Near Midnight, Police Fired Tear Gas to Disperse the Crowd in Front of the Malang City Police Station

JAKARTA - Riots also broke out in front of the Malang City Police Headquarters. Police dispersed the crowd by firing tear gas.

Police barricades and water cannons confronted the crowd. As of midnight on Friday, August 29, crowds were still filling the streets.

The riots also continued in several areas. The Makassar Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) office was completely burned down, and a police post in Surabaya was also attacked by angry mobs.

In Jakarta, anarchic mobs set fire to the Semanggi and Senen Transjakarta bus stops.

Don't Be Anarchic

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) called on the public to stop demonstrations that are anarchic and cause damage and public unrest.

Masduki Baidlowi, Head of Information and Communication for the MUI Leadership Council, appealed to demonstrators still in the area to return home.

"Demonstrations are a citizen's right, but when they cause damage, unrest, and hardship for the public, I believe they must be stopped. Therefore, we also urge the demonstrators to return to their homes and not cause hardship for others," he said.

According to him, demonstrations that lead to unrest will also impact people's daily activities, especially for lower-middle-class people who still have to earn a living.

"And I think that's important for the community (to earn a living), especially for the lower-class people. Therefore, please stop the demonstrations, don't let them lead to anarchy and destruction. That's the MUI's appeal," he said.