MBG will surely be loved by the people if not turned into a \u2018looting\nproject\u2019. Netra Bakti Indonesia (NBI) considers the Free Nutritious\nMeals (MBG) programme one of President Prabowo and Vice President\nGibran\u2019s most noble initiatives, set to become a \u2018giant\u2019 success if\nradical improvements are made.<\/p>\n
Netra Bakti Indonesia Chairman Khalilur Abdullah Sahlawiy, known as\nGus Lilur, said he supports MBG as it aligns with religious teachings,\nconstitutional mandates, and the people\u2019s real needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, this support does not mean tolerating deviations. In fact,\nas supporters of the President, we feel it our duty to voice criticism\nto safeguard MBG before public trust erodes further,\u201d he stated in a\nJakarta statement on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He emphasised the MBG programme must be \u201cclean\u201d, ensuring children\nreceive the best possible meals as their right.<\/p>\n
He stressed President Prabowo Subianto must be assisted, not\nbetrayed, by subordinates.<\/p>\n
He believes the President must receive honest information that the\nissue with MBG lies not in the concept, but in the overly long\nimplementation chain which creates room for rent-seeking.<\/p>\n
MBG should embody the nation\u2019s compassion towards Indonesian\nchildren, particularly the poor, he added. However, when meal budgets\nare slashed, substandard kitchens remain operational, and third parties\nenter solely for profit, the programme meant to be the President\u2019s\nlegacy risks becoming a moral and political burden.<\/p>\n
\u201cMBG will surely be loved by the people if not turned into a \u2018looting\nproject\u2019. It will become President Prabowo\u2019s great legacy if children\u2019s\nmeal budgets are fully preserved until they reach the plate,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ideally, the state should establish a Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG)\nand manage it directly through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN),\nwithout relying on third parties, he explained. This would prevent\npublic funds from being wasted on rental structures, licensing fees,\nmargins, and multi-layered business chains.<\/p>\n
Moreover, he proposed that the SPPG management model should be as\nclose as possible to schools. The government should build school\nkitchens and canteens, then involve school principals, parent-teacher\ncommittees, teachers, parents, health clinics, nutrition experts, local\nauthorities, and oversight officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cAvoid too many third parties entering solely for profit, reducing\nmeal budgets and undermining the President\u2019s MBG ideals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gus Lilur said school kitchens and canteens would shorten the control\nchain, simplify oversight, and strengthen moral accountability, as\nschools know student numbers, conditions, schedules, special needs, and\ncan directly receive complaints from teachers and parents if meals are\nsubstandard.<\/p>\n
He also suggested the government start a national pilot project, with\none district or city per province serving as a model for MBG management\nvia school kitchens\/canteens or state-run SPPG managed directly by\nBGN.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Prabowo wants to feed Indonesian children, so do not let\nhis noble intent be hijacked by corrupt officials,\u201d Gus Lilur\nstressed.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nbi-hails-mbg-as-most-noble-programme-set-to-become-giant-1780009008", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }