Viral People's School Shoes, Social Minister Clarifies Not a Ministry Procurement

JAKARTA – Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf has clarified that the shoes for students at People’s School, which circulated on social media, were a donation from the East Java Governor and not a procurement by the Ministry of Social Affairs. During a press conference at the Office of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) RI in Jakarta on Wednesday (6/5/2026), Saifullah Yusuf explained the viral content showing him with East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa handing over shoes to People’s School students. “Because the viral news yesterday was about the procurement of shoes at People’s School, but the photo shows me with Mrs Khofifah handing over shoes to People’s School students in Malang, East Java. The shoes are a donation from the East Java Governor for People’s School students in East Java,” said Saifullah. He emphasised that the shoe donation is part of the East Java Provincial Government’s programme. “Not shoes from the Ministry of Social Affairs,” he added. The Social Minister explained that procurements for People’s School are carried out through an open tender mechanism. The budget determination is done in stages, involving discussions with the House of Representatives (DPR RI).