisfaction among its people?
“This is a lesson that Malaysian politicians and policymakers must take to heart. The macro figures matter. The economy must grow strongly, inflation must be contained so purchasing power is not eroded, and people must have jobs,” the former economy minister said. 
In a social media post today, he added that macro numbers alone are insufficient if the benefits of growth do not quickly reach ordinary citizens through rising wages, affordable living costs, and quality jobs.
Rafizi stressed that wage data and net disposable income are equally critical indicators to track, as slow inflation or low unemployment figures mean little if households remain burdened and salaries stagnate.
‘Greatest lessons are for politicians’
He also warned that resentment grows when people see politicians and their associates living in excess, asserting that the “greatest lesson” from Indonesia’s experience is for politicians and the elite.
“If the people see politicians, who are not vastly different from them in terms of education or skills, suddenly living lavishly because of their positions, they will feel disgusted and angry,” he said.
“The same goes for individuals seen as close to those in power, or perceived cronies. If their abilities and efforts are modest but they are suddenly wealthy and excessively luxurious, the people will resent it, and the ruling elite will be tainted by it.
“Don’t be angry if I continue to speak up and give reminders about certain things happening of late, because our people, too, are constantly watching the elite among politicians, their families, and their associates,” he added.
Massive protests began in Indonesia after its leaders mulled a proposal to increase the monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (RM12,000) for parliamentarians.
Public uproar escalated after a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver delivering an order was run over and killed by an armoured police vehicle as security authorities tried to contain student protests.
As of Sept 3, Indonesian rights group Kontras reported that at least 20 people are missing after the demonstrations. 
Previously, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto denounced the protests, claiming some demonstrators’ actions amounted to “treason and terrorism”.However, he also appeared to concede to public anger, saying Parliament had agreed to revoke certain allowances for lawmakers.
Disconnect breeds resentment
Meanwhile, Rafizi noted that economic growth, as seen in Indonesia, does not automatically translate into tangible benefits for the people, resulting in a gap that explains why tax hikes or cost increases, even if justified, often trigger public pushback.
The Turun Anwar rally on July 26He argued that this underscores the need for structural reforms and targeted programmes to ensure growth is both sustainable and inclusive.
Among the priorities, he said, are labour market reforms to reduce dependence on migrant workers, initiatives to boost wages, and skills development to prepare Malaysians for higher-value jobs.
“Additionally, the country urgently needs improvements in its social protection system and more efficient distribution of aid,” he added.  - Mkini

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