President Prabowo Subianto asked about the benefits of the free\nnutritious meal (MBG) programme to the worker masses during\nInternational Labour Day celebrations at the National Monument area in\nJakarta on Friday, 1 May 2026. Prabowo emphasised his view that the\nprogramme is crucial for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Prabowo asked for the workers\u2019 opinions while delivering a speech\nfrom the Mayday Fiesta stage at Monas. He was discussing his\ngovernment\u2019s social programmes at the time. \u201cWe also provide very\nsubstantial social protection,\u201d he said to the audience.<\/p>\n
One of those social programmes, the Gerindra Party Chairman stated,\nis MBG. \u201cWe also provide MBG. I ask you all, is MBG beneficial or not?\u201d\nPrabowo asked.<\/p>\n
However, Prabowo\u2019s question was not answered compactly by the worker\nmasses. Some expressed agreement while others stated disagreement.<\/p>\n
The former Minister of Defence continued his speech by highlighting\nthe importance of MBG for children to overcome stunting. On the other\nhand, Prabowo also mentioned that MBG can revive the national\neconomy.<\/p>\n
\u201cMBG is very important for our children. Your children, many of them\nsuffer from malnutrition, their bodies are small, their cells do not\ndevelop. With MBG, our economy comes alive everywhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, the impact of MBG can be felt by workers. Because,\nhe said, MBG creates stable demand for meat, eggs, milk, fish, and\nagricultural produce. \u201cOur economy comes alive, farmers get income, you\nall. This money circulates. Indonesia becomes more prosperous,\u201d said\nPrabowo.<\/p>\n
President Prabowo\u2019s administration continues to accelerate the\nrealisation of the MBG project for around 82 million beneficiaries. This\nprogramme is Prabowo\u2019s flagship that he promised during the 2024\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
Several economists urge the government to cut the MBG budget. Cutting\nMBG funds is considered the easiest option amid the government\u2019s plans\nto carry out efficiency in the budgets of ministries\/institutions to\navoid the risk of a state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN)\ndeficit.<\/p>\n
Professor at Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) University, Didin\nDamanhuri, stated that the MBG budget allocated this year of Rp 335\ntrillion should focus on areas with stunting and malnutrition. Based on\nhis calculations, with reallocation of that budget, MBG would likely\nonly spend around Rp 40-50 trillion.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the other budget can avoid deficits, fund rising oil prices, fund\nsocial assistance and various development needs,\u201d said Didin in an\nonline discussion on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.<\/p>\n
Economist from the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia,\nDipo Satria Ramli, also suggested similar steps. \u201cAll rating agencies,\nmany economists comment, we should just cut MBG, that\u2019s the easiest and\nsimplest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cutting the MBG budget is seen as able to give positive sentiment to\nmarket players and economic actors that the government understands the\ncurrent fiscal problems. The global rating agency, Fitch Ratings,\npreviously highlighted the MBG programme which is considered at risk of\ncausing APBN expenditure to swell beyond the set target.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-asks-workers-is-mbg-beneficial-or-not-1777625596", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }