Deputy Minister Stella Responds to Viral LPDP Alumni's 'I'm Enough as Indonesian Citizen, Not My Children' Remark

Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek) Stella Christie has spoken out regarding the viral LPDP scholarship alumna who publicly stated “I’m enough as an Indonesian citizen, my children shouldn’t be” — a remark that has sparked widespread public outcry.

Stella addressed the notion that every state scholarship constitutes a moral debt.

“I was once criticised by netizens when I advised undergraduate scholarship recipients from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology that a scholarship is a debt. But the reality is indeed so: every scholarship from the state is a moral debt,” Stella said when contacted on Sunday (22/2/2026).

Stella said the polemic that has recently emerged reflects a moral failure at an early stage of life. Nevertheless, she noted that tightening the scholarship system through layer upon layer of restrictions would not necessarily resolve the problem.

“The controversy that has surfaced essentially reflects a failure of moral education at the early stages of life. Scholarships are not understood as a sacred trust, but merely as a facility. That is where the problem lies,” Stella explained.

“Excessive restrictions could actually foster cynicism: scholarship recipients become less grateful towards the state and become preoccupied with finding loopholes to avoid their obligations. What is needed more is trust — giving scholarship recipients the space to find their own way of contributing to the nation,” she continued.

Deputy Minister Stella said that nearly all well-known Indonesian diaspora scholars demonstrate strong dedication to contributing to the nation and opening opportunities for others. According to her, gratitude towards the state can take many forms.

“These positive examples need to be highlighted — Prof. Vivi Kashim in China, Prof. Sastia Putri in Japan, Prof. Haryadi in the United States, and many more. Let us hope we remain open to the fact that giving back to the nation takes many forms,” she said.

Stella then offered several tips for state scholarship recipients to cultivate a sense of patriotism. One of them, she said, is to focus on being of benefit to individuals in the homeland.

“First, for state scholarship recipients, focus on how you can be of benefit to individuals in Indonesia, more than to abstract institutions. Focusing on individuals will sharpen your reasoning. Second, for parents, whether living in Indonesia or abroad, use Indonesian at home and instil pride in the Indonesian language in your children,” Stella said.

“The ability to speak Indonesian is never a burden — it can even be a powerful asset! In my family, it is not only my children who are required to speak Indonesian, but my husband, who is from Poland, is also required to learn Indonesian,” she added.

The Viral Remarks

The owner of the Instagram account @sasetyaningtyas uploaded a video of herself opening a long-awaited parcel. Inside was a letter from the United Kingdom’s Home Office.

The letter confirmed that the account owner’s second child had officially become a British citizen. The woman also displayed the British passport that arrived alongside the letter.

“This parcel isn’t just any parcel — it contains a very important document that changes the fate and future of my children. Let’s open it,” she said.

“This is a letter from the UK Home Office confirming that my second child has been accepted as a British citizen,” she continued.

She then stated that she would endeavour for her children to hold foreign citizenship.

“I know the world seems unfair, but it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be. We’ll ensure the children have strong passports as foreign nationals,” she said.

The LPDP scholarship recipient, identified by the initials DS, subsequently issued an apology. The public apology was delivered through her Instagram account.

The owner of the @sasetyaningtyas account posted a clarification and apology on Friday (20/2/2026). She said the statement was driven by a sense of disappointment. However, she acknowledged that the step she had taken was misguided and inappropriate.

“I fully realise that the statement was inappropriate and could be interpreted as a form of disparagement towards one’s identity as an Indonesian citizen. For that, I acknowledge my error in the choice of words and in expressing them in the public sphere,” she said.