TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsPro- and anti-free meal program protests intensify across the country
Public debate over President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meals program is intensifying, with competing demonstrations held in several regions amid concerns about alleged corruption, food safety problems and the burden on state finances.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
University students hold placards during a protest on June 19 outside the Senayan legislative complex in Central Jakarta against government policies, including state budget spending, fuel price hikes, the free nutritious meal program and expanded military roles in civilian affairs. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
P
ublic debate over President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meal program is intensifying, with competing demonstrations held in several regions amid concerns about alleged corruption, food safety problems and the burden on state finances.
In Bali, hundreds of students from universities across the island rallied outside the Bali Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Denpasar on Monday, calling for a sweeping review of the free meal program and broader reforms to address concerns over Indonesia's economic conditions and the state of its democracy.
The students urged the government and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to carry out a comprehensive review of the free meal program, questioning its hefty budget allocation at a time when the government is pursuing widespread spending cuts.
They also called for a full investigation into food poisoning cases and allegations of corruption surrounding the program's implementation.
In Jakarta, thousands of students affiliated with the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) rallied outside the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Central Jakarta on Monday, demanding a complete overhaul of the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), which oversees the free meals program, following the recent arrest of three of the agency’s top officials in an alleged corruption case. The protesters also called on the government to strengthen the economy and improve teacher welfare.
The demonstration came just days after more than 1,000 students gathered at the same location on Friday to protest what they described as excessive government spending. The rally was led primarily by students from Trisakti University and joined by their counterparts from Mercu Buana University and Esa Unggul University, as well as members of the Islamic Students Association (HMI).
Protesters chanted slogans urging President Prabowo Subianto to curb what they called "wasteful state spending" and suspend several costly flagship initiatives, including the multi-trillion-rupiah free meals program.
