Child of LPDP Alumni Who Went Viral for Saying 'Only I Need to Be Indonesian' is Still an Indonesian Citizen
The Ministry of Law and Human Rights has revealed the citizenship status of DS’s child, an alumni of the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), who has been widely criticised following a controversial statement: ‘only I need to be Indonesian, not my child’. DS’s child is still officially an Indonesian citizen.
The post on DS’s personal Instagram account on Friday, February 20, 2026, sparked controversy. In the video, she showed her second child’s British passport, indicating that the child had obtained British citizenship.
In the caption of the post, DS made a statement that was considered offensive to the Indonesian passport and was seen as a lack of pride in being an Indonesian citizen.
The Director General of General Legal Administration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Widodo, spoke about the matter. During a press conference at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights office on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Widodo explained that the UK, where DS’s child was born, does not adhere to the principle of ius soli.
Because the UK does not adhere to ius soli, DS’s child does not automatically become a British citizen simply by being born there, as citizenship in the UK is not based on place of birth.
“This raises the question of whether the child was indeed born there, in the UK, while the UK is one of the countries that does not adhere to ius soli? Not adhering to ius soli, not based on the place of birth,” said Widodo.
DS’s Child is Still an Indonesian Citizen
Widodo stated that DS, her husband, and her child are still Indonesian citizens. He said that DS had violated the child’s right to protection by allegedly attempting to change the child’s citizenship status at a young age.
“The child is still relatively young, not yet an adult. Based on the child’s lineage and the parents, the child is still an Indonesian citizen. But the parents are trying to change or imply that the child is a foreign citizen. This violates the child’s right to protection,” he said.
Can Obtain a British Passport Through Permanent Residency
However, Widodo did not rule out the possibility that DS’s child could obtain a British passport through the permanent residency system. However, this system is usually intended for adults.
“It is also possible that if the child lives in a place for five years and becomes a permanent resident, they may have the potential to become a citizen of another country. However, according to the law, the parents are Indonesian citizens, so the child is automatically an Indonesian citizen.
“Even if the child is a permanent resident, that is usually for adults. This is what we are currently confirming,” he added.
Widodo said that his office has not yet coordinated with DS’s family. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Embassy.
“So far, there has been no communication or coordination with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, specifically from the Directorate General of General Legal Administration with the person in question. We may actively communicate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Embassy regarding the person’s status,” he said.
The Amount of Scholarship Funds to be Returned is Still Being Calculated by LPDP
The controversy surrounding DS’s statement has had further consequences. The public has focused on DS’s husband, AP, who also received an LPDP scholarship for his master’s and doctoral studies.
It was later revealed that AP had not fulfilled his post-study obligations. AP was then asked to return the scholarship funds he received during his studies.
Currently, the LPDP is calculating the amount of scholarship funds that the alumni, AP, DS’s husband, who is the subject of the social media post, must repay. The LPDP is still calculating the value of the scholarship funds, including interest, for the entire period of AP’s studies.
“The amount to be returned is still being calculated. We have the data and the calculations,” said the Director of LPDP, Sudarto, during a media briefing at the Ministry of Finance, as reported by Antara on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
In this case, AP’s study period was from 2015-2016, which was then continued from 2017-2021. The LPDP stated that it is currently calculating the value of the scholarship funds, including interest, for the entire period of AP’s studies.