Purbaya on Prabowo's Use of National Budget for Sacrificial Cows

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated he was unaware of the use of the national budget (APBN) for purchasing sacrificial cattle for President Prabowo Subianto. He made the comment following an Eid al-Adha prayer service at the Directorate General of Taxes headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. The head of state was reported to have used approximately Rp 100 billion from state funds for 1,098 sacrificial cattle this year. ‘I don’t know about that,’ Purbaya said when asked about the funding source. The Finance Minister also declined to explain the coordination of APBN usage for the sacrificial cattle. He suggested inquiring with the State Secretariat, adding, ‘Ask the State Secretary, but I think it’s their own money.’ Previously, Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro revealed that funds for President Prabowo’s sacrificial cattle during the 1447 Hijriah Eid al-Adha came from the presidential social assistance budget allocation. A total of 1,098 cattle were distributed across Indonesia. According to Juri, the cattle prices varied based on individual weight and location. ‘The budget source is from the APBN, via the presidential social assistance budget,’ Juri stated at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The President’s sacrificial cattle were distributed under two schemes. First, 598 cattle were allocated to provincial and regency/municipal governments. ‘There are 552 regions—38 provinces and 514 regencies/cities—receiving a total of 598 cattle,’ Juri said. He noted each region would receive at least one cow, except 46 regencies/cities receiving two each. This is because the President’s sacrificial cattle must weigh between 800kg and 1.3 tonnes, and the 46 regions lacked cattle meeting this standard. In addition to government distribution, President Prabowo also donated 500 sacrificial cattle to educational institutions such as Islamic boarding schools, community leaders, and religious figures. ‘For the regions, 598 cattle; for social, religious institutions, and leaders, 500 cattle. Total 1,098,’ Juri said.