DPR Urges Investigation into Student Mobilisation for MBG Support in Batam
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X, Lalu Hadrian Irfani, has requested that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education investigate reports of students being mobilised in Batam to participate in a demonstration supporting the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Lalu stated that Commission X had recently coordinated with the Director General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary Education, Gogot Suharwoto.
“We asked them to investigate the truth of this news. In principle, such movements should not affect the teaching and learning process,” Lalu said at the DPR building in Jakarta on Wednesday, 24 June 2025.
Lalu noted that the news was also surprising to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The ministry subsequently coordinated with the Batam City Education Office and the Riau Islands Provincial Government.
The National Awakening Party (PKB) politician disagreed with involving students in protests or demonstrations supporting MBG, as it would disrupt the learning process at schools. He encouraged that aspirations be conveyed solely by teachers or school principals to the local education office.
“We do not want these students to take to the streets. It is enough for the school to convey the message,” he said.
Hundreds of primary and junior high school students in Batam City took part in an aspiration parade supporting the Free Nutritious Meals project on Sunday, 21 June 2026. The student parade was held in front of the Batam City DPRD building.
They carried banners and posters supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s programme. Some of them were seen wearing school uniforms. Like a typical demonstration, this pro-MBG action also featured speeches from a command vehicle prepared by the organisers.
A teacher who wished to remain anonymous said there was no official invitation for the parade; invitations were only circulated via WhatsApp messages in school groups. “We were also shocked, especially since it was on a Sunday, so we were forced to attend,” the teacher said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Batam City Education Office, Hendri Arulan, confirmed that he had mobilised teachers and students for the pro-MBG parade. His reasoning was that recently many parents had protested because the MBG programme in Batam had stalled due to a budget freeze.
He also confirmed gathering teachers to discuss the parents’ complaints. Consequently, the meeting initiated the idea of holding the parade in support of MBG. “This is the appropriate action for us to take, to convey our input to DPRD members so they can pass it on to the central government, that this MBG programme is good,” he told journalists during the parade.
Hendri did not respond to complaints from teachers who felt compelled to attend the parade. He also stressed that neither teachers nor students were obligated to come, and the invitation was only for those who were willing.