House Commission X Warns LPDP Alumni Over 'Only I Should Be Indonesian' Remark: Scholarship Uses Public Funds
Chair of House of Representatives Commission X Hetifah Sjaifudian has said the public backlash received by LPDP alumna identified by the initials DS, following her viral statement “only I should be an Indonesian citizen, not my children,” constitutes a social alarm from the public. She argued that the sharp public scrutiny should not be viewed as a personal attack.
“The viral nature of the statement has naturally stirred public sensitivity. Amid high hopes that state scholarship recipients will return and contribute to Indonesia, a narrative that appears to distance itself from the spirit of Indonesian nationhood can provoke disappointment. This must be understood as a social alarm, not merely a personal attack,” Hetifah said when contacted on Monday (23/2/2026).
Hetifah noted that LPDP is a scholarship funded by public money. Recipients, she said, must be aware of the public’s expectation that they use the knowledge they have acquired to contribute back to Indonesia.
“The funds used come from public money, so morally and politically there is a strong expectation from the public that recipients maintain a firm commitment to the nation,” Hetifah explained.
On the other hand, Hetifah also urged the public to remain proportionate in assessing the DS case. The citizenship of DS’s children is a personal right and a family matter.
“The state’s focus should be on whether the scholarship recipient has fulfilled all contractual obligations — returning and serving in accordance with the regulations. That is where the point of accountability lies,” Hetifah said.
“Going forward, what needs to be strengthened is not merely the reactive addition of rules, but the reinforcement of national values, oversight of post-study obligations, and transparency regarding alumni contributions to the public. LPDP is not just a study financing programme — it is an investment in national leadership and capacity,” she added.
Commission X has called on LPDP administrators to conduct an evaluation following the DS case. The commission is pushing for improvements not only to the conditions for receiving LPDP scholarships but also to the behavioural commitments expected of recipients.
“Every rupiah of education funding must translate into tangible benefits for Indonesia, and that commitment must be reflected not only in contracts but also in the public conduct and ethics of recipients,” Hetifah said.
The viral statement originated when the owner of the Instagram account @sasetyaningtyas posted a video of herself opening a parcel from the United Kingdom Home Office. The letter confirmed that her second child had officially been granted British citizenship. The woman also displayed the British passport that arrived with the letter.
“This parcel is no ordinary parcel — it contains a very important document that changes the fate and future of my children,” she said.
She then stated that she would endeavour to secure foreign citizenship for her children. “I know the world seems unfair, but only I should be an Indonesian citizen — not my children. We will ensure the children have strong foreign passports,” she said.
The LPDP recipient subsequently issued a public apology via her Instagram account. Posted on Friday (20/2), she said the statement had been driven by frustration but acknowledged that the step she took was wrong and inappropriate.
“I fully realise that the statement was ill-chosen and could be interpreted as demeaning the identity of being an Indonesian citizen. For that, I acknowledge my error in the choice of words and in conveying them in a public space,” she said.