Muhammadiyah to Present Evaluation of National Projects and Free Meals to Prabowo

The Central Board of Muhammadiyah plans to meet President Prabowo Subianto to convey the results of its studies on the state of democracy, public policy, and the economic situation of the people. This plan was one of the conclusions of a meeting between PP Muhammadiyah and several civil society figures in Jakarta on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.

Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah for Law, Human Rights, and Wisdom, Busyro Muqoddas, stated the meeting is necessary because the space for conveying criticism of the government is perceived to be increasingly narrow. Muhammadiyah intends to present various evaluations based on research and studies it has conducted.

“We want to demonstrate statesmanship to the government. If there are shortcomings, we want to remind them in a critical, ethical, constructive, and research-based manner,” Busyro said at the PP Muhammadiyah office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Busyro, Muhammadiyah is currently finalising several studies to be delivered directly to the President. One of the main highlights is the series of social conflicts and alleged violations of community rights in the implementation of several National Strategic Projects (PSN), such as in Wadas, Rempang, Ternate, and Papua.

Based on Muhammadiyah’s findings, the implementation of these projects has caused impoverishment across various aspects of community life. “There is economic, social, cultural, legal, and human rights impoverishment,” Busyro said. He therefore believes the government needs to be reminded not to repeat the same policy mistakes.

In addition to PSN, Muhammadiyah will highlight the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, one of the Prabowo administration’s flagship initiatives. Busyro assessed that the programme was designed from the outset without adequate transparency and minimal public participation.

According to Busyro, the corrective steps currently being taken by the government, including reorganising beneficiaries and using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support MBG kitchen operations, have not addressed the root problems of the programme. “At the very least, temporarily halt the MBG programme, then evaluate it,” he said.

Furthermore, Muhammadiyah also plans to convey criticism regarding the state of democracy and freedom of expression. Busyro noted that the government has recently tended to be less open to criticism. He pointed to the emergence of labels such as “foreign stooge” directed at groups voicing criticism of the government.

According to Busyro, the wave of student demonstrations that have emerged in various regions recently indicates an accumulation of public disappointment with a number of government policies. This situation, he said, is reminiscent of the socio-political conditions leading up to the 1998 Reformasi. “Therefore, there is potential heading in that direction, a Reformasi Jilid II,” he said.

He assessed that the government needs to respond to public criticism more openly so that social tensions do not escalate further. For this reason, Muhammadiyah hopes that the President will be willing to accept the various inputs the organisation intends to deliver. He also requested that officials in the President’s inner circle not obstruct public access to convey the current situation in the country to the head of state. “We hope to be received, as a consequence of democracy,” Busyro said.