EN.malanginspirasi.com – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has taken a firm stance against recipients of the Education Endowment Fund (LPDP) scholarship who are deemed to have insulted the nation.
During the February 2026 “APBN KiTa” press conference in Jakarta on February 23, 2026, Purbaya stated that violators must repay the entire scholarship funds along with interest and will be placed on a blacklist across all government institutions.
“If you’re not happy, that’s fine, but don’t insult the country. This is money from taxes and debt that we’ve set aside to ensure our human resources grow,” said Purbaya, emphasizing that LPDP funds come from public taxes and national debt.
This statement comes in response to a viral controversy on social media triggered by a post from an LPDP alumnus, Dwi Sasetyaningtyas (DS), around February 20, 2026.
DS shared a video of a letter from British authorities declaring her second child an official British citizen, accompanied by the caption “It’s enough for me to be an Indonesian citizen; not for my child.”
The post drew widespread condemnation from netizens, who viewed it as an insult to Indonesia, especially since DS or her husband, Arya Irwantoro, is an LPDP scholarship recipient funded by state resources.
According to Purbaya, the repayment of funds with interest is considered a “fair treatment,” as the money would have accrued interest if deposited in a bank. He also revealed that DS’s husband has agreed to return the funds.
Additionally, the government blacklist will ensure the individual cannot work or be involved in any state institutions.
“I will blacklist them across all government bodies, and they won’t be able to enter,” Purbaya asserted.
The LPDP, a scholarship program under the Ministry of Finance, aims to build superior human resources (HR) for Indonesia, with the obligation for recipients to return and contribute after their studies.
The LPDP management regrets this incident and is conducting an internal investigation. The controversy has sparked broad discussions on social media, with many netizens highlighting the irony of using taxpayer money for education that is met with unpatriotic statements.
Purbaya also delivered a general message to all LPDP recipients to refrain from acting arbitrarily and to respect the nation. He does not prohibit global careers but emphasizes the moral responsibility to contribute to Indonesia.
This response has been positively received by some netizens, who see it as rule enforcement and a reminder that LPDP scholarships are state investments expecting returns in the form of contributions. However, discussions also touch on public concerns about the country’s conditions that may drive such choices.
