House Commission XI Member Urges LPDP Alumni DS to Show Self-Awareness

Member of House Commission XI, Melchias Markus Mekeng, has responded to the viral controversy surrounding an LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) alumna with the initials DS, who stated “it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be,” a remark that has recently gained widespread public attention. Mekeng described the statement as unethical.

“I feel sympathetic towards those who receive LPDP scholarships. Getting a scholarship is a stroke of fortune, and the money comes from the state. And the state’s funds come from the people. So it’s from the people, from all across Indonesia, from Papua to Aceh — it all goes into the state budget, and the LPDP programme exists within that. So there should at least be some sense of gratitude,” Mekeng said when contacted on Sunday (22/2/2026).

Mekeng acknowledged that every individual has the right to determine their own citizenship. Nevertheless, he assessed that DS’s statement gave the impression that Indonesia is a lower-class nation.

“Secondly, her words — ‘let me be the only one who’s Indonesian, my children don’t need to be’ — that’s also rather unethical. It is indeed every person’s right to choose their citizenship, but such things need not be said publicly. It’s hurtful. It makes it seem as though our nation is somehow of a lower class,” he said.

He noted that Indonesia has its strengths alongside its shortcomings. The Golkar Faction Chairman in the People’s Consultative Assembly deemed DS’s statement inappropriate.

“We have pride in our nation too. With all its strengths and weaknesses, we have pride. We have culture, we have customs. We have ancestors, and we must preserve all of that. So one should not demean one’s own nation by making statements that, in my view, are simply not appropriate,” Mekeng said.

He expressed hope that DS would show self-awareness and refrain from making statements with negative connotations in public. Mekeng said DS should be grateful for having received a scholarship from the state.

“It’s her right to decide — whatever citizenship she wants, that’s her right. But there’s no need to make satirical, cynical, sneering statements. Especially when she received an LPDP scholarship — funded by the state. So she really should show some self-awareness, in my opinion,” Mekeng said.

“Not everyone can get that opportunity. Many people aspire to it, but not everyone succeeds. So if you’ve received it, be grateful. Be grateful, and even if you don’t want to express thanks, at least don’t make sneering statements. Certainly don’t demean your own nation,” he added.

DS’s Viral Remarks

The viral video was uploaded by a woman using the Instagram account @sasetyaningtyas. In the video, she was shown opening a long-awaited parcel containing a letter from the United Kingdom Home Office.

The letter confirmed that the account holder’s second child had officially been granted British citizenship. The woman also displayed a British passport that arrived along with the letter.

“This 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 stating that my second child has been accepted as a British citizen,” she continued.

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

“I know the world seems unfair, but it’s enough that I’m the one who’s Indonesian — my children shouldn’t be. We’ll make sure the children have strong foreign passports,” she said.

The LPDP scholarship recipient with the initials DS subsequently issued an apology. The public apology was conveyed through her Instagram account.

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

“I fully realise that those words were ill-chosen and could be interpreted as a form of denigration of Indonesian citizenship. For that, I acknowledge my error in the choice of words and in expressing them in the public domain,” she said.