JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged on May 16 that Indonesia’s flagship free meals programme to tackle malnutrition “comes with many problems,” and pledged swift action to address shortcomings as critics raise hygiene and corruption concerns.
Launched in January 2025 and billed as a billion‑dollar effort to fight malnutrition, the scheme has served meals to tens of millions, officials say more than 61 million people had received food by March, but thousands fell ill after consuming the meals, prompting calls for suspension. The programme was trimmed in March from six days a week to five as part of broader fiscal measures to offset the economic effects of the Middle East conflict, a cut expected to save up to 40 trillion rupiah (S$2.89 billion).
“It’s true that there are many problems and challenges. Free nutritious meals comes with many problems, we must put things in order,” Mr. Prabowo said in an address in East Java posted on his official YouTube channel. He stressed the programme retains public backing, recounting encounters with farmers and ordinary citizens urging him not to stop the initiative because it helps children and grandchildren to eat.
The programme, a central promise of Mr. Prabowo’s 2024 presidential campaign, aims to reach some 82.9 million people, roughly one‑third of Indonesia’s population, as part of efforts to reduce food insecurity and curb childhood stunting, a condition affecting more than 20 percent of Indonesian children.
Concerns over implementation have intensified amid anti‑graft investigations. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) recently lodged a complaint with the Corruption Eradication Commission alleging nearly US$50 million in discrepancies in the halal certification procurement budget, targeting Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency responsible for distributing the meals. Mr. Prabowo said his administration would punish anyone who violated rules or abused authority, declaring: “We will clean them up, we will remove them from their position.”
As the government balances fiscal pressures and the programme’s shortcomings, authorities face the dual task of restoring public confidence and ensuring the food assistance effectively reduces malnutrition without compromising safety or accountability.