Researcher Agus Sarwono from Transparency International Indonesia\ncriticised the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for its handling of\nreports regarding markups on raw materials by owners of free nutritious\nmeal kitchens (MBG) or nutritional service units (SPPG).<\/p>\n
According to Agus, the stance of BGN\u2019s Deputy Head, Nanik Sudaryati\nDeyang, who threatened to suspend the operating licenses of SPPGs, will\nnot effectively prevent markup practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe BGN\u2019s Deputy Head, Nanik, has a completely flawed approach,\nwhich could lead to the normalisation of corrupt practices. Corruption\ncannot be addressed solely through the revocation or suspension of\noperating licenses,\u201d Agus said when contacted on Thursday, 26 February\n2026.<\/p>\n
Agus stated that marking up prices above the highest retail price,\nreducing the quality and quantity of menu items, is one of the corrupt\npractices in the MBG, especially since the budget comes from state\nfunds. Therefore, Agus believes that the State Audit Board (BPK) should\nconduct regular audits to monitor the implementation of this priority\nprogram of President Prabowo Subianto.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Agus highlighted that Nanik\u2019s verbal threats to SPPG\npartners are only seen as an attempt to intimidate without creating a\nsystem that reduces corrupt practices in the procurement of raw\nmaterials. He believes that this will not have a significant impact on\nthe ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe BGN should immediately revise the MBG distribution scheme,\nstarting with the use of e-procurement methods through a catalogue in\nall processes, both at the BGN and at the SPPG,\u201d Agus said.<\/p>\n
Member of MBG Watch, Galau D. Muhammad, also reinforced Agus\nSarwono\u2019s opinion about the importance of creating a system to prevent\ncorrupt practices in the procurement of raw materials for MBG. The\nprocurement system, which is not yet catalogue-based, is considered to\nincrease the potential for budget irregularities through markups.<\/p>\n
Galau explained that if SPPGs use an e-procurement system, it will\nbecome an official price reference that is updated periodically\naccording to market standards. However, with the discovery of inadequate\nmenus and reports of markups, this is considered evidence that the BGN\nhas not yet established a basis for measuring the suitability of the\nmenus served with the prices in effect.<\/p>\n
Therefore, according to Galau, if the BGN consistently talks about\nirregularities, there needs to be a standardisation of raw material\nprices with a digital procurement system. \u201cThis mechanism has actually\nbeen in place for some time, but it has been excluded specifically for\nMBG,\u201d he said via a voice message on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Galau also believes that sanctions in the form of suspension or\nrevocation of operating licenses will not deter the owners of the\nkitchens. He urged the government to stop the MBG program completely in\norder to conduct a thorough audit.<\/p>\n
Previously, BGN\u2019s Deputy Head, Nanik, admitted that she received\nreports about markup practices during a coordination meeting between the\nBGN and 933 managers of MBG kitchens in the cities of Surakarta,\nBoyolali, Sragen, and Karanganyar in Solo, Central Java, on Tuesday\nevening, 24 February 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany SPPG heads reported that partners often mark up prices above\nthe highest retail price (HET) and force them to accept poor-quality raw\nmaterials,\u201d Nanik said in a written statement quoted on Thursday, 26\nFebruary 2026.<\/p>\n
According to Nanik, SPPG employees are vulnerable to legal problems\nif the State Audit Board finds that there are markups on food raw\nmaterials above the HET in the financial reports. Meanwhile, the kitchen\nowners, she said, can find loopholes to escape.<\/p>\n
She threatened to suspend the operating licenses of kitchens if they\nare found to be engaging in markups. Nanik conveyed her message to the\nSPPG partners. \u201cIf there are partners who are found to be marking up\nfood prices and only providing one or two suppliers, then I will suspend\nthem,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s Choice: Criticism of MBG Menu During Ramadan<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bgn-urged-to-revise-distribution-scheme-for-free-nutritious-meals-to-prevent-markups-1772104529", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }