Corruption Fears and Cold Food: Inside Prabowo's Sudden Purge of His Signature Nutrition Agency

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto has abruptly purged the top tier of his administration’s most prized social initiative, ousting Dadan Hindayana as head of the National Nutrition Agency. The sweeping leadership overhaul signals early structural turbulence for a cornerstone welfare program that has been central to the president’s populist economic agenda.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi announced the removal of Dadan during a late-night press briefing at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, June 2. The agency’s deputy, Nanik S. Deyang, was immediately elevated to take the helm, while two assistant directors, Lodewyk Pusung and Sonny Sanjaya, were also unceremoniously stripped of their ranks. They will be replaced by civil auditor Agustina Arumsari and Major General Trenggono of the Indonesian military.

The aggressive housecleaning underscores a deeper crisis within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). The agency was created to execute the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program—a massive, nationwide initiative designed to deliver free daily meals to millions of schoolchildren and pregnant women. Historically billed as the administration's signature strategy to build human capital, combat stunting, and stimulate rural economies, the logistical behemoth has instead run into a wall of governance failures.

The palace confirmed that the management purge coincided with a sensitive internal audit into suspected graft. Investigators are looking into allegations of a black market for state kitchen procurement contracts, where operators allegedly paid bribes to secure licenses for local nutrition distribution centers, known as Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG).

"Everything is currently undergoing an internal audit," Prasetyo told reporters on Tuesday night, when asked directly if the alleged contract-brokering prompted the leadership ouster. "This is part of the continuous monitoring and evaluation that we perform."

Quality Controls Flail

While the financial irregularities are being scrutinized, the administration was equally alarmed by deteriorating operational standards on the ground. Over the past 18 months of pilot rollouts, the central distribution model reportedly suffered from poor execution, resulting in systemic quality-control issues and deviations from mandated nutrition guidelines.

According to palace officials speaking on Tuesday, President Prabowo intervened after receiving a deluge of complaints from cabinet ministers, independent monitors, and the public. The feedback painted a picture of an agency struggling with basic logistical discipline.

"There were issues regarding discipline in executing standard operating procedures, issues regarding institutional governance, and a clear failure to maintain the food quality standards that were strictly established by the National Nutrition Agency," Prasetyo said, explaining the rationale behind the sudden dismissals.

The scale of the program makes any operational lapse a major political liability. Local dairy industries recently warned that domestic supply can only fulfill half of the estimated 4.8 billion milk cartons required annually by the program, forcing the agency to navigate complex international supply chains while under intense domestic scrutiny.

A Mandate for Speed and Scrutiny

The shakeup leaves Nanik, a trusted insider within the Prabowo camp, with the daunting task of stabilizing an agency in institutional shock. The new leadership team must immediately fortify cross-ministerial coordination and reassure local governments that funding for the program will not be disrupted by the high-profile cleanout.

The entry of Agustina Arumsari, a veteran bureaucrat with an auditing background, and Maj. Gen. Trenggono, who previously managed state-aligned agricultural entities, suggests the palace is prioritizing strict military-style discipline and rigorous financial oversight over academic expertise.

"We expect the new leadership to accelerate our priority programs, repair organizational governance, and bring tangible benefits to the public," Prasetyo said on Wednesday, June 3. "The ultimate goal remains non-negotiable: upgrading Indonesia’s public health, nutrition, and human resources."