Indonesian protests draw regional solidarity with food orders for delivery drivers

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.

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