Prabowo's Eid al-Adha Sacrificial Cattle Funded by State Budget Legal, Says Habiburokhman
Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, Habiburokhman, stated that using the national budget (APBN) to distribute 1,098 cattle for Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah does not violate regulations. The total budget allocation for the more than 1,000 cattle distributed by President Prabowo Subianto amounts to Rp100 billion.
The cattle purchased with state funds through the presidential social assistance program (banpres) have been distributed across all 38 provinces and 514 regencies/cities nationwide. In addition to local governments, the Eid al-Adha cattle have also been delivered to educational institutions such as Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren), community leaders, and religious figures.
“I, Habiburokhman, as Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, affirm that using APBN funds for President Prabowo Subianto’s sacrificial animals under the presidential assistance scheme is not unlawful or contrary to Islamic law,” Habiburokhman stated in a written release on Thursday, 28 May 2026.
The Gerindra Party’s deputy chairman claimed the Eid al-Adha animal assistance represents the state’s presence in aiding the public during the festive season. “The state has a social function to assist citizens, especially during religious and humanitarian occasions,” Habiburokhman said.
Legally, he said, the president’s community assistance programme has a clear legal basis. Habiburokhman explained that Article 3(1) of Law No. 17 of 2003 on State Finance stipulates that state finances must be managed orderly, in accordance with regulations, efficiently, economically, effectively, transparently, and responsibly for the greatest prosperity of the people.
Furthermore, Habiburokhman stated that Law No. 17 of 2025 on the 2026 State Budget also provides budgetary space for the president’s social assistance programme through the Ministry of State Secretariat.
Habiburokhman also referenced the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) statement that using state funds for the president’s sacrificial animals does not conflict with Islamic law.
The East Jakarta electoral district legislator responded to public criticism that not all Indonesians are Muslim. According to Habiburokhman, Prabowo has also shown concern for other religious communities. “Various assistance and policies have already been implemented to aid other religious groups,” he said.
Previously, Deputy Minister of the State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro emphasised that the Eid al-Adha cattle distributed by President Prabowo to the public are part of the presidential social assistance programme. Juri stated that such banpres initiatives have been ongoing for years.
Juri said the cattle are provided so citizens, particularly those in need, can celebrate Eid al-Adha and enjoy sacrificial meat.
“The president’s sacrificial cattle are government assistance to the public. The aim is for those in need to celebrate Eid al-Adha by slaughtering sacrificial animals together,” Juri said in Jakarta on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, according to a written statement.
He revealed that this year, 1,098 cattle were distributed by President Prabowo across Indonesia. Juri argued that, as public assistance, the use of banpres budget is standard practice and has been part of government operations in previous years. Juri claimed the sacrificial cattle assistance is not for the president’s personal interest but entirely channelled to communities nationwide.