Why Did Students Attend Pro-Free Meal Rally in Batam?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Education Office of Batam City, Indonesia, was allegedly mobilizing local students to attend a support rally for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program on June 21, 2026. In response, deputy chair of the House Commission X, Lalu Hadrian Irfani, urged any MBG-related protests to avoid involving schoolchildren. 

Protests will disrupt students' learning process at the school, Lalu said. "We do not want these students to take to the streets," he said at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 24, 2025.

Any aspirations, including about the free nutritious meals, should be delivered by the teachers or school principals directly to the local education agencies.

The local education agency shall then forward the aforementioned aspiration to the National Nutrition Agency coordinator. This method is deemed more effective and ensures that students receive their rights to education optimally. 

"In principle, movements like these should not affect the teaching and learning process. It will disrupt the students' actual duties in school," Lalu said.

His commission, Lalu added, has requested the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to investigate the reports of student mobilization in Batam City to participate in a pro-MBG rally. He claimed that the reports also surprised the ministry, which then coordinated with the Batam City Education Agency and the Riau Islands Provincial Government.

Hundreds of elementary and junior high school students in Batam City participated in a parade supporting the free nutritious meals program on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The rally was held in front of the Batam City Council building.

They carried banners and posters supporting President Prabowo Subianto's flagship program, where some were seen wearing school uniforms. Similar to a protest, the MBG support rally featured speeches from a command vehicle prepared by the organizers.

A teacher, speaking on conditions of anonymity, mentioned that there was no official invitation for the parade. Invitations were strictly made via WhatApp message in school groups. "We were surprised, especially since the event was on a Sunday, so we had no choice but to participate," the teacher said.

Meanwhile, the head of the Batam City Education Office, Hendri Arulan, confirmed that the agency was mobilizing teachers and students in the free meal rally. Hendri said there had been many complaints from parents after the program was stalled in Batam City due to halted funding.

He also confirmed gathering school teachers to discuss the parents' complaints, where the rally idea was initiated. 

"We delivered a recommendation for the regional council members and the central government that the MBG program is good," he told reporters during the rally.

Hendri did not address teachers' complaints who objected to participating in the rally. He also emphasized that teachers or students were not obligated to attend, and the invitation was only intended for those who wanted to participate.

Yogi Eka Sahputra from the Riau Islands contributed to this article

Read: Pro-MBG Rally Participants Say They Were Paid to Attend

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