Indonesia’s Gerindra Party has defended President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to allocate state funds for the purchase of 1,098 sacrificial cattle for Eid al-Adha, following public debate over the use of the state budget for the program.
The party insisted the initiative was fully legal because it forms part of the presidential public assistance program, known as Bantuan Kemasyarakatan Presiden (Banmaspres), which is officially funded through the State Budget (APBN) and regulated under Indonesia’s financial management laws.
Gerindra spokesperson Bahtra Banong said the program should not be interpreted as a personal donation from the president, but rather as a state-administered social assistance initiative intended to support communities across Indonesia during the Islamic holiday.
“So this is not the President’s personal money being claimed as a personal donation. This is a state public assistance program that is officially budgeted through the APBN to help communities in various regions,” Bahtra said in a written statement released Wednesday.
“There are no rules being violated in this program.”
Bahtra, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of House of Representatives Commission II, explained that the sacrificial cattle assistance has a clear legal foundation because the funding originates from the 2026 State Budget Law and is implemented through official state financial management mechanisms.
He said the distribution process is administered through Indonesia’s Ministry of State Secretariat in accordance with the State Finance Law and State Treasury Law.
According to Gerindra, presidential public assistance programs have existed under previous administrations and are not unique to Prabowo’s government.
Bahtra noted that earlier presidents, including former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former President Joko Widodo, also distributed sacrificial cattle through state mechanisms facilitated by the Presidential Secretariat.
“During previous administrations there were also presidential sacrificial cattle programs distributed to various regions through state mechanisms and facilitated by the Presidential Secretariat,” Bahtra said.
He added that presidential public assistance programs have historically included a broad range of social aid initiatives beyond Eid al-Adha donations.
“Since long ago, presidential public assistance has also included food aid, housing assistance, disaster relief, educational assistance, health support, aid for houses of worship, and social assistance for underprivileged communities,” he said.
“So there should not be an attempt to create the impression that programs like this only exist now.”
The controversy emerged after the government confirmed that Prabowo would distribute 1,098 cattle nationwide for the Eid al-Adha celebrations this year.
The total budget allocated for the program is estimated at approximately Rp100 billion.
Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro previously stated that the funding came directly from the state budget through the presidential public assistance allocation.
“The price of the cattle varies because their weights differ and regional locations also affect cattle prices,” Juri told reporters on Tuesday.
“We adjust prices in each region, and the total budget allocated is around Rp100 billion.”
The cattle distributed under the program are categorized as premium livestock and meet Islamic sacrificial standards.
Government officials previously stated that the cattle weigh between 800 kilograms and 1.3 tons and include various breeds such as Simmental, Limousin, Brahman, Angus, Belgian Blue, Charolais, Friesian Holstein, Bali cattle, and Ongole crossbreeds.
Authorities also confirmed that all cattle were sourced from local Indonesian breeders as part of efforts to support domestic livestock producers and stimulate regional economic activity.
According to the government, the program is divided into two main categories of recipients.
First, cattle will be distributed to provincial, district, and municipal administrations across Indonesia.
A total of 598 cattle are being allocated to 552 regional administrations, consisting of 38 provinces and 514 regencies or cities.
The number of cattle exceeds the number of administrative regions because some areas do not have locally available cattle meeting the presidential weight standard.
As a result, 46 regions will receive two cattle instead of one.
The second category includes 500 additional cattle distributed to educational institutions, Islamic boarding schools, religious leaders, and community organizations.
The total number of sacrificial cattle distributed nationwide therefore reaches 1,098.
Government officials say the meat from the sacrificial cattle is intended to be distributed to communities in need during Eid al-Adha celebrations.
The debate surrounding the funding has drawn public attention because the program uses public funds during a period of continued fiscal pressures and budget scrutiny.
Critics questioned whether state funds should be used for sacrificial animal programs, while supporters argue that the initiative falls within established social assistance mechanisms and carries religious as well as social value.
Gerindra maintains that the policy complies fully with Indonesia’s legal and financial governance frameworks.
Party officials also argue that the program supports local livestock farmers by creating demand for high-quality cattle across multiple regions.
The government has repeatedly emphasized that all procurement processes follow official regulations and financial accountability procedures.
Indonesia’s presidential public assistance programs have historically played a role in supporting ceremonial, humanitarian, and social welfare activities conducted under the authority of the presidency.
Such programs are typically funded through allocations managed by the Presidential Secretariat and related government institutions.
The latest Eid al-Adha cattle initiative has also become politically significant as Prabowo’s administration seeks to reinforce its public welfare image during its early period in office.
Supporters describe the cattle distribution as both a religious observance and a form of social solidarity intended to reach communities throughout Indonesia’s provinces and districts.
Officials say the involvement of local breeders may also provide broader economic benefits by encouraging higher livestock productivity and improving cattle quality standards nationwide.
According to the government, the annual presidential cattle procurement program can serve as an incentive for breeders to continue improving production capacity because they know the government may continue purchasing premium cattle in future years.
Gerindra insists the focus of the program should remain on community benefits rather than political controversy over the funding source.
The party argues that the use of officially budgeted state funds for social assistance activities is consistent with existing governance practices and legal frameworks already used under previous Indonesian administrations.
