JAKARTA: Indonesia's defence ministry issued a full-page advertisement in the country's largest newspaper on Monday (Sep 22), detailing and defending non-defence programmes being run by the military, amid criticism of its wider role under President Prabowo Subianto. Since being elected last year, Prabowo has expanded the number of government posts for military personnel and used the force to deliver his programme. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp’s partners. The advertisement said the ministry had trained and equipped thousands of young graduates with "military approaches" who had gone on to head kitchens providing a free meals programme across Indonesia. The ministry also said the number of battalions active in the health and agriculture sectors was expected to reach 500 in five years, and that they aimed to "safeguard government strategic programmes".