Prabowo Dismisss Leader of Free Meals Program Amid Poisoning Scandal

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has terminated the tenure of Dadan Hindayana, the head of the agency overseeing his signature free meals initiative. The dismissal follows a series of severe crises involving the multi-billion-dollar scheme, which has been marred by allegations of corruption and widespread food poisoning. As a central pillar of Prabowo’s 2024 presidential campaign, the program was designed to provide complimentary meals to 80 million schoolchildren nationwide. However, since its inception in January of the previous year, tens of thousands of students have reported falling ill, prompting demands to halt the initiative entirely.

The removal of Dadan, an entomologist by profession, occurs just one week after Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency lodged a formal complaint citing irregularities in budgeting across various kitchen facilities. The program has faced intense scrutiny from both the public and political opponents, particularly regarding its substantial cost during a period when the nation is struggling with shrinking trade surpluses and a depreciating currency. In an effort to curb financial strain, the schedule was recently reduced from six days a week to five, a move partly attributed to the economic repercussions of the ongoing conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Despite these adjustments, some critics continue to advocate for a complete suspension of the project.

On Wednesday morning, authorities from the Attorney General’s Office conducted raids at the National Nutrition Agency, the body responsible for managing the meals program. Access to the facility was restricted, preventing staff from entering the building. Dadan has been succeeded by his deputy, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, a former journalist who also served on Prabowo’s 2024 campaign team.

Reaction to the leadership change has been divided. While some citizens welcomed the move, others dismissed it as a superficial gesture that fails to address underlying issues. X user Ahmad Arif commented, "What [the programme] needs right now isn't just swapping people, but a total overhaul of the concept and system. Without that, it'll just keep being a source of problems." Skeptics also highlighted that Nanik lacks background experience in either nutrition or food safety.

Data from the non-governmental organization Network for Education Watch indicates that the program has been associated with at least 33,000 food poisoning incidents as of April. Beyond the health crises, Dadan faced backlash for controversial remarks, including a recommendation that individuals consume two liters of milk daily and a proposal to incorporate insects and sago worms into the meal plans.

President Prabowo has admitted that the initiative is "beset with many problems." During a speech last month, he promised to penalize any individuals who breach regulations or misuse their power. Nevertheless, he insists the program retains public backing. "Free nutritious meals are so important for our nation," Prabowo stated. "Everywhere I go, I meet ordinary people, farmers, saying, 'sir, please don't stop the free nutritious meals programme, this really helps my grandchildren to be able to eat.'"

Additional reporting by Astudestra Ajengrastri in Jakarta

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 03:49:53 UTC