JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept 1, (AP): Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday pledged to revoke lawmakers’ perks and privileges, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, in a bid to ease public fury after nationwide protests left six people dead. Flanked by leaders of eight Indonesian political parties, Subianto told a televised news conference in the capital, Jakarta, that they had agreed to cut the housing allowance and suspend overseas trips for members of parliament.

It was a rare concession in response to mounting public anger. By Monday, "lawmakers will see certain allowances scrapped and overseas work trips suspended under a new moratorium," Subianto said. As nationwide protests escalated across the world’s third largest democracy last week, Subianto during the weekend summoned the country's prominent figures and canceled a high-profile trip to China.

He met with 16 religious figures and eight political leaders, including former President Megawati Sukarnopurti, the chairwoman of the country’s only formal opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Five days of protests began in Jakarta on Monday, sparked by reports that all 580 lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) in addition to their salaries.

The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage. Critics argue the new allowance is not only excessive but also insensitive at a time when most people are grappling with soaring living costs and taxes and rising unemployment. The protests grew wider and more violent following the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan.

A video on social media apparently showing his death during a rally in Jakarta on Thursday shocked the nation and spurred an outcry against the security forces. Kurniawan was reportedly completing a food delivery order when he was caught in the clash. Witnesses told local television that the armored car from the National Police’s Mobile Brigade unit suddenly sped through the crowd of demonstrators and hit Kurniawan, causing him to fall. Instead of stopping, the car ran over him.