Presidential candidate pair Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD has criticized the free lunch program proposed by rival ticket Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, saying that the Rp 400 trillion (US$25.8 billion) program had unclear objectives.

Ganjar compared the program with the free internet program for students and teachers that he proposed with Mahfud, saying their program was better than a free lunch.

“I’ll give you a choice, free lunch or free internet?” asked Ganjar in the GratisIN program launch in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.

According to Ganjar, free internet could facilitate the creativity of the young generation.

“This facility will stimulate children to develop [rapidly]. This country can develop if we can move forward. If we can move forward, the 2045 [Golden Indonesia vision] will become a true story, not a false story, because the spirit of change will encourage us to make progress,” said Ganjar, as quoted by kompas.com.

On Saturday, Mahfud discussed his and Ganjar’s gastronomy program, at the Djakarta Theater. He believes that this program, which aims to ensure healthy food consumption, will empower the public more than a free lunch program.

“Free lunch, milk, and other [products use] imported goods, while the gastronomy [program] is provided from our own crops and sea. Not as a special and instant program. It will be a long-term program,” Mahfud added.

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