{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1869813,
        "msgid": "prabowo-still-baffled-mbg-programme-considered-a-waste-of-state-funds-1784541314",
        "date": "2026-07-20 15:57:29",
        "title": "Prabowo Still Baffled MBG Programme Considered a Waste of State Funds",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNN_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "President Prabowo Subianto expressed bewilderment at critics who label the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme as a waste of state funds. He contrasted the criticism of his initiative to feed children, pregnant women, and the elderly with the lack of scrutiny over trillions of rupiah in state losses over the past three decades. The remarks were made during a plenary cabinet meeting focused on accelerating government programmes.",
        "content": "<p>President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has admitted\nhe is puzzled by those who criticise the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG)\nprogramme as a waste of the state budget.<\/p>\n<p>He made the remarks during a briefing at the Plenary Cabinet Session\nheld at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday afternoon (20 July).<\/p>\n<p>Prabowo said he was bemused by the criticism directed at his good\nintentions of feeding Indonesian children.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am attacked because I want to provide nutritious meals for\nIndonesian children, to feed Indonesian children, for pregnant mothers,\nfor the elderly, and it is considered wasteful,\u201d Prabowo said.<\/p>\n<p>Prabowo said such criticism was contradictory given the budget leaks\nthat had occurred for three decades without attracting any\ncriticism.<\/p>\n<p>He insisted that the MBG programme was purely aimed at improving the\nnutrition of all Indonesian children.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYet thousands of trillions that vanished, that left Indonesian soil\nevery year for 34 years \u2014 no comments, no experts protesting, no\ninvestigations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>At the plenary cabinet session, Prabowo and his cabinet members\nappeared coordinated, all dressed in white shirts.<\/p>\n<p>Prabowo spoke sitting alone in front of his cabinet members, who were\nseated at long tables arranged before him \u2014 at the tables on his right\nand left, as well as directly in front of him.<\/p>\n<p>Hasan Nasbi, the President\u2019s Special Adviser for Communication, said\nthe Plenary Cabinet Session discussed President Prabowo\u2019s instructions\nregarding the acceleration of government programmes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe invitation was for the plenary session. Most likely for the\npresident\u2019s directives on accelerating development programmes and the\npresident\u2019s flagship programmes,\u201d Hasan said at the venue before the\nevent led by Prabowo began.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-still-baffled-mbg-programme-considered-a-waste-of-state-funds-1784541314",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}