Prabowo's Free Lunch Program Tested By Jokowi's Government, Democrats Equalize It To SBY's Transition

Democratic Politician Herman Khaeron/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

JAKARTA - The Democratic Party explained about the free lunch program that has been tested by the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). In fact, the program is a program of Prabowo Subianto's presidential candidate who has not been officially declared president-elected by the KPU.

Chairman of the Democratic Party BPOKK, Herman Khaeron, said that in principle, Paslon 02 carries the theme of sustainability and improvement or improvement. Meanwhile, the government currently needs to prepare fiscal space for the sustainability of the government, especially in the preparation of the RAPBN.

"From the (side) budget, it is normal for the transition of state leadership, government, the president has a fiscal space to be able to run programs in the future, which is a quick win, a short-term program can be implemented. Or superior programs that are indeed prepared by the elected president," said Herman at the DPR building, Thursday, February 29.

Moreover, he continued, the free lunch and milk program is the main program of the Prabowo-Gibran government. Thus, the free lunch trial that has been carried out is part of the availability of fiscals whose space has been provided.

According to him, there is nothing strange if the next government program is being tested by the current government. This, he said, had also been done during the transition of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)'s administration to President Jokowi.

"Just (as) during the transition of President SBY to President Jokowi, there is also a fiscal space provided. So that, at this early stage the program carried by President Jokowi can run," he said.

"So indeed, the lunch program must start now. So that later it will be included in the discussion of the 2025 budget, it can run for a wider number of participants. So it's normal to do that. There is a fiscal room prepared by the country for the elected president, to be continued to the next leadership, "explained Herman.

"In the past, Pak SBY was the same. Pak SBY prepared a red carpet for his replacement at that time," he added.

Regarding the calculation of the KPU's real count vote not yet over, Prabowo-Gibran is believed to be the winner, Herman refers to the results of the quick count of various survey institutions and the KPU's real count which is currently more than 75 percent. Where Prabowo-Gibran's vote was already far superior with more than 58 percent.

In addition, world leaders have congratulated Prabowo Subianto as president-elect. According to him, this situation is a fact and reality that must be accepted.

"Loh, world leaders have congratulated Pak Prabowo. This is fact and reality," concluded the spokesman for TKN Prabowo Gibran.

It is known that the trial of the free lunch program has been carried out at SMPN 2 Curug, Tangerang Regency. This program simulation was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

However, Airlangga said that this simulation was not a program of the campaign promise of presidential and vice presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

"I got an invitation (from the local government). The one who organized it was from the regent," said Airlangga to the media crew, Thursday, February 29.

Airlangga emphasized that he who directly visited SMPN2 Curug Tangerang was an invitation from the Tanggerang regent and the program was a trial conducted independently or voluntarily by the school orvolunteer.

"Because this is avolunteer, the government has opened a model of who wants to make this volleyball. An budget from the service, not entering the state budget, this is from the regent, the name isvolunteer. Who wants to try this program first," he explained.

The pilot project applies to four classes at SMPN 2 Curug. Each class gets a different menu with a budget of IDR 15,000 per child.