Habiburokhman Slams PDIP's Adian Napitupulu Over Debate With Seskab Teddy Indrawijaya

Deputy General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Habiburokhman, issued a sharp statement towards PDIP Deputy Secretary General Adian Napitupulu regarding the controversy over the use of education funds in the 2026 State Budget (APBN) for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in full in the 2026 APBN. Habib specifically highlighted news of a potential debate between Adian and the Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indrawijaya that had circulated on social media. Instead of challenging Teddy, Habib urged Adian to first debate with the Chairman of the Budgetary Body (Banggar) and fellow party colleague, Buya Said Abdullah. ‘Rather than challenging a debate with the Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indrawijaya, Adian Napitupulu should first challenge a debate with the Chairman of the Budgetary Body as well as his party colleague, Buya Said Abdullah,’ Habib said in a statement on Wednesday (4/3). As Banggar Chairman, Habib said Said has confirmed that MBG funding partly comes from the education budget. This is based on the fact that the majority of MBG recipients are students. According to Habib, the allocation has been unanimously approved by all factions in the DPR, including PDIP, during discussion of the 2026 APBN ceiling. ‘All factions unanimously, including Adian Napitupulu, approved the 2025 and 2026 APBN, which includes MBG,’ He said. The debate between Teddy and Adian had previously circulated on social media, with an Instagram account posting claiming to represent Adian Napitupulu. The post read: ‘To end the debate over MBG, would you agree to an open debate between Adian vs Teddy?’ Adian posted on his own Instagram account on Monday (2/3). However, at the time of reporting, the account in question had been removed. In addition, several people close to Adian confirmed that he did not have a social media account. Although Adian himself had on several occasions not minded social media accounts in his name. PDIP previously sought to clarify statements by some that MBG funds were not taken from the education budget. In a press conference at the party’s school, Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (25/2), PDIP asserted that MBG budget is drawn from education. MY Esti Wijayanti, Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the DPR, said the allocation is formally stated in Law No. 17 of 2025 on the APBN 2026, which states that Rp223 trillion of MBG is drawn from the total Rp769 trillion MBG education budget. ‘It is also clearly stated that Rp769 trillion of education budget includes MBG of Rp223.5 trillion. It is official in the APBN annex book,’ Esti said at a press conference at her party’s school in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (25/2). On that occasion, Adian said this fact must be conveyed by them. Moreover, the education allocation up to 20 per cent of the APBN is the mandate of the 1945 Constitution. ‘This must be conveyed. Why? Because we govern the country under the law with all its hierarchical derivatives, including this Presidential Regulation,’ Adian said. Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, did not deny that MBG funds include part of the education budget. In fact, the education budget’s increase is driven by MBG allocations. In addition to education, MBG also draws from health and economy budgets. ‘BGN’s funds within its structure are divided into three: education, health, and economy,’ Dadan said in a written statement on Thursday (26/2). ‘In addition to that, there is a contingency from the Budgetary Office of the State General Treasurer (BA BUN),’ he added. Seskab Teddy meanwhile denied claims that MBG eats into the education budget. ‘There were parties, a small group, claiming that the Free Nutritious Meal programme reduces the education program and budget, resulting in schools being neglected, and teachers not being looked after. So, I want to say that this is a false narrative,’ he said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday (27/2). He noted that neglected or damaged school buildings are problems that have existed for a long time. Teddy also pointed out that school buildings are under regional government authority. Where senior high schools are under the provincial government, while primary and middle schools are under regency/city. ‘But during President Prabowo’s era, because this has long existed and not addressed, we are renovating. In 2025 alone, around 16,000 schools have been renovated. The data is available, the photos are available, you can check. With a total budget of around 17 trillion rupiah, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikdasmen),’ he said. Teddy said that under Prabowo’s leadership there is no strategic education program from the previous administration that has been halted. He added that the Prabowo administration has actually expanded strategic education programmes, including the Kartu Indonesia Pintar, the Indonesia Pintar Programme, and even the President added ‘sekolah rakyat’ (People’s Schools) to educate those who cannot attend school.