At the heart of this unrest lies President Prabowo Subianto’s budget cuts, which have affected crucial funding areas, including education. Additionally, protesters have raised concerns over the free nutritious meal program, which involves the Indonesian military (TNI) and National Police, fearing it signals a revival of the long-abolished Dwifungsi ABRI (dual-function role of the military).

Adding fuel to the fire is the growing suppression of free expression, exemplified by the recent police interrogation of a punk band from Purbalingga, Central Java over their song “Bayar, Bayar, Bayar” (Pay, pay, pay).

These demonstrations reflect deep public anxiety over the tightening grip of the elites on state policies, an alarming phenomenon known as state capture.

State capture occurs when government policies no longer serve the public interest but are instead manipulated by a small group of business and political elites with privileged access to power. Hellman, Jones, and Kaufmann in their study, “Seize the State, Seize the Day”, describe how, under these conditions, state institutions become subservient to private elite interests.

The Indonesia Gelap protests are a stark expression of public concern over the growing visibility of state capture in Indonesia. The dominance of business actors in government is no longer a mere suspicion, it’s an undeniable reality.

Data from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) reveals that at least 354 out of 580 (61 percent) members of the House of Representatives for the 2024-2029 term have business backgrounds. Meanwhile, key ministerial positions are now held by individuals with direct business interests.