#MaafkanFahriBu: Public angered after politician Fahri Hamzah insults migrant workers by calling them “babu” in tweet

House of Representatives (DPR) deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah is certainly no stranger to making controversial statements, the latest of which has caused an uproar in Indonesia.

In a series of tweets he posted on his account yesterday, Fahri lamented that the government and law enforcement do not have their priorities straight, focusing on “smokescreen” issues (an example he gave was FPI leader Habib Rizieq being questioned over his communist money claims) instead of matters that have real national significance. In one tweet (see screenshot above), Fahri wrote that one problem Indonesia is facing is how “the nation’s children beg by becoming babu (maids) in other people’s countries, while foreign workers are rampant [in Indonesia].”

The word “babu” literally translates to “maid” in English, but it is considered a derogatory term. Calling a domestic worker a babu is not only belittling, but also very insulting.

Fahri, who ironically chairs the DPR’s migrant workers task force, deleted the tweet not long afterwards and also apologized via Twitter.

But soon after Fahri’s controversial tweet, the hashtag #MaafkanFahriBu (Forgive Fahri, mom) became popular thanks to Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, who initiated the hashtag with this viral tweet:

I am the son of a babu. My mother worked as a migrant worker with integrity. No begging, no hurting other people, no stealing the people’s money. I am proud of my mother. #MaafkanFahriBu

Other netizens also used the hashtag to criticize Fahri.

The nation’s children would not be babus in other people’s countries if Fahri Hamzah, as a DPR member, is ABLE to be a ‘babu’ (to serve) the people.

They (domestic workers) are more honorable, they work for their children and their families. As for you, you can only comment on social media and delete that comment afterwards.

Migrant Care Director Anis Hidayah accused Fahri of contributing to the problem of migrant workers from Indonesia receiving all kinds of abuse while working abroad because the DPR has failed to pass a bill to that would provide more protection to Indonesian workers abroad.

None of them beg – they work as domestic helpers abroad with integrity. Have you contributed to their integrity? The bill to revise the Migrant Workers Act has been stagnant [in the DPR] since 2010.

Many Indonesian migrant workers organizations abroad also voiced their condemnation of Fahri. Among them is Lingkaran Aku Cinta Indonesia (The I Love Indonesia Circle), which is comprised of 55 migrant workers groups in Hong Kong. The organization demanded that the lawmaker apologize for his statement as well as previous statements that belittled their profession. The group is also demanding the DPR’s Ethics Council consider dismissing Fahri from the DPR.



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on