Indonesian delivery driver Rizky Azhar was taken aback when he received a food order from Malaysia, both because of the distance and the accompanying note, which stated that the plate of smoked beef with rice was intended for him.
The order is part of a surge in cross-border food purchases for motorcycle taxi and delivery drivers in Indonesia, intended as a show of solidarity amid week-long protests over income inequality and generous perks for lawmakers.
The demonstrations gained momentum after delivery driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when a police vehicle ran him over in Jakarta, highlighting the low wages and precarious working conditions of ride-hailing drivers.
President Prabowo Subianto has stated that the police and military would respond firmly to the protests, which have occasionally turned violent following Affan’s death, resulting in ten fatalities.
Yet, images of students and workers on the streets have prompted a wave of solidarity, with people across Southeast Asia ordering meals for Indonesian delivery drivers and posting screenshots of their gestures on social media.
Over 1,100 kilometres (701.5 miles) from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur resident Ayman Hareez Muhammad Adib placed an order via the ride-hailing and food delivery app Grab, which ended up with Rizky.
“The calls encourage everyone to contribute to what’s happening in Indonesia…to show support by sending food,” the 23-year-old said.
The orders are often accompanied by notes telling the drivers that they may keep the food or share it with their families.
Rizky said he was surprised that in recent days, foreign nationals had shown concern for them.
On a major street in Jakarta last week, hundreds of motorcycle drivers accompanied a vehicle carrying Affan’s body to the cemetery. Most of the drivers work for Grab and Gojek, operated by Indonesia’s largest tech company, GoTo.
Grab has reported an increase in orders from abroad for delivery within Indonesia over the past week, a spokesperson told Reuters, without specifying the exact volume or origin countries.
Tyas Widyastuti, Grab’s director of mobility and logistics, said the orders came primarily from Southeast and East Asia.
A GoTo spokesperson noted that the company’s ‘Treat Your Driver’ feature “has been welcomed by customers during this period as a gesture of solidarity with driver-partners,” without clarifying whether the orders were placed from abroad.
Motorcycle taxis are a common sight across Indonesia, including in Jakarta, known for some of the world’s worst traffic congestion.
In recent years, drivers have repeatedly protested against low pay, lack of employment security, and unfair practices by ride-hailing companies. GoTo and Grab have defended their business practices.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffi...
Kazakhstan has elected its first unicameral Kurultai, bringing into force a sweeping political overhaul launched less than a year ago. The vote mar...
Syrian and Israeli officials held U.S.-brokered talks in Jordan on Sunday to ease tensions after an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase near Tü...
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is seeking to raise up to $1.77 billion in a Hong Kong IPO after its valuation fell around 70 per cent from its private-market peak four years ago.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of August, covering the latest developments.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that his party will introduce a bill to ban children under 16 from using social media. The proposal would allow fines of up to 10 per cent of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.
Icelanders will vote on Saturday, 29 August, on whether to resume negotiations with the European Union, in a referendum that could reopen the country’s long-debated membership question.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment