Pekanbaru Mayor Organises Sahur On The Road with 2,000 Ride-Hailing Drivers
Pekanbaru Mayor Agung Nugroho organised a Sahur On The Road event with over 2,000 ride-hailing drivers at the Purna MTQ Pekanbaru venue on the early morning of 1 March 2026.
This collaborative initiative was regarded as a breakthrough in regional leadership, bringing government directly into contact with digital economy workers who have become the backbone of urban mobility.
The event functioned not merely as a communal pre-dawn meal gathering, but also as an open dialogue space between government and drivers. The Mayor engaged directly to solicit aspirations, listen to driver experiences, and strengthen two-way constructive communication.
Following the shared meal, the activity continued with a convoy to the Grand Mosque An-Nur of Riau Province for congregational dawn prayer. Notably, the event also included non-Muslim drivers as an expression of interfaith solidarity, reflecting a spirit of unity and togetherness amid Pekanbaru’s social diversity.
The initiative stemmed from the Mayor’s swift response to a ride-hailing driver’s suggestion on social media proposing direct government engagement with drivers.
This aspiration materialised into a large-scale event attended by thousands of drivers from various platforms. Participants expressed appreciation for government attention, particularly regarding road infrastructure improvements with direct bearing on their work comfort, safety, and efficiency.
As tangible support, Pekanbaru City Government together with Baznas distributed Eid allowances of Rp200,000 to Muslim ride-hailing drivers in attendance. Equivalent assistance was also provided directly by the Mayor to non-Muslim drivers as an expression of respect for interfaith solidarity.
Five new motorcycles were distributed to lucky drivers, followed by the provision of helmets and tree seedlings from Pekanbaru Police, and a motorcycle raffle organised by BRK Syariah. The City Government also announced its commitment to establishing 1,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots across various city areas, including at driver basecamp facilities, to support their work activities and digital connectivity.
Mayor Agung Nugroho emphasised that Pekanbaru belongs to all citizens without exception, including digital sector informal workers. “Pekanbaru is ours. This city stands because of the hard work of all its residents, including ride-hailing drivers who work day and night serving the community,” he stated. This affirmation established that the city government views ride-hailing drivers as integral to the urban economic ecosystem and development.
Nationally, application-based workers have become crucial elements in Indonesia’s digital economic transformation. The direct presence of regional government within this worker community demonstrates responsive, inclusive, and empathy-oriented leadership. Amid evolving social and economic dynamics, an approach encompassing, listening to, and standing alongside communities forms an important foundation for building sustainable cities.
The steps taken by Pekanbaru City Government not only strengthen the relationship between government and informal sector workers, but also symbolise humanistic leadership prioritising public welfare. This initiative is expected to inspire other Indonesian regions to build closer collaboration with digital economy workers, whilst affirming that urban progress can only be achieved through collective effort, empathy, and participation of all societal elements.