President Prabowo Subianto’s free meal programme faces mounting calls for suspension following repeated cases of mass poisoning that have heightened public concern over food safety and mismanagement.
Over the past week, at least three clusters of mass food poisoning have been reported in some regions, with more than 1,000 students falling ill after they consumed meals distributed under the flagship programme.
Since its launch in January, the programme has reached over 25 million recipients with a budget of 71 trillion rupiah this year (RM18bil), and is slated to expand further next year with funding that could reach 335 trillion rupiah (RM84.8bil).
But, in the largest food poisoning outbreak so far, 569 students from five schools in Garut regency, West Java, reportedly suffered nausea and vomiting on Wednesday after eating chicken and rice supplied by a free meal kitchen the previous day.
Also last week, two other incidents emerged in the Banggai Islands, Central Sulawesi, and in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, where 335 students and 130 students fell ill, respectively.
These incidents are, however, far from being one-offs.
According to the Centre for Indonesia Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), there have been at least 5,626 food poisoning cases linked to the free meal programme since its launch.
“The root problem lies in the government’s ambition to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries.
“In chasing such a massive target, the programme has been rushed, leading to poorly managed food preparation and distribution,” CISDI founder and CEO Diah Saminarsih said on Sunday.
She said the Prabowo administration must suspend the programme and carry out a thorough evaluation to prevent more harm.
“The government must also immediately open reporting channels and follow up on public complaints as an initial step to restore victims’ rights,” Diah added.
The Network for Education Watch Indonesia (JPPI) also reported a similar number of food poisoning, at 5,360 cases, and called the situation a “national humanitarian emergency” and clear evidence of “systemic failure”.
JPPI coordinator Ubaid Matraji warned that, without an immediate suspension and thorough evaluation, the programme could soon start to cost children their lives.
“Schoolchildren cannot be guinea pigs for a rushed policy. If the president is serious about protecting Indonesia’s ‘golden generation’, he must halt the programme and conduct a full evaluation.
“Otherwise, the state is neglecting its citizens’ safety,” Ubaid said.
The government-sanctioned but independent Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) joined calls for the suspension of the programme, saying the scale of its rollout has become “reckless”.
“The government must not chase targets at the expense of children’s safety. It is alarming to imagine young children becoming victims of food poisoning,” KPAI deputy chair Jasra Putra said in a statement on Thursday.
Amid the mounting pressure, presidential chief of staff M. Qodari described the recent spate of food poisoning as a “wake-up call” for a thorough evaluation of the free meal programme. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
