TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka are mulling the establishment of a new coordinating ministry or Kemenko specifically aimed at implementing the free lunch and milk program. The inception of this ministry will follow the official declaration of victory of the presidential and vice-presidential candidate pair number two in the 2024 election.

Budiman Sudjatmiko, the campaign team’s deputy chairman of the expert council, said that the free lunch and milk program is the best program of Prabowo-Gibran, and hence needs a specialized approach for its implementation.

“The program requires a special approach to be implemented quickly, so a coordinating ministry may be formed specifically for this program,” Budiman said in a statement to Tempo on February 22.

However, he emphasized that if a new coordinating ministry cannot be formed, the program's implementation can be overseen by the existing coordinating ministry.

The free lunch and milk program initiated by Prabowo-Gibran aims to cater to some 82.9 million students across Indonesia and will require full financing of up to Rp450 trillion per year.

On another occasion, Gibran confirmed that discussions have been held regarding the creation of a new coordinating ministry for the free lunch and milk program if they elected the new president and vice president.

“Yes,” Gibran replied to reporters’ questions about the plan on Thursday, February 22. He also claimed that there would be a meeting this evening but stopped short of elaborating on the details.

YOHANES MAHARSO | SEPTIA RYANTHIE

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