Gerindra: President’s Eid al-Adha Cattle Aid Funded by State Budget Legal, Has Been in Place Since SBY-Jokowi Era

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Gerindra Party spokesperson Bahtra Banong has confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto’s 1,098 Eid al-Adha sacrificial cattle aid funded by the state budget is legally valid. Bahtra explained that the use of this budget is not new in Indonesia’s governance. The Banmaspres program has been operational since previous presidencies, including under the 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and 7th President Joko Widodo. He stated that Banmaspres covers various forms of assistance, including food staples, decent housing, disaster victim handling, education, healthcare, places of worship, and social aid for the underprivileged. “Do not create the impression that such programmes are new this year,” Bahtra said. “This is not the President’s personal money claimed as private aid. It is a state social assistance programme formally budgeted through the national budget to help communities across regions. No regulations are violated,” he stressed. According to Bahtra, the state has a duty to support citizens, including during religious occasions like Eid al-Adha. Beyond social benefits, the programme also boosts local economies by involving regional livestock farmers. “Do not foster the notion that the state should not assist its people. On the contrary, such programmes ensure Eid al-Adha benefits reach wider communities, particularly those in need,” he said. He urged against politicising the issue as it does not breach any rules, stressing that the key focus should be its impact on citizens. Previously reported, President Prabowo has distributed 1,098 cattle across all Indonesian regions. “The funding comes from the national budget via the Presidential Assistance and Social Assistance budget,” said Juri at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Juri explained that the 1,098 cattle were sourced from local farmers and will be distributed to every city and regency nationwide. Prices vary based on weight and location. “Cattle prices naturally vary due to differing weights and regional factors, so we adjust prices per location, with approximately IDR 100 billion allocated,” Juri added.