Jakarta’s public activities have returned to normal following a wave of demonstrations that gripped the capital late last week. Governor of Jakarta Pramono Anung Wibowo announced the immediate revocation of the work from home (WFH) policy for civil servants, urging all government offices to resume operations as usual.
“I have given instructions to the heads of agencies for the WFH policy to be revoked—maximum today. Why? Because I see that the community’s conditions have returned to normal, and all transportation is running smoothly,” Pramono said at City Hall on Wednesday (September 3, 2025), as reported by Antara.
The governor emphasized that all civil servants (ASN) must continue following Instruction No. 6 of 2025, which requires the use of public transportation every Wednesday. This aligns with the city’s ongoing program of offering a symbolic Rp1 fare for TransJakarta and MRT services until September 8, 2025.
Earlier, Jakarta had briefly adopted WFH through Circular Letter No. e-0021/SE/2025, signed by the Jakarta Regional Civil Service Agency Head, Chaidir, on August 28. The policy was introduced in response to large-scale demonstrations between August 28–31. Employees were instructed to report attendance online twice daily, but frontline public service officers were excluded from WFH.
“Transportation in Jakarta—TransJakarta, MRT, LRT, Mikrotrans, JakLingko, and so on—is now operating normally,” he said. Quoted by TribunNews, he added, “The ‘JagaJakarta’ spirit, echoed across neighborhoods and communities, has accelerated our recovery. I believe Jakarta has fully returned to normal.”
Student Demonstrations: BEM Se-UI Plans “17+8 People’s Demands”
Despite the city’s restored calm, university student movements continue to build momentum. The Executive Student Board of Universitas Indonesia (BEM UI) announced plans for a mass demonstration this week under the banner “17+8 People’s Demands.”
BEM UI President Atan Zayyid Sulthan confirmed that the protest will take place soon, though details remain fluid.
“In the near future, within this week, we will hold a constructive action focused on policy change,” Atan told reporters on Wednesday (September 3, 2025), as cited by Kompas.
The movement stems from a surge of public criticism voiced both on the ground and across social media. Influential figures including Abigail Muria, Jerome Polin, Salsa Erwina, and Cheryl Marella have amplified the demands online. Meanwhile, a Change.org petition titled “12 People’s Demands Toward Transparency & Justice Reform” has gathered more than 40,000 signatures and has been merged into the agenda.
The urgent demands target key institutions like the President, the police, political party leaders, and the military. They include calls for an independent investigation into violence against protesters, the release of detained demonstrators, and an immediate freeze on proposed pay raises for lawmakers.
The long-term reforms are even more ambitious, advocating for a “major reform” of the DPR (House of Representatives), stronger anti-corruption measures, and a complete return of the military to its barracks, keeping it out of civilian affairs. This movement underscores a sustained effort to influence government policy and engage in ongoing dialogue for meaningful change.
Source: Antara, TribunNews, Kompas
Photo Credit: Beritasatu.com/Monique
