Current Fate of Parliamentary Members Embroiled in the August 2025 Crisis

The wave of demonstrations in late August 2025, which erupted across multiple regions of Indonesia including Jakarta, was triggered by perceived insensitivity among members of the House of Representatives (DPR).

It all began with increases to parliamentary allowances, including housing benefits, compounded by unsympathetic responses from legislators to public criticism. Public discontent burst like a festering boil, fuelled by a mounting array of grievances — particularly after ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan was killed by a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) armoured vehicle deployed to secure protests outside the DPR building.

The demonstrations spread across Indonesia, prompting intervention from both the government and DPR leadership. At the time, five DPR members — including a deputy speaker — were suspended over alleged unsympathetic conduct or statements towards the public.

The five suspended members were: Adies Kadir, Deputy Speaker of the DPR from Golkar; Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III from the NasDem faction; Nafa Urbach, a DPR member from the NasDem faction; Uya Kuya, a DPR member from the PAN faction; and Eko Patrio, a DPR member from the PAN faction.

Sanctions and Penalties

Last year, the DPR’s Ethics Council (MKD) imposed sanctions on three of the five suspended members following the protest wave of 25–31 August 2025.

In its November ruling, the MKD sanctioned Ahmad Sahroni from NasDem with a six-month suspension, Nafa Urbach from NasDem with three months, and Eko Patrio from PAN with four months. The suspensions were backdated to when their respective parties first deactivated them in late August.

Sahroni was sanctioned for his response to a proposal to dissolve the DPR, which the MKD deemed imprudent. Nafa was sanctioned for her remarks regarding DPR official housing allowances. Eko was sanctioned for his unsympathetic response to public criticism of DPR salary increases, which he parodied on social media.

The MKD subsequently declared that Uya Kuya and Adies Kadir had not violated ethics and ordered their memberships reactivated. MKD Deputy Chairman Imron Amin stated that Adies, who at the time served as Deputy Speaker from the Golkar faction, had no intention of demeaning or insulting anyone. The MKD likewise ruled that Uya Kuya’s dancing during the MPR Annual Session on 15 August was not intended to belittle anyone, with expert testimony confirming the act was not a celebration of DPR salary increases.

Where Are the Five Members Now?

Ahmad Sahroni

The man dubbed “Crazy Rich Tanjung Priok” has been reinstated as Deputy Chairman of DPR Commission III. He replaced Rusdi Masse, who had temporarily filled the role but was forced to leave the DPR after departing NasDem to join the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

Sahroni originally held the position for the 2024–2029 term. He was removed last August following his viral statements regarding protesters at the DPR. He was subsequently transferred to Commission I, with Rusdi Masse Mappasessu filling his vacancy. When Rusdi left NasDem for PSI in January this year, the NasDem faction reappointed Sahroni as Deputy Chairman of Commission III.

Eko Patrio

The entertainer, who first rose to fame as a comedian with the Patrio group in the 1990s, has returned to active duty following his four-month suspension. Eko Patrio — whose real name is Eko Hendro Purnomo — attended a meeting of the DPR’s Legislation Body (Baleg) on 10 February to discuss the second evaluation of the 2026 Priority National Legislation Programme (Prolegnas). The PAN Secretary-General attended on behalf of Commission VI, which proposed two bills: the Consumer Protection Bill and the Bill on Prohibition of Monopolistic Practices and Unfair Business Competition.

Nafa Urbach

Nafa Urbach has also resumed her duties as a DPR member. Through her personal Instagram account, Nafa shared her activities visiting her constituency in Central Java. The former 1990s slow-rock singer sits on DPR Commission IX.

Uya Kuya

Surya Utama, known as Uya Kuya, returned to active duty at the DPR in November last year after being cleared of ethics violations. The entertainer-turned-politician currently serves on DPR Commission IX.

Adies Kadir

Adies Kadir resumed his DPR duties in November last year after being cleared of sanctions. However, he subsequently resigned from both the DPR and his party, Golkar, after being nominated and elected by the legislature to serve as a Constitutional Court justice.

His appointment proved controversial — not only because of the speed of the process, but because the DPR had previously confirmed another candidate, Inosentius Samsul, for the position. Adies was officially sworn in as a Constitutional Court justice before President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 5 February.

Shortly after his inauguration, 21 law professors and legal practitioners from the Constitutional and Administrative Law Society (CALS) formally reported Justice Adies Kadir to the Constitutional Court’s Ethics Council (MKMK) on 6 February 2026.

The complaint cited three principal grounds: the DPR’s alleged violation of transparency, participatory, and accountability principles under Articles 19 and 20 of the Constitutional Court Law; the annulment of the previously confirmed candidate, Inosentius; and the potential for conflicts of interest.

In response, the DPR reacted angrily. During a Plenary Session on Monday, 19 February, it firmly declared that the MKMK had no authority to proceed with the CALS complaint against Adies Kadir.