For Prabowo and Food Staples, Residents Brave the Heat in Queues Since Morning at the Palace

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Residents braved the heat while queuing at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta to participate in the halalbihalal and meet President Prabowo Subianto, while also hoping to receive food staples, on Saturday (21/3/2026). Although the event was only scheduled to open in the afternoon after Dhuhr prayers, residents began queuing from the morning. Palace officials prepared tents so that those queuing could seek shelter from the blazing sun. “The info is there’s food staples. That’s why I came here,” said Septi when met in front of the State Secretariat gate in Jakarta. After the Eid morning prayer earlier, Septi and her friends decided to come to the palace. Another resident, Wanto, had been queuing in front of the palace complex entrance gate since 09:00 WIB. He said he learned about the halalbihalal from television. Wanto admitted he wanted to attend the event to meet the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, in person. “Of course (I want to meet the President of Indonesia),” he said. Besides meeting Prabowo, he also wanted to see the officials and get food staples. “Both (socialising and food staples). It’s a complete package, I want to see the officials too. Everything,” he stated. It is known that President Prabowo Subianto opened the Jakarta Presidential Palace to the general public for the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah halalbihalal.