Ganjar Sindir Prabowo's Free Lunch Budget: IKN Who Needs IDR 400 Trillion Is Not Over

Presidential Candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo when giving a speech in sarasehan with exponents, alumni, and activists of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) in Jakarta, Thursday (12/28/2023). (ANTARA/Anggah)

Presidential candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo mentioned the free lunch program carried by pair number 2 Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

This was conveyed by Ganjar after telling his experience meeting a pastor named Leo while campaigning in Papua. Pastor Leo, said Ganjar, helped a mother give birth when there were no health care facilities where they lived.

"Ladies and gentlemen, how do you help them? If they take them to the hospital, the hospital is far away. Where do they have to go? Not (because) the road is damaged or bad, (but) there is no way," said Ganjar during a gathering with exponents, alumni, and activists of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) in Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, December 28.

"And then we partyed talking very high. Sorry, and then Rp400 trillion wanted to be used for lunch," said Ganjar, who was greeted by the audience.

In addition, Ganjar also mentioned that he and vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD will consider the budget to be used for the people if elected later.

"If we talk about a program that will then be given to the people, of course we can consider who the source is? For what? Which is a priority? Because it feels like IKN (The capital city of the archipelago) which needs around Rp. 400 trillion is not finished," said Ganjar after the event.

Previously, a member of the Steering Committee of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Hashim Djojohadikusumo, revealed that the budget needed in the free lunch program reached IDR 450 trillion per year.

"I can say that for this, this program will cost 450 trillion rupiah every year," said Hashim when giving a speech at the Prabowo-Gibran Digital Team Volunteer National Consolidation event in Jakarta, Wednesday (20/12).

He explained that Prabowo-Gibran is targeting to provide free lunch to 82.9 million Indonesians.

"Every day we will provide free food for 82.9 million people at least... (it's) minimal," said Hashim.