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Recent unrest and protests in Indonesia and Nepal highlights the fragility of social and political stability in parts of Asia. Riots in both countries—rooted in a mix of political, economic, and social grievances—mirror similar upheavals in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka over the past three years. Together, these events point to deeper regional challenges involving governance, inequality and a disillusioned younger generation.
Indonesia: Unrest Amid Political and Social Strains
Indonesia has long grappled with political instability and corruption. Discontent resurfaced recently in nationwide demonstrations. Protests, initially peaceful, escalated following news of increased parliamentary allowances and an incident in which a food delivery rider was struck by a police armoured vehicle.
Underlying tensions include dissatisfaction with government policies, ethnic and religious divides, and persistent inequality. Riots in Indonesia often result in casualties, destruction of property and economic disruption, with consequences for tourism, investment, and social cohesion. The government typically responds with tighter security measures, but critics argue these responses do little to address the root causes of unrest.
Nepal: Protests Over Identity and Digital Freedoms
Nepal’s protests were triggered by the government’s decision to ban 26 social media platforms. For a digitally connected generation, the move symbolised not only a restriction on expression but also a disconnect between political elites and young citizens.
Beneath this immediate spark lie broader grievances. Ethnic minorities have long voiced concerns over discrimination and lack of representation. The transition from monarchy to republic also left unresolved disputes about federal boundaries and governance. Economic frustrations, including limited job opportunities, continue to fuel discontent.
The riots resulted in attacks on government buildings, luxury hotels and politicians’ residences. While the damage was significant, analysts note the deeper cost is the erosion of trust between citizens and the state. Such erosion takes time to reverse, if at all, and restore trust.
A Regional Pattern: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Indonesia and Nepal are not alone in facing widespread protests. In Bangladesh, demonstrations in 2024 turned violent over a controversial civil service job reservation system. Students argued it unfairly favoured descendants of independence fighters, worsening already limited opportunities for employment.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, saw its largest wave of protests in decades in 2022 as the economy collapsed under debt, corruption and fuel shortages. Demonstrators stormed the presidential palace, forcing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.
In both cases, as in Indonesia and Nepal, peaceful protests quickly escalated into riots marked by looting, destruction and direct challenges to political leaders. There have been statements made by the leaders of such protests that peaceful protests were hijacked, indeed sabotage by opposition figures, pursuing their own self-serving agenda.
Common Threads
Across these countries, the causes of unrest share striking similarities:
- Corruption and Nepotism: Citizens accuse political elites of self-enrichment at the expense of the public.
- Economic Strain: Rising costs of living, unemployment and failed policies heighten frustration.
- Youth Discontent: Younger generations feel excluded from opportunity and disconnected from governance.
- Trigger Events: Controversial policy decisions or incidents of perceived injustice act as catalysts.
Police actions have also played a role in fuelling anger, with accusations of excessive force and repression reported in each case.
Implications for Malaysia
Malaysia has not experienced unrest on the same scale and its people enjoy a peaceful environment, in a multi-racial and multi-ethnic citizenry. Be that as it may, there exist public concerns over corruption, selective prosecution and rising living costs, echoing the frustrations seen elsewhere. Economic conditions remain more stable and government measures such as cash handouts provide short-term relief, for the low-income segment of the citizenry. However, analysts suggest underlying grievances ought to be addressed and not ignored.
The regional examples suggest that governments which fail to address corruption, ensure fair opportunities and engage constructively with younger citizens, could precipitate similar upheaval.
The lesson is clear: good governance, transparency and meaningful youth engagement are essential to maintain social stability.
Raj Singh (captraj05@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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