LPDP Scholarship Alumni Proud Children Are Not Indonesian Citizens; Melaney Ricardo Responds with Elegance

Jakarta, VIVA – The debate over children’s citizenship has once again flared up on social media. Dwi Sasetyaningtyas came under the spotlight after announcing that her children now hold British citizenship.

Through a personal post, the influencer commonly known as Tyas shared the moment she received official documents from British authorities confirming her children’s status as British citizens by birth. According to Tyas, the decision was made for the sake of her children’s future.

“The world looks unfair, but it’s enough that only I am an Indonesian citizen,” Tyas said, as quoted on Friday, 20 February 2026.

The statement triggered a range of reactions. Many netizens felt the remark appeared to belittle Indonesian citizenship. Tyas’s status as an alumna of the LPDP scholarship programme — which is funded by the state — further broadened the discussion. The issue evolved beyond a mere matter of citizenship choice into questions of identity and nationalism.

Amid the controversy, Melaney Ricardo shared her own perspective. As a public figure who also has children with dual citizenship, Melaney offered a different point of view.

Melaney married Tyson Lynch in 2010. From that marriage, the couple were blessed with two children who have held dual citizenship since birth. However, under Indonesian law, children with dual citizenship must choose one nationality upon reaching adulthood.

“Everyone’s making a fuss about foreign citizens, Indonesian citizens… both my children were born with double nationality. At 18, they’ll have to choose whether to be Indonesian or foreign citizens,” Melaney Ricardo wrote on Threads.

“Haven’t really thought about which one yet, but judging by how they ask for nasi goreng with a fried egg and sweet soy sauce every day, I reckon I already know which way the wind is blowing,” she quipped.

Beyond the humour, Melaney stressed the importance of instilling pride in one’s cultural roots. Although her children attend an international school and are accustomed to speaking English, she always reminds them of their family identity.

“One piece of advice I always give my children, who currently attend an international school and speak English daily — though yes, they can still speak Indonesian — is: ‘NEVER FORGET THAT YOU HAVE BATAK BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH YOUR VEINS!’ And they must be proud to be Batak,” Melaney Ricardo said.