The controversy surrounding the state-funded Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) scholarship has escalated, leading to demands for repayment of study costs from alumni like DS and a “hunt” for recipients who have allegedly absconded from their service obligations.
DS, an alumna of the Bandung Institute of Technology, pursued her Master’s in Sustainable Energy Technology at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, funded by an LPDP scholarship from 2015 to 2017. Upon graduation, she successfully completed her mandatory service period, as stipulated in the LPDP recipient contract.
Under the LPDP’s terms, scholars are required to serve in Indonesia for a period equivalent to twice their study duration plus one year (2N+1). For DS, who completed a two-year program, this meant a five-year commitment to Indonesia (though recent rules have adjusted this to 2N). According to Harian Kompas, DS fulfilled her service between 2017 and 2023, initiating projects like planting 10,000 mangrove trees in coastal areas and contributing to school development in East Nusa Tenggara.
DS garnered significant public attention after sharing a controversial post on Instagram and Threads. She uploaded a vlog featuring the “unboxing” of her second child’s passport and documents, officially confirming their British citizenship—a move colloquially termed “flexing.” In the video, she openly stated her intention for her children to acquire foreign citizenship.
“I know the world seems unfair, but it’s enough for me to be an Indonesian citizen. Not my children. We’ll strive for our children to have those strong foreign passports,” she remarked. This post provoked widespread condemnation, with many accusing DS of insulting and demeaning the nation that had funded her education.
DS subsequently issued an apology for her content. “I hereby extend my open apology to all members of society who felt hurt, offended, or uncomfortable by my statement,” she posted on Instagram. While some accounts attempted to defend DS, portraying her as “a mother fighting for her children’s future,” her apology failed to quell the viral outrage.
The public furor soon extended to DS’s husband, AI, also an LPDP scholarship recipient, who was alleged to have failed his service obligation in Indonesia. He has since been sanctioned, ordered to repay the entire scholarship fund along with accrued interest.
Blacklisted and Ordered to Repay Scholarship Funds
“The head of LPDP has engaged with the husband concerned, and he (AI) seems to have agreed to return the funds disbursed by LPDP, including interest,” stated Purbaya on Monday (February 23). Purbaya sternly reminded all LPDP scholarship recipients to uphold ethical standards, emphasizing that LPDP funds originate from taxpayer money and state financing, specifically aimed at building Indonesia’s human capital. “If you’re unhappy, that’s fine, but do not insult the state,” Purbaya added.
Purbaya further warned that the names of such LPDP alumni would be blacklisted, effectively barring them from careers in state-owned institutions. AI is reportedly one of 44 LPDP alumni suspected of not fulfilling their service obligations, with dozens still residing overseas, according to data from the Ministry of Finance’s Financial Education and Training Agency (BPPKKemenkeu). “We have investigated over 600 awardees, and among them, sanctions, including repayment, have been imposed on eight individuals, with another 36 currently undergoing the process,” said Sudarto, acting head of BPPK Kemenkeu, as quoted by Detik on Monday (February 23).
Parliament Pushes for Scholarship Evaluation and Stricter Selection
Several members of the House of Representatives (DPR) are advocating for a comprehensive evaluation and tightening of the LPDP scholarship selection process. Lalu Hadrian Irfani, Vice Chairman of DPR Commission X, urged LPDP to conduct a thorough review covering recruitment, contract assessment, and the instillation of integrity and national values among all state scholarship recipients. Reacting to the DS case, the National Awakening Party politician expressed disappointment, stating that LPDP recipients should serve as national ambassadors in their host countries, showcasing Indonesia’s “manners, culture, ethics, and courtesy.”
Lalu emphasized the need for “a total evaluation, improved recruitment, revised objectives, and expanded equitable access” for marginalized groups, such as those in remote (3T) areas and Islamic boarding schools. “Opportunities must be given to these groups to participate in the LPDP scholarship so that it does not appear to be exclusive to certain segments of society,” he added. Fellow Commission X member Andi Muawiyah Ramly called for rigorous selection criteria for LPDP recipients, arguing that selection should consider not only academic scores but also track record, integrity, consistent national commitment, and clear plans for post-graduation contributions. Andi reminded scholarship recipients that the program is funded by public money. “LPDP is a state mandate. Every rupiah disbursed is the people’s money. Therefore, recipients are not only expected to achieve academically but also to possess a strong national commitment and a clear orientation towards public service,” he was quoted by Kompas.com.
