MUI Vice Chairman: Presidential Sacrificial Cattle Aid Funded by State Budget Legally Valid Under Sharia and Constitution
Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH Marsudi Syuhud, stated that the presidential sacrificial cattle aid (Banpres) funded by the state budget (APBN) is legally valid under both Sharia and the constitution.
This clarification also addresses public confusion regarding President Prabowo Subianto’s sacrificial cattle provision, which stemmed from communication issues where many believed the cattle were the president’s personal sacrifice.
“The public must understand that these are government-provided sacrificial cattle from the president. The controversy has spread because some believe it is the president’s personal sacrifice, yet it uses state budget funds,” said Kiai Marsudi in a statement received by journalists on Thursday, 28 May 2026.
He noted that the communication issue arose when Deputy State Secretary (Wamensesneg) Juri Ardiantoro summarised the explanation when conveying the information to the public.
The term “presidential sacrificial cattle aid for the public” was shortened to “president’s sacrificial cattle”. “I believe the Deputy State Secretary intended to clarify that this is presidential aid cattle, abbreviated as Banpres. The aim was to correct misunderstandings, as there were still inaccuracies in the communication,” he added.
From a Sharia perspective, Kiai Marsudi explained that a head of state providing sacrificial cattle for the public using state funds has a strong legal basis and is encouraged.
His statement refers to the fiqh principle ‘wayusannu lil imami ayudhya min baitil mali anil muslimin badanatan’, which translates to ‘it is recommended for an imam, or head of state or president, to provide sacrificial aid using funds from the public treasury (baitul mal)’.
From a national perspective, the head of Darul Uchwah Economic Islamic Boarding School emphasised that the budgeting mechanism for the Presidential Sacrificial Cattle Aid is legal and constitutional.
“From a policy standpoint, the government’s decision serves the public good. The key is that the approved budget is implemented according to regulations,” said Kiai Marsudi.