Breaking News: Protesters Demonstrate Against 12% VAT Increase in Jakarta
Demonstrators took to the streets in Jakarta on Friday, December 27, rejecting the planned 12% VAT (Value Added Tax) hike. The action took place in the vicinity of the iconic Kuda Statue in Central Jakarta, with some roads temporarily closed and rerouted, causing adjustments to public transportation.
Our correspondent on the scene reported around 3:34 PM WIB that a large group from the Indonesian Muslim Students’ Association (HMI) arrived at the Patung Kuda area carrying banners that read "Reject 12% VAT Increase". They gathered along Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, with police cordoning off parts of the street and deploying water barriers to maintain order.
Vehicles passing through the area were rerouted to use the busway lane due to road closures. Despite the demonstration, bus services in the capital largely remained unaffected, although they experienced heavier traffic due to the rerouting.
As the protest demonstrated their opposition to the VAT increase, other lanes were congested, with heavy traffic observed around the Patung Kuda roundabout. The protesters expressed their concerns over the potential impacts of a VAT increase on the Indonesian economy and citizenry.
