Head of National Nutrition Agency Dismissed; Mahfud MD: President Prabowo Begins Responding Positively to Public Voice
Dadan Hindayana has been removed from his position as the head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). The change in leadership was announced directly by the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, on Tuesday evening (2 June 2026).
Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and legal expert, Mahfud MD, assessed that Dadan’s dismissal demonstrates that President Prabowo is beginning to heed public input. In addition to the dismissal, the President has also begun to respond positively to such feedback, as evidenced by his use of a written speech during the commemoration of the Birth of Pancasila.
“In the last two days, it has become apparent that President Prabowo is starting to respond positively to the voice of the people. First, during the Pancasila Day commemoration on 1 June 2026, he delivered a speech by reading a text to ensure greater focus; second, on 2 June 2026, he dismissed the Head of the BGN, a position that has been under significant scrutiny,” Mahfud MD stated in a post on X.
Dadan’s tenure was marked by scrutiny due to several controversies surrounding the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal programme, ranging from food poisoning incidents to issues regarding vehicle procurement. He is succeeded by Nanik Suryati Dayang, who previously served as the Deputy Head of the BGN.
Dadan, who was still serving as the Head of the BGN on Tuesday morning, had accompanied President Prabowo to inspect the operational kitchens of the Free Nutritious Meal programme in Palmerah, West Jakarta. Following this, Prabowo also inspected the programme’s implementation at SMPN 111 Jakarta.
Dadan, an entomology expert from the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), was officially appointed as the Head of the BGN by the 7th President, Joko Widodo, as stipulated in Presidential Decree Number 94B of 2024 regarding the Appointment of the Head of the National Nutrition Agency.