{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1898286,
        "msgid": "constitutional-court-ruling-strengthens-free-nutritious-meals-programme-says-bgn-chief-1785775987",
        "date": "2026-08-03 22:32:37",
        "title": "Constitutional Court Ruling Strengthens Free Nutritious Meals Programme, Says BGN Chief",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "The Head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stated that a recent Constitutional Court ruling reinforces the legality of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The court's decision does not cancel the programme but mandates adjustments to its budgeting mechanism, specifically excluding it from mandatory education spending calculations. The government has been given a two-year transition period to implement the required fiscal changes.",
        "content": "<p>The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has\nstated that the Constitutional Court\u2019s (MK) ruling Number\n40\/PUU-XXIV\/2026, which clarifies that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG)\nprogramme is not a primary component of education, actually strengthens\nthe national priority programme. Based on a legal review conducted by\nthe BGN, the MK\u2019s ruling does not annul or halt the implementation of\nthe MBG programme, but rather provides direction regarding adjustments\nto the budgeting mechanism to be applied gradually by the government.\nSudaryono, familiarly known as Mas Dar, emphasised in an official\nstatement in Jakarta on Monday that as an operational agency, the BGN\nwill implement all government policies in accordance with statutory\nprovisions. \u201cWe are an operational agency, so of course we will\nimplement whatever the government\u2019s policy is. What needs to be\nunderlined is that the MK ruling actually affirms that MBG is a\nconstitutional programme,\u201d he said. Mas Dar explained that the substance\nof the MK ruling does not alter the legality or existence of the MBG\nprogramme, but merely provides limitations on the budgeting mechanism,\nparticularly regarding the calculation of the MBG budget within the\nmandatory education spending component. Consequently, the programme\u2019s\nimplementation will continue, and the government has been granted a\ntransition period of up to two years to adjust its budget policy. The\nBGN\u2019s legal review concluded that MK Ruling Number 40\/PUU-XXIV\/2026 is\nconditionally constitutional, meaning that the adjustment applies to the\nnorm regarding the programme\u2019s budgeting, not the existence or legal\nbasis of the programme itself. The ruling is also final and binding,\nserving as a guideline for the government in formulating future policies\nand budget designs for the MBG programme. Furthermore, starting from the\n2028 State Budget, the MBG budget, which is not a primary component of\neducation, will no longer be calculated as part of the operational\nbudget for education delivery. However, this change does not diminish\nthe sustainability of the MBG programme as one of the government\u2019s\nstrategic initiatives. Mas Dar assessed that the MK ruling actually\nprovides legal certainty for the continuation of the MBG programme while\nclarifying its budget governance. \u201cIf we examine it more deeply, this MK\ndecision affirms that the MBG programme is constitutional. The focus is\non the placement of its budget, and that will certainly be addressed by\nthe government according to the applicable mechanisms,\u201d said Mas Dar.\nInstitutionally, the ruling does not alter the position, authority,\nduties, or functions of the BGN as the organiser of the MBG programme.\nThe BGN remains mandated to ensure the programme is implemented\neffectively, accountably, and provides optimal benefits to the\ncommunity. The BGN affirmed it will continue to support the entire\npolicy adjustment process and ensure the MBG programme runs optimally\nand excellently as part of the government\u2019s efforts to improve the\nnutritional quality of the community.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/constitutional-court-ruling-strengthens-free-nutritious-meals-programme-says-bgn-chief-1785775987",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}