Quick summary: Investigators from Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office have raided and locked down the National Nutrition Agency headquarters following President Prabowo Subianto’s dismissal of agency head Dadan Hindayana over serious governance and food quality failures. The sudden leadership purge and ongoing investigation threaten the stability of the administration’s flagship fifteen billion US dollar free meals programme, which has already faced intense scrutiny after food poisoning incidents affected at least 33,000 children. This operational crisis holds critical implications for international public policy and regional healthcare practice, highlighting the immense fiscal and administrative challenges of balancing large scale social welfare initiatives with strict regulatory oversight to protect vulnerable child and maternal well being.
Investigators from Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office raided the headquarters of the National Nutrition Agency in the early hours of Wednesday, placing the building under lockdown just hours after President Prabowo Subianto dismissed the agency’s chief over governance concerns.
Two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told that investigators arrived at the building at about 2am local time in several vehicles. A spokesperson confirmed the operation but declined to provide further details.
The headquarters remained under lockdown at 11am, with employees denied entry. One staff member said investigators were concentrating their activities on the second floor, where the agency’s senior leadership offices are located.
State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi announced late Tuesday that Agency head Dadan Hindayana had been removed following a performance evaluation. Dadan, an entomologist by training, was replaced by his deputy, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, a former journalist who was part of President’s 2024 election campaign team.
“There are issues relating to discipline in implementing governance, including discipline in maintaining food quality standards, that should have been established by the National Nutrition Agency,” Prasetyo said.
The free meals programme was a central pledge in the successful 2024 presidential campaign of Prabowo. Launched in January 2025, it aims to provide free meals to 83 million children and pregnant women across Indonesia’s vast archipelago, with the government allocating at least US$15 billion to the initiative.
The programme has since come under scrutiny on several fronts. Food poisoning incidents had affected at least 33,000 children by April, according to Network for Education Watch. Investors have also raised concerns about the scale of government spending and its potential impact on fiscal deficit targets.
Despite these challenges, Prabowo has repeatedly pledged to continue the programme. Government officials have stressed that its core objective of providing nutritious meals remains unchanged as investigations continue.
Analysts note that the programme’s success is critical not only for public health but also for the administration’s credibility on flagship promises. With Indonesia’s economy navigating post-pandemic recovery and global uncertainties, maintaining fiscal discipline while delivering social programmes remains a key balancing act for policymakers. Staff and contractors involved in the programme are awaiting further clarity on operations following the lockdown.
About the Author
