Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed confidence that Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto will be able to manage the unrest in the republic following protests that broke out earlier this week.
Zahid said that as Asean chair, Malaysia upholds the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of member states and believes the situation can be resolved through peaceful means.
“We have no intention of interfering in any country’s internal affairs, least of all our neighbours,” he told reporters after an event at the National Mosque here today.
Zahid said that all matters, regardless of scale, can be settled through discussions and Prabowo is well-equipped to find a way forward.
Yesterday, thousands of Indonesians staged demonstrations across Jakarta over the death of 21-year-old Gojek driver Affan Kurniawan, who was reported to have been run over by a police vehicle deployed to disperse protesters amid escalating unrest.
The incident sparked outrage among demonstrators, some of whom pursued the vehicle to the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in central Jakarta to demand justice.
Prabowo has pledged a thorough and transparent investigation, and expressed his sadness and disappointment over the incident.
In Indonesia’s eastern city Makassar, at least three people were killed by a fire started by protesters at a council building, after rallies erupted across the country following Affan’s death.
According to AFP, Makassar city council secretary Rahmat Mappatoba said two had died at the scene and one at a hospital.
Rahmat said the trio had been trapped in the burning building.
He also accused protesters of storming the office to set the building on fire, an act he said was unexpected as they would usually at most only throw rocks or burn tyres in front of the office.
