Prabowo's Qurbani Cattle Controversy: Finance Minister Unaware, MUI Rules Funding Permissible
President Prabowo Subianto distributed 1,098 cattle for Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah, with the expenditure amounting to approximately Rp100 billion. The funds were sourced from the presidential social assistance budget within the state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN). Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro stated the cattle distribution was part of the presidential social assistance programme (banpres).
“The purpose of the President’s Qurbani cattle is government assistance to the public, aiming to enable needy citizens to celebrate Eid al-Adha by sacrificing animals collectively,” Juri said in Jakarta on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, according to a written statement. He added that using the banpres budget for such assistance was standard practice in previous administrations.
Public criticism has arisen over Prabowo’s use of state funds for Qurbani cattle, with some arguing personal funds should be used instead. Responses from various parties include:
Finance Minister Unaware
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated he was unaware of the use of the state budget (APBN) for purchasing President Prabowo’s Qurbani cattle. “I don’t know about this issue,” Purbaya said when asked about the funding source. He also declined to comment on coordination regarding APBN usage for the Qurbani and suggested inquiries be directed to the State Secretariat. “Ask the State Secretariat, but I think it’s their own money,” he added.
MUI: Prabowo Permissible to Use State Funds for Qurbani
MUI Fatwa Commission Chairman Asrorun Niam Sholeh deemed the President’s use of state funds for Qurbani cattle permissible. He stated that under Islamic law and state administration procedures, the President’s cattle purchase posed no issues. In Islamic jurisprudence, a head of state is encouraged to perform Qurbani on behalf of the nation for public welfare, Niam explained, citing hadith literature.
“As narrated by Imam Bukhari, it is recommended for an imam—in Indonesia’s context, the President—to purchase Qurbani animals through the baitul mal,” he said in a written statement, citing the MUI website on Thursday, 28 May 2026. Niam added that the state treasury can be considered the modern equivalent of baitul mal, making the President’s Qurbani cattle the property of the people since it was purchased with public funds. “APBN is naturally used to distribute to the populace, so the Qurbani is from the state for the people’s benefit. There is no issue under Islamic law,” he said.
Gerindra Defends Prabowo
Gerindra Party spokesperson Bahtra Banong stated the President’s Qurbani cattle assistance was legitimate using state funds. He argued the aid was legally valid as part of the Presidential Social Assistance (Banmaspres) programme, which has formal budgetary and financial mechanisms within the national system. “This is not the President’s personal money claimed as private assistance,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Banong added no regulations were violated in the President’s Qurbani assistance, as the programme is a state social aid allocated via APBN to help communities across regions. He noted Banmaspres, including Qurbani cattle, has legal basis under the 2026 State Budget Law, State Finance Law, and State Treasury Law via the State Secretariat. Banong also mentioned similar assistance was provided by previous presidents, distributed through state mechanisms facilitated by the Presidential Secretariat.
Komisi III DPR: Prabowo’s Qurbani Distribution Legally Valid
House of Representatives Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman stated the use of APBN for distributing 1,098 cattle for Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah did not violate regulations. The total allocation for over a thousand cattle presented by President Prabowo Subianto amounted to Rp100 billion.
The Gerindra Deputy General Chairman affirmed the presidential social assistance programme had clear legal grounding. Habiburokhman cited Article 3(1) of Law No. 17 of 2003 on State Finance, which mandates state financial management to be orderly, compliant with regulations, efficient, economical, effective, transparent, and accountable for the greatest prosperity of the people. He also noted Law No. 17 of 2025 on the 2026 State Budget allocated provisions for the Presidential Social Assistance programme through the State Secretariat.