Prabowo Recounts Calling BPKP and PPATK Heads Following BGN Corruption Allegations
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has shared the details of how he first received reports regarding alleged corruption involving the former leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Three former BGN officials, including Head Dadan Hindayana and Deputy Heads Lodewyk Pusung and Sonny Sonjaya, have been named suspects by the Attorney General’s Office over alleged corruption and mismanagement within the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme for the 2025-2026 period.
“When I received those reports, I summoned the Head of BPKP (the Government Internal Audit Agency) and also the Head of PPATK (the Financial Intelligence Unit), along with several other officials, to ask questions. I told them, ‘Please, I have received reports regarding the BGN’,” Prabowo stated during the ‘Building Indonesia’s Future Generations Through Nutrition’ event in Bogor Regency on Wednesday.
Prabowo expressed deep disappointment over the actions of the former officials, noting that the MBG programme is a vital national initiative intended to improve the nutrition of all Indonesian children, particularly those in need. He admitted the difficulty of the decision to remove the officials, stating, “It was heavy for me [to dismiss Dadan and others]. When I signed [the order], it was difficult. These are people I appointed, people I gave honours and ranks to.”
The President warned that the MBG programme must not become a vehicle for enriching a small group of individuals. He issued a stern warning to ‘recalcitrant partners’ who dare to manipulate funds intended for the public, urging them to return to the right path. Prabowo emphasised that he would not hesitate to take action against any partners involved in misconduct and expressed readiness to strengthen the efforts of law enforcement agencies in investigating such cases. “If you feel you can be smarter than the Republic of Indonesia, then just try it,” Prabowo remarked.
Previously, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the three former BGN leaders were named suspects based on sufficient evidence. Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of Investigation at the Attorney General’s Office for Special Crimes, stated that the suspects are linked to the alleged corruption involving mark-ups in the procurement of various goods. These include the procurement of 21,801 electric motorcycles totalling approximately Rp1 trillion, 32,000 pairs of shoes, over 31,000 tablets, and 5,400 75-inch televisions, all of which allegedly involved non-compliant specifications and inflated pricing.