JAKARTA, June 8 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has appointed a new head of the agency responsible for implementing his flagship free meals programme, replacing the previous office holder who was dismissed and arrested on graft charges last week.
Here are some key details about the inauguration:
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At the presidential palace, Prabowo appointed Nanik Sudaryati Deyang as the new head of the National Nutrition Agency, replacing her predecessor Dadan Hindayana, who was arrested last week on corruption allegations linked to the free meals programme.
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The Attorney General’s Office also arrested two of the agency’s deputy heads on corruption charges, resulting in state losses.
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The three were accused of manipulating the selection of the foundations that manage the programme’s kitchens, and of artificially inflating the prices of electric motorbikes, shoes, and televisions procured as part of the programme.
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“Our concern is regarding budget efficiency, so we will not burden the state budget, while at the same time maintaining the targets we have set,” Nanik said after her inauguration.
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She added that efficiency measures include a moratorium on establishing new kitchens, “refocusing” the programme on new recipients, and developing kitchens in remote areas through grants or corporate social responsibility programmes from state firms or private companies, rather than the state budget.
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Prabowo appointed two new deputy heads of the free meals agency: the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency’s former deputy head Agustina Arumsari, and Major General Trenggono, who has resigned from the military.
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He also appointed Labour Party head Said Iqbal as his new special advisor for manpower and labour welfare affairs.
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The free meals programme, a key part of the President’s election campaign, launched in January 2025, has raised investor concerns about overspending and fiscal deficit risks.
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Non-government organisation Network for Education Watch stated that the programme has also sparked a public outcry about health and safety, with cases of food poisoning affecting at least 33,000 children as of April.