Viral movement sparks international support, boosting GrabFood orders for Indonesian drivers
A wave of solidarity has swept across Southeast Asia as citizens from Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond order food and essentials for Indonesian online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers through Grab and Gojek. The movement follows the tragic death of driver Affan Kurniawan, fueling widespread public empathy and support.
Cross-Border Generosity Gains Momentum
The movement began on August 30, 2025, when Malaysian netizens started sending food to ojol drivers in Indonesia using Grab’s cross-country delivery feature, 100+ Cities Delivery. A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @sighyam sparked the initiative, encouraging others to select Indonesian addresses and send meals.
Screenshots of orders quickly circulated online, inspiring citizens from Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and even Taiwan to participate. A Facebook user from Kuala Lumpur, Mach Pi, spent around Rp100,000 (≈ SGD 8) to treat ojol drivers in Surabaya, while many others selected mosque lobbies or hotels in Jakarta as safe drop-off points.
Viral Hashtag Expands Globally
What began as a Malaysian initiative soon spread worldwide under the hashtag #fromMalaysiatoIndonesia, trending on Threads and X. Supporters from Vietnam, the UK, Australia, the US, Japan, and South Korea joined in, posting screenshots of their Grab orders with heartfelt messages.
Orders included nasi bungkus, pizza, coffee, bottled water, vitamins, and even medical supplies. Some donations reached millions of rupiah, showing the depth of international concern. One supporter wrote, “Eat well and stay strong, my Indonesian friends. Sending love from Malaysia.”
Grab Responds With Special Feature
Grab Indonesia confirmed a surge in GrabFood orders on August 30–31, 2025, many tagged with foreign numbers. Director of Mobility, Food and Logistics, Tyas Widyastuti, expressed gratitude:
“We did not expect such tremendous support from both local and international users for our driver partners.”
To support the initiative, Grab introduced a new feature called “Traktir Driver” on GrabFood. This allows users to purchase special menus directly for ojol drivers, simplifying the donation process while ensuring orders reach them safely.
Impact on Drivers and Small Businesses
Ojol drivers, who faced both economic hardship and risks during protests, became the focus of this regional solidarity. Indonesian netizens dubbed foreign supporters “SEAbling,” a mix of Southeast Asia and sibling.
Small businesses also benefitted. A café in Cilacap, Kedai Seroja, reported: “Alhamdulillah, someone ordered coffee from us to share with drivers, even though we are in a rural area. Thank you, kind people.”
Remembering Affan Kurniawan
At the heart of the movement lies the memory of Affan Kurniawan, an ojol driver who tragically died after being struck by a police vehicle during protests in Jakarta on August 28, 2025. His death ignited anger over state violence and extravagant legislative perks, while also sparking compassion across borders.
Affan’s story turned into a rallying point, transforming grief into action and strengthening regional unity.
The viral “Traktir Ojol” movement highlights how tragedy can inspire cross-border solidarity, turning social media posts into real-life support. For Indonesians, it provides both economic relief and emotional encouragement. For Singaporeans and other Southeast Asians, it demonstrates that compassion can transcend borders, strengthening regional bonds through simple yet meaningful gestures.
Sources: CNA (2025) , Kompas.com (2025)
Keywords: Ojol Drivers, GrabFood Orders, Malaysian Solidarity, Cross Border Delivery, Affan Kurniawan, Southeast Asia Support
