Uya Kuya and Eko Patrio's Responses to Netizen Criticism After Dancing About House Representatives' Salary Increases

Eko Patrio (Instagram @ekopatriosuper)

JAKARTA - Actors and members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Eko Patrio and Uya Kuya, have been in the public spotlight after allegedly dancing following the announcement of a IDR 3 million per day salary increase for DPR members.

Despite the backlash, both Eko and Uya had their own ways of responding to netizen criticism. Eko himself immediately apologized for his actions.

"There was no intention whatsoever. Yesterday, we were at an event to disband the August 17th committee," Eko Patrio asserted in Jakarta recently.

"There was no intention whatsoever. In fact, that (interpretation) is very far-fetched. If there was anything, I personally apologize," he continued.

Eko even admitted to being traumatized by dancing carelessly at formal occasions like that because the video suddenly went viral.

"Okay, don't go too far, okay? If you go too far, I'll be unsteady. Especially since I saw you dancing earlier, I'm afraid I'll dance again. If I dance, it'll go viral," said Eko Patrio.

In contrast to Eko Patrio, Uya Kuya, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, was seen providing clarification regarding a video allegedly of him dancing to celebrate the DPR salary increase some time ago.

Uya emphasized that the video was taken in January 2025 and had a different context than the DPR salary increase of IDR 3 million per day.

"In fact, this video was from early January 2025. The context is different; it was at that time they were asking about content between artists and the DPR. This isn't a new video; it's old; even my hair is different," Uya Kuya explained.

"Furthermore, with a misleading narrative (a salary of IDR 3 million per day is thought to be a lot), it seems as if I'm mocking or retaliating against netizens with this video," Uya Kuya asserted.