Deputy Speaker Dasco Contacts Bahlil and Nanik to Convey Student Demands

Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad communicated with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, during a meeting with students at the DPR building in Central Jakarta on Friday, 19 June 2026. Dasco contacted Nanik to convey the students’ demand to temporarily halt the free nutritious meals (MBG) project. Deputy Speaker Saan Mustopa stated that Dasco reported the students’ demands to Nanik, noting that BGN is currently making budget savings on the MBG programme. Based on BGN’s review, the savings amount to approximately Rp 70 trillion. “In the remaining time, there are governance savings of around Rp 70 trillion from the review of inefficient MBG programmes,” he said at the DPR building on Friday.

Several student groups staged a demonstration in front of the DPR building that afternoon. Students from the Trisakti University Student Executive Board (BEM), for instance, demanded national economic and political recovery, the eradication of incompetence among state officials, and the restoration of civilian supremacy. Following the protest, DPR leaders received representatives from HMI MPO, BEM Trisakti University, BEM Esa Unggul, BEM Mercu Buana University, and several other student elements.

After the meeting, Saan said Dasco also communicated with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia regarding the students’ demands. The students highlighted a rise in fuel prices, such as Pertamax, and a scarcity of subsidised fuel. “Dasco communicated with the ESDM minister, heard directly by the students,” he said. Saan stated that Bahlil promised to meet subsidy needs and resolve the fuel shortage in the near future.

Additionally, the students urged the DPR to halt the legal proceedings against 15 Trisakti University students who were named suspects following a commotion during a protest commemorating the 27th anniversary of the Reformasi Tragedy in front of the DKI Jakarta City Hall on 21 May 2025. Saan said the Chair of DPR Commission III, Habiburokhman, is communicating with the police to address the matter. “Two Mercu Buana students who were detained while heading to the DPR have also been communicated about. Once this is resolved, they will be released easily,” he said.

Saan affirmed the DPR’s commitment to maintaining economic and political stability, warning that instability impacts various sectors. On the same occasion, Trisakti University Student President Dhenni Ribowo said students conveyed their aspirations to the DPR as policymakers. He noted the DPR’s commitment to addressing the subsidised fuel shortage. “That has been conveyed by the DPR leadership. But this has a domino effect on staple goods,” he said. Despite the DPR’s stated commitment, he warned of further waves of struggle if the government fails to fulfil its promises. “Do not test the people on the issue of hunger. The people are already hungry and emotional. The government will surely face consequences,” he said. Students also demanded economic stability in monetary and fiscal policy. “We await the results of their promises,” he stated.

Earlier, thousands of students from Trisakti University and Esa Unggul demonstrated in front of the DPR building on Jalan Gatot Subroto, Central Jakarta, on Friday afternoon. They arrived following a crowd from the Islamic Students Association (HMI) and Mercu Buana University. Trisakti University’s Minister of Presidential Foreign Affairs, Arief Rizquna, explained that the demonstration was not spontaneous but the result of consolidation and preparation over several days. “We have been preparing for about two days, from consolidation, issue inventory, to how this accumulated movement and anger can bear fruit as a movement,” Arief said before the protest. The students carried three main demands: national economic and political recovery, eradication of incompetence among state officials, and restoration of civilian supremacy.

Meanwhile, Esa Unggul University BEM Chair David Gointruth Sebastian presented four similar demands. “First, we reject militaristic values in civilian and academic spheres because our campus was visited by the TNI without us knowing their purpose. We consider this intimidating,” he said. Students also demanded the DPR maintain its checks and balances function over all national strategic programmes, assessing which programmes might waste the state budget to strengthen oversight. Thirdly, they demanded an end to state budget waste, emphasising that the budget comes from taxpayers’ money and must be managed properly, with all strategic projects evaluated to be free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism. “Fourth, we demand all corruption cases be eradicated as fairly as possible,” David said.