Activists rally for Indonesians facing possible jail terms over 2025 riots

2026-03-05 - 23:43

Activists gathered outside the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur in solidarity with the four Indonesians facing a possible two-year jail sentence. KUALA LUMPUR: Around 17 activists gathered outside the Indonesian embassy here last night to show solidarity with four Indonesians facing possible jail sentences following demonstrations in the republic last year. The Central Jakarta District Court is expected to deliver its verdict in the case against Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein and Khariq Anhar, who were charged with inciting the August 2025 demonstrations, at 2pm local time (3pm Malaysian time). Mandiri executive director Amir Hadi claimed the four had been made scapegoats and held in custody for over five months. “The demonstrations did not happen solely because of Delpedro Marhaen. They happened because the Indonesian people were dissatisfied (with their government),” he told reporters at the gathering. Meanwhile, activist Hishamuddin Rais said the gathering was to show the Indonesian activists that people in Malaysia stood with them. “I hope they will be released. If not, we will continue the struggle together,” he said. On Feb 26, Indonesian media reported that the prosecution had urged the court to sentence the four activists to two years’ imprisonment. They were charged under Indonesia’s sedition law and the electronic information and transactions law for allegedly inciting riots and violence. Malaysian students held a similar solidarity gathering on Oct 24 last year, when about 15 youth activists from groups including Mandiri and Sekretariat Himpun Malaysia assembled outside the embassy to support the Indonesians. Lennards John Johnson, president of Universiti Malaya student group NewGen, said yesterday that Malaysians should stand in solidarity with the activists because the issue concerned humanity rather than politics. “This is not a political issue, but a humanitarian issue,” he said. The anti-government protests in August 2025 were one of Indonesia’s deadliest, with thousands across the nation rallying against economic inequality and lavish perks for lawmakers. The clashes intensified after the circulation of footage showing a paramilitary police vehicle running over and killing 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan on Aug 28.