House of Representatives Commission III Affirms Legality of Presidential Kurban Funding Under Law and Sharia

Controversy over funding sources for President Prabowo Subianto’s kurban animals during the 1447 Hijriah Eid al-Adha has been addressed by House of Representatives Commission III. Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman stated that using the State Budget (APBN) for the programme is legally valid and compliant with regulations. Habiburokhman provided a clear clarification in an official statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, 28 May, stressing the strong regulatory foundation for the action. ‘Using APBN funds for President Prabowo Subianto’s kurban animals under the presidential assistance scheme is neither unlawful nor contrary to Sharia,’ Habiburokhman said. Legally, Habiburokhman cited Article 3(1) of Law No. 17 of 2003 on State Finance, which mandates orderly, transparent, effective, efficient, and equitable state financial management. Additionally, the budget allocation is legally supported by the 2026 State Budget Law, which permits social assistance programmes under the Ministry of State Secretariat. Beyond positive law, Habiburokhman also highlighted the Sharia aspect, quoting experts to confirm the policy aligns with religious values. ‘From a Sharia perspective, Habiburokhman quoted MUI Fatwa Chairman Asrorun Niam Soleh, stating that the president’s kurban purchase via APBN is religiously valid as it is intended for the public,’ he said. Habiburokhman said this move demonstrates the state’s presence in supporting religious and social activities. ‘The kurban assistance is a manifestation of the state’s presence in aiding communities, Islamic boarding schools, mosques, religious leaders, and other groups across Indonesia during Eid al-Adha,’ he said. He added that the programme is a tangible demonstration of President Prabowo’s support for local farmers and the broader public, part of the state’s social function akin to government support for other religious communities in Indonesia. Additional details reveal that for this year’s Eid al-Adha, President Prabowo distributed 1,098 locally sourced premium cattle, weighing between 800kg and 1.3 tonnes each. Deputy Minister of the State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro explained the assistance was evenly distributed across 552 regions nationwide, including educational institutions, Islamic boarding schools, social organisations, and community leaders. ‘The president instructed that the kurban cattle be utilised to the greatest extent possible for needy communities in their respective regions,’ Ardiantoro said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 26 May.