Indonesia rejects calls to halt Prabowo's free meals program, citing election mandate

The Indonesian government has dismissed calls to halt President Prabowo Subianto's flagship Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, asserting it is an integral part of his "political contract" with the electorate and a key mandate from the 2024 presidential election. Muhammad Qodari, head of the Government Communication Bureau, stated that the program's continuation is non-negotiable, despite mounting criticism and demands for its suspension from various groups.

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The MBG program cannot simply be stopped because it is part of President Prabowo's vision and political contract.

Qodari emphasized that Prabowo's victory in the presidential election grants him a democratic mandate to implement his campaign promises, including the nationwide nutritious meal initiative. "It would be a mistake to demand that President Prabowo abandon a program that was central to his campaign platform," he argued, adding that while challenges exist, they should not be grounds for termination. The government remains open to feedback for program improvement and is committed to strengthening governance and oversight.

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President Prabowo was elected based on the programs he promised during the campaign, and those programs must be carried out.

However, demands for the program's suspension have intensified. Last week, students participating in "Towards Bankrupt Indonesia" demonstrations in Jakarta urged the government to halt the MBG program, citing a heavy burden on state finances and what they described as wasteful public spending. Similar protests occurred in other cities, with students also calling for reduced fuel and food prices and the return of the military to barracks.

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It would be a mistake to demand that President Prabowo abandon a program that was central to his campaign platform.

Further opposition is expected from the Indonesian Women's Alliance, which plans to protest and demand a temporary suspension of the MBG program. A representative, Fanda Puspitasari, stated that a comprehensive evaluation is needed, going beyond leadership changes to include a full audit and institutional reforms. The alliance believes a temporary halt is necessary to conduct a thorough review of the program's governance and implementation.

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That is why we are calling for the program to be halted temporarily so a thorough evaluation can be conducted.