LPDP Scholarship Controversy: Alumnus Boasts of Children's Foreign Citizenship, Husband Blacklisted

A social media post by an influencer named Dwi Sasetyaningtyas showing off her child’s British passport went viral online. She expressed her happiness and stated that she wanted her children to become foreign nationals holding British passports.

After the video went viral, Tyas deleted it. However, the recording had already spread widely and become the subject of public discussion. Many netizens expressed disappointment at Tyas’s remarks, which were seen as demeaning her own country.

How the Controversy Unfolded

The case came to light after Tyas’s post about her child’s citizenship status circulated on social media. The central issue is that Tyas is an alumnus and recipient of a scholarship from the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP). Her husband, identified as AP, is also a recipient of the same scholarship.

“I know the world looks unfair, but it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be. We’ll make sure the children have strong foreign passports,” Tyas said, as quoted from the X account @blaugrana1O.

She admitted she did not want her children to become Indonesian citizens, stating she was tired of being an Indonesian national. However, as a scholarship recipient funded by public money, Tyas claimed she endeavoured to advocate for the people’s interests.

Subsequently, Tyas issued an apology via her Instagram account @sasetyaningtyas. “In connection with my previous post containing the statement ‘it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be’, I hereby convey my sincere apologies,” she said.

Tyas explained the statement was born out of personal disappointment and frustration as an Indonesian citizen regarding various conditions. However, she acknowledged that such frustration should not have been expressed in a manner that could potentially hurt many people’s feelings. “Especially as it relates to our shared national identity,” she said.

LPDP Suspects Tyas’s Husband Has Not Fulfilled Post-Scholarship Obligations

The Education Fund Management Agency stated that AP, Tyas’s husband, had not yet completed his contribution obligations after finishing his studies. “AP is suspected of not having completed his contribution obligations after finishing his studies,” LPDP wrote on its Instagram Story account lpdp_ri on Friday, 20 February 2026.

Under the regulations, all LPDP awardees and alumni are required to undertake a service period contributing to Indonesia for a duration of twice the study period plus one year.

LPDP is conducting an internal review regarding the husband’s contributions and has summoned AP for clarification. Should it be found that contribution obligations have not been met, LPDP will proceed with enforcement action and sanctions.

LPDP expressed regret over the social media controversy triggered by Tyas, stating that such actions do not reflect the values of integrity, ethics and professionalism instilled in all scholarship recipients.

LPDP: Tyas Has Completed Her Service Period

Nevertheless, LPDP confirmed that Tyas, who studied for two years, had completed her five-year contribution obligation. She finished her master’s degree and was declared to have graduated on 31 August 2017. She has also fulfilled her entire service period in accordance with regulations.

“Accordingly, LPDP no longer has any legal engagement with the individual concerned,” LPDP stated.

LPDP said it would continue efforts to communicate with Tyas, urging her to exercise greater wisdom in using social media and to be mindful of public sensitivities. “And to reaffirm that LPDP scholarship recipients have a national obligation to serve the country,” LPDP said.

Stella Christie: State Scholarships Are a Moral Debt

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Stella Christie affirmed that state scholarships constitute a “moral debt” that must be understood as a trust. “I was once criticised by netizens when I advised recipients of the Ministry’s overseas undergraduate scholarships that a scholarship is a debt. But the reality is indeed so: every scholarship from the state is a moral debt,” Stella said on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

She assessed that the recent controversy reflects issues of moral education. LPDP reportedly plans to summon Tyas’s husband over suspected failure to fulfil his obligations as an awardee. “Scholarships are not understood as a trust, but merely as a facility,” Stella said.

Stella stated that the solution to the controversy is not to tighten scholarship regulations. According to her, excessive restrictions could instead foster cynicism and encourage recipients to seek loopholes to avoid their obligations.

Stella noted that contributing to Indonesia does not necessarily mean returning home immediately. In some cases, remaining abroad until reaching a strategic position can have a broader impact.

Stella said she continued to contribute whilst pursuing her career in the United States and China, including mentoring Indonesian students and bridging cooperation between institutions.

Finance Minister Blacklists AP and Demands Scholarship Repayment

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expressed regret over Tyas’s social media content celebrating her success in obtaining British citizenship for her child. The former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Deposit Insurance Corporation deemed the behaviour an insult to Indonesia, particularly given that both Tyas and her husband received scholarships funded by public taxes.

Purbaya stressed that such behaviour is not the appropriate way to express dissatisfaction with one’s homeland. “That is money from taxes and partly from debt that we set aside to ensure our human resources grow. But if it is used to insult the nation, then we demand the money back with interest,” Purbaya said.

He announced that AP would be placed on a blacklist, barring him from any career in government. Purbaya confirmed that AP would also face further sanctions for being deemed to have insulted Indonesia. “I will blacklist him. He will not be able to enter any part of government,” Purbaya said.