LPDP Boss Apologizes After Viral Video of Awardee Saying “Only I Need to Be Indonesian, Not My Child”
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Arya Pamungkas Iwantoro and Dwi Sasetyaningtyas are currently the focus of public attention in Indonesia. The couple, who are recipients of the LPDP scholarship, became widely discussed after Dwi Sasetyaningtyas uploaded a video that sparked controversy and angered netizens. In the video, Tyas, as Dwi Sasetyaningtyas is affectionately known, was deemed to have belittled Indonesia through her statement expressing pride that her child is a foreign citizen, saying, “it’s enough that I am Indonesian, my child doesn’t need to be.”
In response, the Acting Director General of the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP), Sudarto, apologized and expressed regret that the statement was made, stating that it should not have happened. “We, on behalf of LPDP and its alumni, apologize for what happened. We deeply regret it,” he said during a media gathering at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday (February 25, 2026).
He reminded other LPDP participants that the source of the scholarship funds used comes from taxes or public money. “I need to convey to all LPDP alumni that in the future, please maintain ethical and national values. There is a slogan now, ‘Don’t forget that you are using tax money. Remember that. You are using tax money,’” he emphasized.
Sudarto believes that all other LPDP alumni are working diligently to serve the nation with full dedication throughout the country. Thus, with this case, in the future, alumni and LPDP participants will remember to continue to improve. As well as maintaining public trust in the use of the endowment fund. The government has established Presidential Regulation Number 12 of 2019 concerning the Endowment Fund for Education (DAP). The strategic policy direction in managing the endowment fund for education is set by the LPDP Board of Trustees, which consists of nine ministers. In addition, according to the 1945 Constitution, at least twenty percent of the State Budget (APBN) is for the education function. The government and the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI) in 2010 through Law Number 2 of 2010 concerning the 2010 State Budget agreed that part of the funds from the allocation of funds for the education function in the 2010 State Budget would be used as the National Education Development Fund (DPPN), which is managed with an endowment fund mechanism by a Public Service Agency (BLU). Previously, after the video went viral, the Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, also commented and requested that Arya return the scholarship funds, as stated by the Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. In a press conference at the Ministry of Finance, Purbaya explained that the return of funds includes not only the principal of the scholarship but also interest in accordance with applicable regulations. “LPDP has spoken with her husband, and he seems to agree to return the money received from LPDP, including interest. As we know, money in the bank also has interest,” said Purbaya. Arya is estimated to have to return LPDP scholarship funds of IDR 2.53 billion, not including interest, as requested by Minister Purbaya. Purbaya emphasized that LPDP funds come from public taxes and part of the state debt allocated for the development of human resources (HR). “That is money from taxes and part of the debt that we set aside to ensure that our HR grows. But if it is used to insult the country, then we will ask for the money back with interest,” he said. He also said that the person’s name would be put on a blacklist so that they cannot work in the government environment. KOMPAS.com is committed to providing clear, trustworthy, and balanced facts. Support the sustainability of clear journalism and enjoy comfortable reading without ads through Membership. Join KOMPAS.com Plus now.