Visit to Support Bereaved Grab Driver’s Family
On 1 September, Grab Group CEO and co-founder Anthony Tan flew from Singapore to Makassar, Indonesia, to personally visit the family of Rusdamdiansyah, a Grab driver who was killed during violent protests.
Known to his friends as Dandi, the 25-year-old was beaten to death by a mob on 29 August after being mistaken for a plainclothes police officer.
Tan, accompanied by Grab Indonesia leaders, prayed with the grieving family and pledged comprehensive support. He stressed that the company’s commitment would not end with immediate aid.
“The safety and security of Driver-Partners have always been Grab’s top priority. We are committed to being present not only when Partners are working, but also when they and their families face difficult times,” he added.
“Grab wants to ensure that in both joy and sorrow, the family of the late Dandi never walks alone. Our support began immediately with financial assistance and logistical help to give strength during this moment. It continues with health coverage through BPJS Kesehatan, ensuring the family remains protected for the next two years. And looking further ahead, Grab is also providing business capital with GrabKios mentorship, offering a new foundation for the family to move forward with hope,” Tan said in the statement.
Affan Kurniawan’s Death Fuels Anger
Just one day before Dandi’s killing, on August 28, 21-year-old delivery rider Affan Kurniawan was run over and killed by a police tactical vehicle near the Parliament Complex in Jakarta. Videos circulating online showed the vehicle fleeing the scene, pursued by witnesses until it was stopped. Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo later visited the hospital to apologize to Affan’s family, while seven officers involved faced disciplinary action.
Tan expressed his condolences to Affan’s family as well, offering prayers and acknowledging the wider pain felt across Indonesia’s ride-hailing community. He also prayed for the recovery of riders injured during the unrest.
Indonesia in Turmoil
The deaths of both drivers have intensified anger across Indonesia, where protests erupted on August 25 following revelations that all 580 members of parliament were receiving monthly housing allowances of 50 million rupiah (around US$3,000). The figure is nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta and sparked outrage in a country already struggling with rising living costs.
Demonstrations quickly spread beyond Jakarta to cities including Makassar, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Mataram. Protesters clashed with riot police, who responded with water cannons, tear gas, and mass arrests. At least eight people have died since the unrest began, including students and drivers caught in the chaos.
Official Response and Outlook
President Prabowo Subianto has apologized for Affan’s death but also ordered police and military forces to take the “firmest actions possible.” His government has since announced cuts to lawmakers’ benefits and a halt on overseas trips for parliamentarians.
Human rights groups, however, have condemned the heavy-handed police response. Indonesia’s Commission on Human Rights urged authorities “to work professionally, accountably, transparently, and uphold human rights principles.”
As protests continue into September, Grab has launched GERCEP (Grab Respon Cepat), an emergency support system allowing drivers to access hotlines and livechat agents in crisis situations. “Partners are never alone. We will continue to be present, to accompany, and to walk alongside our partners across Indonesia. Because in the end, this is about humanity,” Tan concluded.
Read Anthony Tan’s statement here:
Watch a video here:
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