An Indonesian influencer and LPDP scholarship alumna has sparked nationwide backlash after saying she does not want her children to hold Indonesian citizenship.
What started as a casual passport “unboxing” video has now escalated into a political issue, with Indonesia’s Finance Minister reportedly ordering her husband to return billions in scholarship funds.
Started with a British passport “unboxing” video
Dwi Sasetyaningtyas, an LPDP scholarship alumna and social media influencer, uploaded a video showing a letter from the UK Home Office confirming that her second child had officially obtained British citizenship.
During the video, she said, “Let it be just me who is Indonesian. My children should not be.”
She also expressed hope that her children would hold a “strong foreign passport.”
The clip quickly went viral on Instagram and Threads, triggering heated debate online, especially since Dwi was funded by LPDP, a prestigious scholarship financed by Indonesian public funds.
Apologised, but the backlash continued
Following heavy criticism, Dwi issued a public apology, admitting her words were inappropriate and could be interpreted as belittling Indonesian citizenship.
However, the controversy did not die down.
Instead, it escalated and was eventually addressed at the ministerial level.
Husband also an LPDP scholar, asked to repay funds
The situation intensified after attention shifted to her husband, Arya Iwantoro, who is also an LPDP scholarship recipient.
Arya completed his Master’s and PhD at Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 2022 under LPDP funding. He later pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Exeter and is currently working in the UK.
Indonesia’s Finance Minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, reportedly stated that Arya would be required to return the scholarship funds, including interest.
According to Indonesian media estimates, the total amount involved is approximately Rp7.7 billion or RM2.34 million, covering both Master’s and PhD funding.
Reports also state that Arya has agreed to repay the funds.
Possible blacklist from government positions
The Finance Minister also mentioned the possibility of blacklisting both individuals from future government related positions.
The case has raised wider questions about moral responsibility, particularly for recipients of state funded scholarships who are expected to contribute back to the country after graduation.
