MPs' new salary sparks furious protests as tear gas fired at crowds

Riot police have fired rounds of tear gas and water canons at stone throwing protestors as unrest over alleged lavish MP allowances and income inequality rumbles on. Jakarta is bracing itself for more protests today after Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver, was run over and killed by police on Thursday, an incident that has fueled public anger further.

Thousands of people attended his funeral while others gathered outside the police headquarters to demand justice for his death. In a press conference last night, police said they had arrested seven police officers related to the incident and apologised. President Prabowo said he was "shocked and disappointed by the excessive actions of the officers" and that he has ordered an investigation into the incident. In retaliation around 1,000 motorcycle taxi drivers stormed a special ops police building in the Javanese city of Surakarta with some drivers calling the force "murderers".

As tensions boiled over, protesters threw stones and bottles at police and Brimob personnel guarding the premises.

Also today "dozens" of tear gas was fired in a span of 15 minutes at protesters outside the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Central Jakarta this morning, according to the BBC. Protesters showed signs of difficulty breathing and coughing.

Indonesia's capital has been at the centre of unrest all week as thousands of students, workers and activists make their voices heard against a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($US3,075) for MPs, which is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.

Protestors are also demanding higher wages, lower taxes and stronger anti-corruption measures. The anger comes amid strict austerity measures implemented by president Prabowo, including cuts to education, health and public works.

Protests have also spread outside of Jakarta to Jawa Barat where demonstrators have gathered around a bonfire and marched to a government building. Meanwhile, in Surakarta, around six hours east of Jakarta, a protest march has also begun.

Senior Commissioner Ade Ary from the Jakarta local police accused protesters of burning flags, damaging the parliament building fence, vandalising CCTV cameras and defacing busway dividers.

"This endangers motorists and disrupts public order," he said.

On Tuesday, his office said they had detained 351 protesters for "damaging public facilities".

"Students were urged not to be easily provoked by calls on social media to participate in risky activities, and those spreading such calls were urged to desist," the police said in a statement on social media.