West Bandung officials intervene after a video of a disabled boy eating grass goes viral. His father says he has a unique instinct.
BANDUNG, KalderaNews.com – A heartbreaking video showing a young boy in West Bandung Regency (KBB), West Java, Indonesia, eating leaves and grass in a garden has recently gone viral.
The one-minute footage has sparked widespread public concern and drawn immediate attention from local authorities.
The Story of Muhammad Rizki
The boy in the video is identified as Muhammad Rizki (11), often called Kiki, a resident of Gadobangkong Village, Ngamprah District. Kiki lives with his father, Asep Setiawan (49), and his grandmother.
Kiki is a child with special needs, living with both intellectual disabilities and speech impairment (non-verbal). According to his father, this unusual habit is not a recent development:
Started at Age 4: Asep first discovered the habit when Kiki was a toddler. He returned home from work to find Kiki eating taro leaves in his room—leaves the boy had picked and hidden in his pocket.
A “Natural Instinct”: Despite the alarming nature of the habit, Asep shared a unique observation. “He actually knows which plants are poisonous and which ones are safe to eat,” Asep claimed on Tuesday (4/28/2026).
Communication Barrier: Asep believes the habit stems from Kiki’s inability to communicate hunger. Being unable to speak, Kiki instinctively looks for anything edible around the house when he feels hungry.
The family, who struggles with economic difficulties, ensures Kiki is provided with proper meals, but the habit of grazing on greenery remains difficult to break. If prevented from doing so, Kiki often becomes distressed and angry.
Local Government Intervention
In response to the viral news, the Regent of West Bandung, Jeje Ritchie Ismail, took decisive action on Thursday (4/30/2026). He has ordered a specialized team to provide intensive care for Kiki.
“I have directly instructed the Social Service, the Health Service, and the Village Head to provide intensive assistance and handling for Rizki,” stated Regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail.
Key Actions Taken:
- Medical & Social Support: Health officials will monitor Kiki’s physical and psychological well-being, specifically addressing his non-verbal communication needs.
- Specialized Education: The government has guaranteed Kiki’s education by facilitating his enrollment in a Special Education School (SLB) to provide him with a supportive learning environment.
- Proactive Identification: The Regent emphasized that local officials must be more proactive in identifying citizens with special needs so that assistance does not depend on a story going viral.
A Call for Empathy and Support
Asep holds onto hope that with the government’s help, his son can finally access the therapy and treatment he needs.
This case serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by families of children with disabilities, especially those living in poverty.
The West Bandung Regency Government aims to use this momentum to improve social services and ensure that no other vulnerable citizens fall through the cracks.
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