Gayo Lues Official Resigns After Daughter's 'Flexing' Sparks Public Outrage

An official in Indonesia’s Gayo Lues district, Aceh, has resigned from his position following public outrage over his daughter’s social media posts flaunting a luxurious lifestyle. Nevi Rizal, the Assistant I for Government, Special Autonomy of Aceh, and People’s Welfare at the Gayo Lues Regional Secretariat, submitted his resignation on Thursday, citing moral and ethical responsibility. He stated that although the issue was personal, it had the potential to undermine public trust in the local government.

Rizal’s daughter, Dea Arranoya, became the centre of controversy after posting content on social media that was perceived as ‘flexing’ or showing off wealth. In a widely criticised post from December 2025, she displayed a row of jerry cans filled with fuel at a time when many in the community were facing economic difficulties. In an open letter dated 22 July, Dea publicly apologised to the people of Gayo Lues, acknowledging her actions as negligent and immature. She confirmed that all related content had been removed from her social media accounts and pledged to be more humble and considerate in the future.

In his resignation letter, Rizal emphasised that his decision was made to protect the integrity of the institution and to allow for a proper evaluation process. Gayo Lues Deputy Regent H. Maliki confirmed receipt of the resignation and stated that the government would process it according to established mechanisms. He added that a special team would be formed to investigate the matter thoroughly and transparently to maintain public trust.