Prabowo to Make Surprise Free Meal Inspections
Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto is planning to make surprise inspections to make sure that his flagship free nutritious meal program is going well, according to a senior government official.
Indonesia has just launched its historic, budget-heavy program of feeding Indonesian students nutritious lunch plates. The program also targets expectant mothers. Some members of Prabowo's Merah Putih ("Red and White") cabinet had inspected the program in person. Prabowo is set to follow suit, but National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana said he could not say when these inspections would take place.
"[Prabowo] will certainly visit various locations [to check the free meal program]. But this is a surprise inspection, so of course, we cannot predict when he would be making those visits," Dadan told reporters in Jakarta, shortly after meeting the country's lawmakers on Monday.
According to Dadan, Prabowo is keeping an eye on this school-feeding program "at all times".
"A surprise inspection is supposed to be unexpected. As of now, he [Prabowo] has told us to do our best to prepare for the program," Dadan said.
BGN, which is in charge of overseeing the program, also promised to make daily evaluations.
This nutritious meal program is getting Rp 71 trillion or about $4.4 billion in the state budget for 2025 alone. The House of Representatives recently announced that they would not change the Rp 71 trillion budget allocation.
The government officially launched the free meal program on Monday. They have set up 190 public kitchens across 26 provinces to cook the meals. About 140 small-scale businesses help supply the food that is going to students from kindergarten to high school. By April, the program hopes to reach 3 million people.
The meals provided on the first day varied from school to school. However, the menu mainly consist of the staple food rice, protein (often chicken), stir-fried vegetables, fruit, and milk. In some schools, students also get fried tofu or tempeh as a side dish.
Tags: Keywords:
as a preferred
Related Articles
Prabowo Calls Meeting on Forest Fires as Haze Reaches Jakarta, Singapore
Prabowo summons senior officials to discuss forest fires as smoke reaches Jakarta and Malaysia pushes for regional action.
Books on Prabowo's Ideas Distributed Free at Jakarta Car-Free Day
Prabowo, who took office on Oct. 20, 2024, will mark the second anniversary of his presidency on Tuesday.
Two Years Into Prabowo Presidency, Infrastructure Takes Back Seat
Prabowo’s social spending push raises concerns over infrastructure delays and uneven growth beyond Java.
Prabowo, Egypt’s Sisi Talk Trade Pact for $5 Billion Commerce
Egypt's Sisi tells Prabowo that he wants to see annual trade to reach $5 billion by 2030 as Jakarta seeks tariff deals.
Egypt's Sisi Arrives in Indonesia for Talks With Prabowo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi arrives in Indonesia for talks with Prabowo Subianto to strengthen strategic ties.
Prabowo to Launch Indonesia’s First Electric Vehicle Battery Export
Indonesia is set to export its first electric vehicle batteries as Prabowo launches a $10.2 billion industrial program.
Bahlil Signals More Ministries May Join New Downstream Coordination
Bahlil signals one or two more ministries could join the new downstream coordination, with the Industry Ministry among those considered.
Prabowo to Inaugurate Six New Military Commands on TNI Anniversary
Prabowo will inaugurate six new military commands and dozens of other units as Indonesia’s TNI marks its 81st anniversary.
AGO Probes Alleged Fraud in $72 Million Free Meal Motorcycle Deal
Five suspects are detained in Indonesia’s $72 million motorcycle procurement probe, with cash, aircraft and vehicles seized
Big Spending, Limited Revenue: Economists Question Prabowo’s Economic Strategy
Prabowo’s flagship programs face scrutiny as rising spending, weak job creation and deindustrialization threaten Indonesia’s growth.The Latest
Chandra Asri Group Receives Trade Finance Excellence Award, Reinforcing Its Role in Indonesia’s Industrial Development
Chandra Asri Group receives the Trade Finance Excellence Award at CIMB Niaga Business Summit 2026.
AEON MALL Deltamas Brings 11 Sports and Creative Competitions to AEONLYMPIC 2026
AEON MALL Deltamas hosts AEONLYMPIC 2026, featuring 11 sports and creative competitions, with more than 3,100 participants.
Indonesian Stocks Extend Losses for Third Day, Fall 3.64% to 4,996
Indonesian stocks fell 3.64% on Monday, extending losses for a third straight session amid MSCI concerns and tighter trading limits.
Prabowo Calls Meeting on Forest Fires as Haze Reaches Jakarta, Singapore
Prabowo summons senior officials to discuss forest fires as smoke reaches Jakarta and Malaysia pushes for regional action.
Jakarta Outranks Amsterdam in Global Public Transport Survey
Jakarta climbs two places to 15th in Time Out's 2026 public transport survey, with its governor citing better network integration.Most Popular