Social Media Dynamics
As of Tuesday (February 24), the LPDP scholarship discussion, fueled by the DS case, showed no signs of abating on social media; instead, it continued to expand. Some accounts on X (formerly Twitter) cynically quipped that “regretting Indonesian citizenship” stemmed from their favored political candidate losing the last election. Other accounts with smaller followings echoed calls for LPDP’s abolition, suggesting its budget be reallocated to programs like “Free Nutritious Meals” (MBG).
Old tweets from social media personalities also resurfaced, discussing reasons why LPDP scholars might choose to remain abroad, often citing better living conditions and opportunities. Another account drew a sharp contrast, highlighting the government’s blacklisting of LPDP recipients compared to corrupt individuals who often secure public office. “Don’t be selective in your strictness. Be fair,” one user wrote.
What LPDP Scholarship Recipients Say
Setiamurti Rahardjo, an LPDP scholarship recipient currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Sheffield in the UK, expressed no surprise at the DS case. “News about LPDP scholars being ‘roasted’ has come up many times,” said Rahardjo, affectionately known as Tia. The term “dirujak” (roasted) in Indonesian internet slang refers to being repeatedly subjected to intense criticism and ridicule. Tia believes that in DS’s case, the widespread condemnation and anger primarily stemmed from the condescending tone of her content, “not [from] LPDP’s inability to monitor its awardees.”
Tia also noted that the classic issue of LPDP alumni not immediately returning to Indonesia to fulfill their service contracts is a common scenario. This is often due to various personal circumstances, such as plans for further studies, internships, economic factors, or family matters. “Usually, this manifests as a deferral of service,” she explained. “But one must not abscond [violate the service contract].”
Her current concern is that the DS case is being “cooked up” to push for the abolition of LPDP. According to Tia, the incident should instead serve as an opportunity for correction and valuable input for the agency. If LPDP is criticized for only accepting certain demographics, then it should actively broaden its reach. “Don’t ask for LPDP to be abolished; rather, use taxpayer money to expand LPDP and create different types of scholarships… Don’t shut it down, or it will just move to MBG again,” she urged. She observed that over the past four years, LPDP has undergone significant changes, including “recruiting our compatriots in hard-to-reach areas of Eastern Indonesia.” “The concept of LPDP is already excellent,” she affirmed.
The LPDP Alumni Hunt
Amidst the uproar surrounding the DS case, an Instagram account named @LPDP.Watchdog emerged. This account is dedicated to tracking LPDP alumni “who decided to pursue careers abroad before completing their 2N+1 service obligation.” In a written message to BBC News Indonesia, the @LPDP.Watchdog account holder stated that this “hunt” was spurred by accusations that LPDP was lax in prosecuting scholars who breached their service contracts. “Many seem to have successfully deceived LPDP, as in the case of AI, DS’s husband,” the account wrote.
The stated goal of this initiative, according to the admin, is “to make the contributions of LPDP awardees transparent, visible, and assessable by the public, given that LPDP seemingly does not mandate any specific form of service as long as individuals are physically in Indonesia.” While some netizens applauded LPDP Watchdog’s efforts, others questioned its role, fearing it could lead to “vigilante” actions – judgments outside the established legal system. Gita Putri Damayana also contributed to this discussion.
1965-1967 : purging orang-orang yang dianggap terafiliasi PKI. Tetangga saling bantai terutama di wilayah rural Jawa, Bali, Sumut dlsb
2008-2014: FPI razia restoran kedai yang masih jualan selama bulan Ramadhan. Tempat diobrak abrik sampai nyaris hancur.
2026: berburu awardee…
— gitaputrid (@gitaputrid) February 23, 2026
Gita Putri, owner of the X account @gitaputrid, acknowledged the public anger towards DS but noted that with the emergence of a “hunting” account, the “escalation is no longer organic.” “It becomes persecution,” Gita said in a phone interview on Tuesday (January 24). She drew a parallel between forming such a hunting movement and extreme situations, such as the now-banned FPI organization raiding eateries during Ramadan. “The context has shifted to people hunting people, rather than people helping people with this LPDP Watch,” Gita contended. The student, who is pursuing her PhD at the Australian National University, believes the DS case should serve as input for improving the LPDP system.
Conversely, the LPDP Watchdog account holder refuted these claims, asserting that it is “not a platform for persecution, but for transparency.” “Awardees who feel they have not defaulted should not be afraid or panic. Be proud of your tangible contributions to Indonesian society,” LPDP Watchdog wrote. It reiterated that the ultimate aim of tracking defaulting LPDP scholars is to demand they repay “all components of educational funds and living allowance, with interest now included.”
However, Setiamurti Rahardjo (Tia) believes the account is merely “wasting netizens’ energy.” “Why not monitor the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission] instead?” she questioned. Tia suggested that some LPDP alumni who overstay abroad might be under a “deferral of service” status. “When LPDP grants a deferral of service, there’s an agreement that they are indeed still contributing to Indonesia, even if not directly from Indonesia,” she clarified.
