Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Social media platform X was flooded with a wave of solidarity from Southeast Asian users under the hashtag SEAblings (#SEAblings), which has surged in popularity alongside protests sweeping across Indonesia in the recent week.
In a unique show of cross-border solidarity movement, South East Asian nationals have been giving support by ordering food via ride-hailing apps for Indonesian motorcycle taxi drivers which many of whom have been caught up in the protests.
The movement first gained traction after an X user, @sighyam, posted on Saturday (August 30) from Thailand, explaining that Grab’s service allows users in Southeast Asia to order deliveries across borders.
The post also shared instructions on how Grab users abroad could order food and medical supplies through the app and direct deliveries to drivers in Indonesia.
“Guys I just found out that you can support indonesian grab riders who are still out on the streets because grab allows you to make deliveries in other SE Asian countries,” the post read.
The message quickly went viral, viewed more than 27.8 million views and thousands of reactions by Monday (September 1), sparking a wave of solidarity orders from Malaysia, the Philippines, and beyond.
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The hashtag #SEAblings soon emerged as the online banner for the campaign, which by Wednesday (September 3) had been posted more than 42,000 times on X, according to CNN Indonesia.
One Malaysian user, @isawkwardguy, shared proof of a Rp650,000 ($42) food donation for drivers in Bandung, writing: “#SEAblings stand together. Greetings from Malaysia, we hope everyone is safe and healthy.”
Similarly, a Filipino user, @_renviolette, directed support to Yogyakarta, posting: “Sent some food to Yogyakarta. I know it’s not a lot, but I’m relieved that there’s a way for me to support fellow SEAblings. Love from the Philippines. Everyone please stay safe.”
Since the weekend, the practice of sending food to Indonesian motorcycle taxi drivers, or ojol, has spread beyond Southeast Asia, with contributions coming from Europe as well.
The solidarity movement has also taken in a symbolic form. Many supporters are using pink and green filters on their profiles, a shades that have become visual emblems of the protests shaking Indonesia in recent days.
(Raidi/Agung)
