Malaysians use food apps to send meals to Indonesians amid protests

SHAH ALAM – Malaysians have been using food delivery apps to send meals to people in Indonesia affected by recent protests, in a cross-border show of solidarity that has drawn widespread gratitude online.

Amid the unrest in Indonesia over the past week, many Malaysians quietly began switching the location settings on their food delivery apps like Grab and Gojek to Jakarta, Surabaya and other major cities. But instead of ordering meals for themselves, they sent food and drinks to Indonesian riders, underprivileged communities, or even friends taking part in demonstrations.

A Threads user, who goes by the name Mimi, said she was brought to tears when she saw the kindness.

"Oh God, I cried so hard because of Malaysians. Many of them changed their Grab location to Jakarta, then ordered food to be donated either to the riders, the underprivileged or to friends who were part of the protests.

"They kept monitoring and felt pity for us. Bless you, Malaysian sisters and brothers who have comforted and embraced us at a time when we were hurt," she wrote.

Malaysian Facebook user, Mach Pi, clarified that he deliberately placed his order in Surabaya.

"I chose Surabaya because it is close to my heart. For drop-off, I selected a mosque lobby and wrote: no need for delivery, let them eat or use the items themselves," he posted.

The initiative quickly gained traction, with Malaysian users sharing step-by-step guides on how to take part.

Some advised tipping riders up to 50,000 rupiah (RM12.85) and giving them five-star ratings as an added token of support.

Indonesians responded warmly, with many describing Malaysians as 'siblings' during difficult times.

"It feels like when Indonesia is sad, Malaysia is sad too. We may quarrel online about trivial things like sports or food, but when it matters, Malaysians are quick to help," one user wrote.

Some Indonesians even offered to return the favour. Several posts invited Malaysians to reach out if they ever visited Bali or Jakarta, promising to act as complimentary tour guides.

Indonesia has been hit by nationwide demonstrations over the past week, triggered by anger at lawmakers’ lavish perks, including a housing allowance of Rp 50 million (around USD 3,075) a month, nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta.

Tensions escalated after the death of a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, who was struck and killed by an armoured police vehicle near parliament.

The incident fuelled public outrage, with protesters setting fire to regional legislative buildings, vandalising public facilities and looting reported in several cities.

At least seven people have died and hundreds more have been injured in clashes with police.