Investors have raised concerns over Indonesia’s welfare spending fiscal burden, set at 268 trillion rupiah this year. (EPA Images pic)
JAKARTA: Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has sacked the head of the National Nutrition Agency overseeing a flagship free school-meals programme, an official said, citing governance and food quality concerns linked to its rollout since January 2025.
State secretariat minister Prasetyo Hadi said the removal of Dadan Hindayana followed an evaluation of the agency’s performance, adding that issues around operating procedures and discipline in maintaining food quality standards had emerged.
He said the agency had failed to enforce proper governance and hygiene controls required under the programme.
Dadan, an entomologist, will be replaced by his deputy Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, a former journalist and member of Prabowo’s 2024 election campaign team.
The school meals scheme, one of Prabowo’s flagship policies, has faced scrutiny after reports of food poisoning affecting at least 33,000 children as of April, according to NGO Network for Education Watch (JPPI).
Officials said investors had also raised concerns over the fiscal burden of large-scale welfare spending, including the programme, which is allocated 268 trillion rupiah this year, below an earlier estimate of 335 trillion rupiah.
Government data showed the initiative had reached 62 million recipients as of April 30, with a target of 82.9 million beneficiaries for the full year.
