Prabowo Fires Free Meals Chief After 33,000 Poisoning Cases as Graft Probe Deepens
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3
Prabowo Fires Free Meals Chief After 33,000 Poisoning Cases as Graft Probe Deepens
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3
Dadan Hindayana was removed as head of Indonesia’s free meals agency and replaced by deputy Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, after the flagship program was hit by mass poisonings and corruption allegations.
At least 33,000 food-poisoning cases had been linked to the scheme by April, while Indonesia’s corruption watchdog last week filed a complaint over budgeting inconsistencies across meal kitchens.
Attorney General’s Office officials raided the National Nutrition Agency on Wednesday and blocked staff from entering, escalating scrutiny of a program Prabowo has already said faces “many problems.”
The multi-billion-dollar initiative aims to feed 80 million schoolchildren, but it has been scaled back from six days a week to five as Indonesia faces fiscal strain, weaker trade surpluses and a soft currency.
Critics said the leadership change was cosmetic and questioned Nanik’s lack of nutrition or food-safety experience, even as Prabowo insisted the program still has broad public support.