Hasto: Procurement of 21,000 BGN Motorcycles Does Not Align with President's Vision

Secretary General of PDI Perjuangan, Hasto Kristiyanto, has criticised the National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) move to procure 21,000 electric motorcycles for heads of nutrition fulfilment service units (SPPG). Hasto assessed that the policy does not reflect the appropriate scale of priorities and instead contradicts the spirit of national industrial independence frequently championed by President Prabowo Subianto. “The National Nutrition Agency should be able to embrace all elements of the people’s strength without burdening the budget through the purchase of a large number of operational vehicles,” Hasto said after meeting the Mayor of Yogyakarta at Yogyakarta City Hall on Thursday, 9 April 2026. He suggested that the government learn from the efficiency of social platforms like Gojek or Grab, which can integrate people’s production tools—in this case, motorcycles—into a broad service system. “The government through BGN would be better off conducting a thorough evaluation so that the free nutritious meal programme truly targets underdeveloped areas to ensure adequate nutrition and intelligence for Indonesian children,” he said. Hasto also viewed the large-scale procurement of electric motorcycles as a form of wasteful state budget expenditure. The policy indicates a contradiction between policies at the lower or technical level and President Prabowo’s grand vision of efficiency. “The procurement of electric motorcycles by BGN, as well as the procurement of pick-up vehicles for the Red White Village Cooperative, is a step that does not align with President Prabowo’s determination to build the domestic manufacturing and automotive industry,” he said. Hasto also regretted the corporate decision that instead leads to massive imports. According to him, the decision to buy tens of thousands of electric motorcycles is evidence that the ranks below Prabowo have not fully understood the president’s vision to grow the national industry. He emphasised that PDI Perjuangan, in its position as a balancer in the national political system, will continue to remind the government to stick to the principles of urgency and priority. Hasto stressed that the core of public policy should prioritise the people’s ability to produce, where the central government acts as a facilitator to build momentum for economic movement in the regions. “Yes, everything should be based on the scale of priorities. There must be a sense of urgency and sense of priority. The essence of sense of urgency and priority is to prioritise the people’s ability to produce,” he said. Eko Suwanto, Chairman of Commission A of the DIY DPRD who is also the Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Yogyakarta City DPC, stated that in the meeting with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Yogyakarta, the PDI Perjuangan Secretary General discussed various matters. “Mr Secretary General discussed with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Yogyakarta about the one year of leadership that has been running, as well as empowerment programmes that need to be carried out,” said Eko. Eko gave an example that in the current economy influenced by the global situation, the PDI Perjuangan Secretary General encouraged regional heads from PDI Perjuangan to intensify pro-people innovation programmes that can also increase regional own-source revenue. “So that regional heads can increase PAD in innovative and creative ways, without creating additional burdens on the people,” he said.