Old visuals misrepresent Indonesian lawmaker's situation after anti-government protests

"After his house was destroyed, Sahroni was recorded on camera eating a packed meal," reads the Indonesian-language text overlaid on an Instagram video published on September 8, 2025, referring to Ahmad Sahroni, a member of the House of Representatives.

The clip shows him eating a simple rice meal while wearing a T-shirt and trousers -- implying that he had fallen into poverty, as such meals are typically associated with Indonesia's lower and middle classes. 

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Screenshot of the false post, taken on September 15, with a red X mark by AFP

A clip on TikTok also shows a photo of Sahroni lying on a bed in what looks like a hospital room, shared with the claim that he had collapsed after discovering his home had been ransacked.

"MP Ahmad Sahroni fainted. Ahmad Sahroni stated that he does not accept his house being ransacked and will take legal action against anyone involved," reads the caption of a TikTok video uploaded on August 31.

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Screenshot of the false post taken on September 18, with a red X mark by AFP

Frustration over Indonesia's economic troubles has steadily grown throughout 2025, and news in August of lawmakers receiving a new monthly housing allowance -- almost 10 times the minimum wage of Indonesia's capital Jakarta -- drew outrage and calls to disband the House of Representatives (archived here and here). 

Protests escalated into unrest after a video circulated of a police vehicle running over a gig motorcycle driver, leaving at least 10 people dead and resulting in the looting of several officials' houses, including Sahroni's (archived here and here).

The lawmaker -- who owns about US$19.8 million in cars, properties and other assets according to a 2024 report from Indonesia's anti-graft watchdog -- said calls to dissolve the legislature are "the mentality of dumbest people in the world" (archived link).

But the false visuals predate the protests. 

A keyword search reveals Sahroni shared a clip showing the same scene as the first false video on his official Instagram account on August 6, 2020. The caption suggested that despite his wealth, he had no problem eating simple food (archived link).

"It tastes just as good as before, like eating Padang rice," Sahroni wrote. "Some people say, 'Mr. Roni would never eat like he used to anymore.' But actually, it's the same, no difference… the only difference is whether the side dishes are many or few."

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Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and Sahroni's Instagram post (right), with a red X added by AFP

Another keyword search shows he uploaded the picture seen in the second false post on his Instagram account, with a caption saying he was suffering from exhaustion (archived link).

"Life must be balanced. Sometimes even being super healthy, you can still crash, baby," the post said.

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Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and Sahroni's Instagram post (right), with a red X added by AFP

As of September 19, Sahroni has not made a public appearance.

AFP has also debunked other misinformation surrounding Indonesia's protests.