An act of generosity by a foreign national in Bali has attracted widespread praise across social media after he paid for the fuel of online motorcycle taxi drivers queuing at a local petrol station.
The initiative was captured in a video uploaded to Instagram by an expat identified as Jonny Mitchell.
The footage depicts the spontaneous reactions of the drivers, locally known as ojol, who were visibly moved upon discovering that their petrol expenses had been entirely covered.
In the social media post, Mitchell explained that his motivation stemmed from a desire to ease the daily burdens of local logistics and transport workers. He noted that the selected petrol station is a well-known hub frequently congested with courier and ride-hailing drivers.
In his Instagram caption, Mitchell wrote:
“Sometimes it’s just a little act of kindness that can make the biggest impact on someone else’s day 🫶🏼
Since the Gojek founder got arrested I figured someone else has to step up and look after the drivers properly! 😂.
Today I went to a local gas station near me, one which is always super busy with all the delivery drivers, and pay for all the drivers’ petrol ⛽️
Their reactions were priceless ❤️”
The gesture provided immediate financial relief to dozens of drivers working for various digital applications, many of whom navigate long hours to secure a baseline income.
Public and Netizen Response
The video quickly accumulated thousands of views and structural engagement, with Indonesian netizens expressing gratitude for the gesture amidst a challenging economic landscape for gig-economy workers.
Commenters highlighted the pressure faced by transport workers regarding fluctuating fuel prices and platform commission rates.
Among the remarks left on the post, an account using the handle @itsmwahsyaa stated:
“Their reactions are priceless 🥹 Thank you for sharing this. It made my day!✨”
Another user, @imadewahyuw, provided context regarding the local economic environment, commenting:
“Thank you, sir. In an economic situation like this, many drivers are fighting incredibly hard just to make ends meet and survive. You have all my respect🔥🔥🔥”
The event underscores a growing trend of digital content highlighting community-driven support initiatives in Indonesia’s tourist hotspots, where the economic disparity between expatriate residents and local service workers remains a frequent topic of public discussion.