Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifl Hasan\n(Zulhas), has emphasised that there must be no tolerance for officials\nwithin the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme who act irresponsibly in\nproviding food for beneficiaries.<\/p>\n
Zulhas highlighted the importance of timing between when food is\ncooked, distributed, and consumed as a critical factor in the\nimplementation of the MBG programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be no tolerance for irresponsible officials. For\ninstance, if food is cooked at 5:30 am or 6:00 am WIB, it should be\neaten by 10:00 am or 11:00 am WIB, and sent by 11:00 am WIB,\u201d said\nZulhas following the launch of the book \u2018Indonesian Food: From Healthy\nPlates to Superior Humans\u2019 in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Regarding the form of strict sanctions that can be imposed on\nirresponsible officials, Zulhas mentioned the option of dismissal.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The sanctions) will be firm; they will be dismissed,\u201d he\nstated.<\/p>\n
The Coordinating Minister for Food further added that action could be\ntaken if elements of intentional misconduct are found, though he did not\ndetail the specific nature of such enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it is intentional, then action will be taken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Zulhas\u2019s statement was made during a discussion regarding strict\nsanctions related to food safety incidents in the execution of the MBG\nprogramme.<\/p>\n
In recent developments, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) imposed a\nheavy 30-day suspension on the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG)\nin Sidoarjo Talangangin Kalitengah, following a food safety incident at\nthe Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo,\nEast Java.<\/p>\n
The BGN has also proposed that the head of the said SPPG be removed\nand replaced, while a joint investigation with relevant health agencies\nis being conducted to determine the cause of the incident.<\/p>\n
The Head of the BGN, Sudaryono, stated on Thursday (3\/9) that\npreliminary investigations indicate negligence in food distribution.\nAccording to him, the food had been cooked since the morning, but\nreached the beneficiaries past the designated consumption time.<\/p>\n
Sudaryorkan also stated that the determination of whether there are\ncriminal elements regarding health issues related to the MBG will be\nleft to law enforcement agencies based on the results of investigations\nand inquiries.<\/p>\n
Enforcing discipline within the SPPG has previously been part of the\ngovernance improvements for the MBG programme. On 26 August 2026, the\ngovernment recorded that 249 SPPG heads had been dismissed due to\nvarious violations, including food poisoning cases, absences of more\nthan 10 working days, and other disciplinary breaches.<\/p>\n
During the same period, the BGN recorded that 27,485 SPPGs were\noperational and had undergone inspections of kitchen profiles and the\naccuracy of beneficiary data as part of the programme\u2019s\nrestructuring.<\/p>\n
The government previously targeted that most governance issues within\nthe MBG programme could be rectified before 20 October 2026 through\nstrengthened discipline of SPPG heads, compliance with standard\noperating procedures, and the fulfilment of hygiene and sanitation\nrequirements.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/zulhas-zero-tolerance-for-irresponsible-officials-in-free-nutritious-meal-programme-1788505667", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }