Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has confirmed that Arya Iwantoro, husband of Dwi Sasetyaningtyas, who recently garnered attention for content expressing a reluctance for her child to become an Indonesian citizen, has agreed to return his LPDP scholarship funds. Arya Iwantoro is currently enrolled as a PhD student in Europe, with his education fully supported by the Indonesian government.
While Arya Iwantoro has shown willingness to reimburse the scholarship amount, Minister Purbaya insisted that the repayment must include interest, drawing a direct parallel to funds held in a bank account.
Addressing the matter during the APBN KiTa press conference on Monday, February 23, Minister Purbaya stated, “I have spoken with him through the LPDP Director, and I have also spoken directly with the husband concerned. He appears to have agreed to return the money received from LPDP, including the interest. After all, if I deposit money in a bank, it also accrues interest, doesn’t it?” This underscores the government’s firm stance on the terms of the scholarship repayment.
Beyond the specifics of Arya Iwantoro’s case, the minister took the opportunity to issue a broader appeal to all LPDP scholarship recipients. He urged them to refrain from insulting the nation, even if they harbor criticisms or disagreements with the government’s policies. Minister Purbaya emphasized that the substantial funds allocated for these prestigious scholarships originate directly from the hard-earned taxpayers’ money and, in part, from the nation’s sovereign debt.
He further elaborated, “I sincerely hope that our friends who receive LPDP scholarships, even if they are dissatisfied or disagree (with the government), will not insult the country. These funds are derived from taxes and some national debt, crucial for ensuring the growth of our human resources. However, if these privileges are used to demean the nation, then we will demand the return of both the money and the taxes invested.” This powerful statement highlights the profound responsibility that comes with receiving state-funded education.
Summary
Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that Arya Iwantoro, an LPDP scholarship recipient, has agreed to return his scholarship funds. Arya garnered attention after his wife expressed reluctance for their child to become an Indonesian citizen. Minister Purbaya insisted that the repayment must include interest, drawing a parallel to funds held in a bank account.
The minister also urged all LPDP scholarship recipients to refrain from insulting the nation, even if they have criticisms of government policies. He emphasized that these substantial scholarship funds originate from taxpayers’ money and national debt. Purbaya warned that if these privileges are used to demean the nation, the government would demand the return of both the money and invested taxes.