Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro recently clarified that the sacrificial cattle distributed by President Prabowo Subianto to communities for Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah are an integral part of the long-standing Presidential Community Assistance (Banpres) program. This initiative, according to Juri, is a recurring government effort carried out annually.
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Juri’s statement comes in response to public inquiries concerning the allocation of Rp 100 billion from the state budget for the procurement of 1,098 sacrificial cows for the upcoming Eid al-Adha celebrations. He emphasized that these cows are fundamentally provided to enable all citizens, especially those in need, to partake in the joyous festivities of Eid al-Adha and to share in the consumption of sacrificial meat.
“The purpose of the sacrificial cows from the President is to provide government assistance to the community,” Juri affirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as quoted from a written statement. He further elaborated, “The objective is to ensure that citizens who are less fortunate can celebrate Eid al-Adha by jointly performing the sacrifice of these animals.”
This year, President Prabowo is facilitating the distribution of an impressive 1,098 cows across various regions of Indonesia. Juri reiterated that utilizing the Banpres budget for such community-centric aid is a common and established practice that has been consistently observed by previous administrations.
Juri explicitly stated that the sacrificial cow assistance is not intended for the President’s personal benefit. Instead, he stressed that the entirety of the aid is channeled directly to communities throughout different areas. The government, Juri highlighted, aims for its presence to be tangibly felt by its citizens, particularly through religiously significant occasions like Eid al-Adha, which carry profound social value.
He further clarified that President Prabowo also personally fulfills his own religious sacrifice (qurban) using his private funds. These personal sacrificial animals of the President have already been ritually slaughtered and distributed to the public.
For Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah, President Prabowo is distributing a total of 1,098 cows nationwide through two distinct schemes.
Under the first scheme, 598 sacrificial cows are being allocated to provincial and district/city governments. This distribution covers 38 provinces and 514 districts/cities. Notably, some regions will receive two cows, leading to a higher number of cows than the number of administrative areas.
This multiple cow allocation is primarily due to the stringent weight standards set by the Presidential Palace, which mandate each cow to weigh between 800 and 1,300 kilograms. As not all regions can consistently procure single animals meeting these exact weight specifications, some are provided with two smaller cows to collectively meet the required standard.
Beyond the direct distribution to local governments, President Prabowo is also channeling 500 sacrificial cows to various educational institutions, including Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren), as well as to prominent community and religious leaders.
The overall budget allocated for President Prabowo’s sacrificial cows amounts to Rp 100 billion. This significant expenditure for Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah is sourced from the presidential community assistance budget line item within the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).
Summary
Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro clarified that the distribution of 1,098 sacrificial cows for Eid al-Adha is part of the recurring Presidential Community Assistance (Banpres) program. Funded by a Rp 100 billion allocation from the state budget, this initiative aims to support underprivileged communities across Indonesia in celebrating the holiday. The government emphasized that this aid is a long-standing practice intended to provide tangible benefits to citizens rather than for the President’s personal use.
The cattle are distributed through two primary schemes, reaching provincial governments, local administrations, Islamic boarding schools, and religious leaders nationwide. To meet strict weight requirements of 800 to 1,300 kilograms, some regions receive multiple smaller animals to ensure consistent standards. Additionally, the President fulfills his personal religious obligations through separate private contributions, ensuring that the state-funded program remains focused entirely on community welfare.