The man at the top of Indonesia’s free meals programme is out. Sources confirm President Prabowo Subianto has sacked the director of the flagship initiative following a string of food poisoning outbreaks that have left dozens in hospital and sparked public outrage. The programme, billed as a cure for childhood malnutrition, was meant to feed millions of schoolchildren. Instead, it has become a scandal.
Documents obtained by this newsroom show at least 30 reported incidents of suspected food poisoning across five provinces in the past three months. Victims, mostly children aged 6 to 12, were rushed to clinics with symptoms including vomiting and severe dehydration. In one case, a school in West Java reported 50 students sickened after eating meals supplied under the scheme.
President Prabowo acted swiftly, sources say. The director was called to the presidential palace and dismissed within hours. No public statement has been made. The official, whose name is familiar to corruption watchers, was a political appointee with no background in food safety. His company, however, had won multiple government contracts for meal distribution.
The free meals scheme is a pillar of Prabowo’s campaign promise to tackle poverty and malnutrition. But critics have long warned it was opaque. Oversight was outsourced to private firms with few checks. This report can reveal that three of the five companies awarded contracts in affected regions were linked to the sacked director through former employees. Attempts to reach the director for comment were met with silence.
One insider described the programme as a gold rush. “Everyone saw a chance to get rich quick,” the source said. “No one checked the food.” The director’s dismissal may be just the start. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed it is reviewing the case for possible embezzlement. Investigators are looking into whether substandard ingredients were supplied to cut costs.
Prabowo, a former general who came to power on a wave of anti-graft sentiment, cannot afford another crisis. His approval ratings have already dipped over economic stagnation. The sacking suggests he is aware that failure here could define his presidency.
At a school in East Java, a teacher described the morning after the poisoning. “We called the health centre. They asked if the children looked green. They were green. One little girl couldn’t stop crying from the cramps.”
The free meals scheme continues today, but under a cloud of suspicion. Parents are now checking labels and demanding receipts. The president’s office says a replacement will be named this week. The question remains: Will anyone trustworthy take the job?
This is a live story. More details to follow.
