A scholarship recipient’s online comments regarding her child’s citizenship have sparked public debate in Indonesia, raising questions about national pride and obligations to the state. Dwi Sasetyaningtyas, an alumna of the Indonesian government’s LPDP scholarship program, recently posted a video expressing her preference that her children not be Indonesian citizens.
The video quickly went viral, drawing criticism from many online who accused her of lacking patriotism, particularly given her status as an LPDP recipient. Sasetyaningtyas subsequently issued a clarification, stating she had fulfilled her obligations as a scholarship alumna.
“Through this post, I would like to answer and clarify some assumptions and slander that have been circulating:
I graduated from university in the NETHERLANDS in 2017
For 6 years (2017-2023) I lived in Indonesia to fulfill my obligations as a scholarship recipient & contribute back to Indonesia — and this is still ongoing today
Moving to ENGLAND is NOT for school, but to fulfill my obligations as a Wife,” Sasetyaningtyas said in a statement.
Despite receiving financial support from the state, Sasetyaningtyas asserted her right to criticize the government.
“The state didn’t give me anything, I also pay taxes. Besides, why is the Indonesian passport weak? It’s the government’s diplomacy. Don’t you understand that?” she said in response to a comment.
“Scholarship recipients with people’s money should, in fact, voice criticism of government policies that are not pro-people as a reciprocal/contribution to the people,” she continued.
She explained that her comments about her child’s citizenship were an expression of her disappointment with the Indonesian government.
“The statement ‘let me be the only one who is Indonesian, my children don’t demand to be’ is an expression of disappointment, anger and frustration towards Indonesian Government policy.
I reject the accusations/assumptions/slander that are circulating, but I realize that is beyond my control. I apologize in advance, and wish you a blessed fast!” she concluded.
Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, also addressed the situation, issuing a stern warning to Sasetyaningtyas.
Sasetyaningtyas initially gained attention for her statement, “Let me be the only one who is Indonesian, my children don’t need to be.”
She was subsequently met with online backlash from users who deemed her comments unpatriotic, especially considering her background as an LPDP scholarship recipient.
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Ia pun lantas mendapatkan cibiran dari netizen karena dianggap tidak cinta Tanah Air. Apalagi Tyas merupakan alumni penerima beasiswa LPDP.
