In a gesture of regional solidarity, Indonesian delivery driver Rizky Azhar received an unexpected food order from Malaysia, accompanied by a note stating that the smoked beef with rice was intended for him. This act reflects a broader surge in food purchases for motorcycle taxi and delivery drivers across Indonesia, driven by a wave of protests addressing income inequality and parliamentary perks.
The movement gained momentum following the death of delivery driver Affan Kurniawan, killed by a police vehicle in Jakarta, sparking nationwide demonstrations. These protests have spotlighted the low wages and job insecurity faced by ride-sharing drivers throughout Indonesia. Since Affan’s death, ten people have lost their lives amid occasionally violent demonstrations.
Images of students and workers protesting on Indonesian streets have resonated across Southeast Asia, prompting individuals to order food for delivery drivers and share screenshots of their orders on social media. Ayman Hareez Muhammad Adib, a 23-year-old from Kuala Lumpur, joined the movement from over 1,100 kilometers away by placing an order through the Grab app, which reached Rizky Azhar. Ayman noted that social media campaigns have encouraged people to send food as a show of support, with notes typically suggesting drivers consume the meal themselves or share it with their families.
Rizky received Ayman’s order on a quiet Wednesday when many Jakarta schools and offices were closed due to the protests. Drivers have expressed surprise at the outpouring of concern from foreign nationals in recent days. In a poignant display, hundreds of motorcycle drivers recently escorted a vehicle carrying Affan’s body to a cemetery along a major Jakarta street.
Most drivers work for major platforms like Grab and Gojek, the latter operated by Indonesia’s largest tech company, GoTo. A Grab spokesperson reported a noticeable increase in overseas orders for Indonesian deliveries over the past week, though they declined to specify the exact rise or name the countries involved. Grab’s director of mobility and logistics, Tyas Widyastuti, confirmed that most orders originated from Southeast and East Asia. GoTo acknowledged that its “Treat Your Driver” feature has been embraced as a gesture of solidarity, though it did not clarify whether these orders included purchases from overseas customers.
Motorcycle taxis remain a vital part of Indonesia’s transport system, particularly in traffic-congested Jakarta. In recent years, drivers have frequently protested low pay, job insecurity, and perceived unfair practices by ride-sharing companies. Both GoTo and Grab have consistently defended their business models against these criticisms.
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