Bahlil and Fathers Yearn for Thrill of Operating Heavy Machinery

A mini excavator controlled by remote (RC) slowly moves across a pile of wood shavings. Its levers go up and down, attempting to lift small materials into a miniature truck bed. Occasionally, the load spills before being deposited. Behind the remote control, it is not children playing but serious adult men. Among them, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia tried a simulation of mining activity. This warm moment was captured on camera during Bahlil’s attendance at the Minerba Convex event at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. “This remote, sir… push it forward, sir, move it ahead,” a booth attendant instructed Bahlil briefly. The remote functions like a joystick, wide enough to hold with both hands. At the top are two small levers. Bahlil moved his thumbs: one to move the excavator’s body, the other to control the bucket for scooping wood shavings. He stopped after less than five minutes, seemingly reluctant to immerse himself further in the role. Fathul Hadi, co-owner of Remotopia, a business renting mini RC excavators, witnessed the scene. “We were invited to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry event, specifically Minerba Expo, and Minister Bahlil played right at our booth. We were thrilled he enjoyed it,” he added. The phenomenon of adults revisiting childhood toys has recently trended on social media. Not just children, remote-controlled toys such as toy trucks or excavators are now popular among ‘dads’. In public spaces, including car-free days (CFD), these games attract curiosity and nostalgia. Fathul showed the Remotopia booth at a CFD event on Jalan Harapan Indah Boulevard in Pusaka Rakyat, Tarumajaya District, Bekasi Regency, on Sunday morning, 17 May. Amid hundreds of cheerful residents filling the street, he set up a simple 3x2-metre tent. As visitors arrived, parents played with the remote-controlled excavators alongside their children, laughing and occasionally grumbling when wood shavings spilled before reaching their destination. Named Remotopia, this simple attraction began from three friends’ longing for childhood RC toys. Remarkably, it became a side business renting RC excavators, despite their main jobs as primary school teachers in Bekasi. Starting with an initial capital of Rp5 million and five days building the arena, Remotopia officially launched in early 2025. “We were junior high school friends. We got the idea from overseas videos of RC excavator toys and pooled money to start this business,” said Fathul Hadi, a Remotopia co-owner. Despite being only a year old, Remotopia gained widespread recognition through social media videos, a key tool for expanding its market. They offer partnership packages priced between Rp4 million and Rp10 million, securing 200 partners across Indonesia, including Papua’s Nabire and Timika, areas with limited play spaces for children. “When the business went viral and people liked it, we were happy to help educate the public that there are many viable businesses that can generate income,” Fathul said. Remotopia operates every Sunday at Transera Harapan Indah CFD in Bekasi from 6am to 10am, and at Marakash Square in Babelan District from Thursday to Sunday, 5pm to 10pm. With 10-15 RC excavators available, visitors pay between Rp15,000 and Rp25,000 for 15-25 minutes of playtime. Additionally, Remotopia staff promptly guide beginners—both children and adults—on operating the remote excavators before they play on the designated arena. “There are rules too, such as not entering the arena. The remote has specific features that must be used according to their functions,” Fathul explained. After approximately four hours of operation, Fathul reported turnover of Rp200,000 to Rp400,000 per session. The Remotopia team immediately cleans and checks each unit’s battery and engine to prevent damage. “After playtime, we clean and check each unit’s motor and engine,” Fathul added. Watching his child enjoy the RC excavator, Raihan (30), a Yogyakarta native residing in Mutiara Gading City, Bekasi, smiled faintly, reminiscing about his childhood when he actively played outdoors with friends—long before modern RC toys existed. “I’m happy too. Seeing my child happy reminds me of my own childhood,” Raihan said.