Narrow Nationalism: Deconstructing the Interpretation of Service
Education observer Doni Koesoema argued that the term “service” in the LPDP scholarship agreement remains too broad, leading to diverse interpretations. He contends that service should not be geographically confined to Indonesia. “If service is localized to only be within Indonesia, then that is very narrow indeed. Because service as a citizen can actually be performed abroad. And our service is not just for humanity, but for civilization,” he stated. An X thread by @ari_ap similarly explored a broader meaning of service, suggesting numerous ways scholarship recipients can contribute.
Makasih tweeps (njir, tweeps) yang nanggapin soal kenapa awardee LPDP harus kembali.
Poin utama: beasiswa LPDP = social investment -> ada social return yang diharapkan. (Note: social investment/return as opposed to private)
Sepakat. Pertanyaanya: apa return yg diharapkan?
— Ari Perdana (@ari_ap) February 23, 2026
LPDP itself already permits a two-times study period (2N) of service to be fulfilled abroad, albeit with specific conditions. This typically applies to alumni from civil service, military, or police backgrounds assigned to overseas duties, or other government-assigned personnel. These perspectives highlight a fundamental issue in state scholarship policy: how to measure recipients’ contributions post-graduation. Historically, the obligation to return and work in Indonesia has often been viewed as the primary indicator of a state scholar’s nationalism.
Doni Koesoema further expanded the LPDP scholarship controversy to encompass broader discussions on citizenship, nationalism, diaspora, and the state’s responsibility in providing an ecosystem for its scholarship graduates. Doni emphasized that the choice of citizenship is a fundamental human right, not always correlating with a lack of love for one’s home country. He criticized the view that someone is unpatriotic simply for choosing to work or even change citizenship abroad.
In an era of globalization, he argued, an individual’s contribution to humanity and science can be a more expansive form of service than merely working domestically. “They actually work [abroad] to uphold Indonesia’s name through the humanitarian values of their work,” he stated. Doni pointed out that many Indonesian scientists struggle to return due to limited research facilities, laboratories, and international collaboration ecosystems within the country.
He cited the example of a former student, now an internationally recognized astronomer, who cannot work optimally in Indonesia due to facility constraints. This phenomenon, known as “brain drain”—the exodus of highly skilled human resources abroad—is a consequence of domestic systemic failures, not individual shortcomings. “They are smart, intelligent. They likely cannot return to Indonesia because they are not facilitated here with their global capacities… We must reflect,” he urged. Drawing a historical parallel, Doni also alluded to the fate of exiles sent to study abroad in the past who could not return due to political situations, suggesting the state should learn from such experiences to avoid “losing” its best generations again.
The Greater Challenge
From a public policy perspective, Doni stated that the LPDP scholarship debate actually reflects larger issues:
- Ensuring state educational investment yields optimal benefits.
- Preventing brain drain without restricting individual freedom.
- Building a competitive domestic research ecosystem.
- Expanding educational access for marginalized groups.
Doni believes the answer to these challenges goes beyond administrative approaches or sanctions; it requires a paradigm shift in how nationalism and the state’s role are perceived. “The big challenge is philosophical,” he said, adding, “What does it mean to love Indonesia?” He posed a challenging question: “Does loving Indonesia mean having to work in Indonesia? To remain trapped in an unfavorable environment, becoming corrupt, unable to develop one’s knowledge, where everything is manipulation? Or does loving Indonesia mean being someone who contributes to humanity and civilization?” Moving to the Pancasila, Doni concluded that its values, when implemented by Indonesians anywhere, in any position, “are what reflect true Indonesian identity.”
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Summary
The LPDP scholarship faced controversy after alumna DS shared a social media post about her children acquiring British citizenship, sparking widespread public outrage despite her having fulfilled her service obligation. Her husband, AI, also an LPDP recipient, was subsequently sanctioned, blacklisted, and ordered to repay his scholarship funds with interest for allegedly failing his service commitment. This incident prompted members of Parliament to call for a comprehensive evaluation of LPDP’s selection process and stricter criteria emphasizing national commitment and equitable access.
The controversy led to discussions about “LPDP Watchdog,” an account tracking defaulting alumni, and a broader debate on the definition of national service. Education observer Doni Koesoema argued for a wider interpretation of “service” beyond geographical confines, suggesting that “brain drain” is often a result of systemic failures in Indonesia. The case ultimately highlights significant challenges in optimizing state educational investment, preventing brain drain, and re-evaluating the philosophical meaning of nationalism and contribution to the nation.