Action coordinator says free nutritious meal programme sides with ordinary people and micro businesses

The Coordinator of the Presidium of Volunteers and Sympathisers Supporting Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Ahmad Yazdi, hopes the implementation of the MBG programme will continue because it sides with ordinary people, especially micro-business operators and partners involved in the programme. This hope was conveyed by Ahmad Yazdi during a peaceful rally in front of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, which was attended by hundreds of participants from various regions. “We remain solid, we are consolidating this movement. The goal is none other than for the sustainability of MBG, which sides with ordinary people,” said Ahmad Yazdi. He said the rally participants were micro-business partners and volunteers who have been part of implementing the MBG programme in various regions. According to him, the participants came to voice their aspirations so that the programme’s implementation continues to provide fair space for small business operators who have participated in supporting the government programme. “We come as MSME partners who recruit volunteers working as kitchen fighters,” he said. On that occasion, Ahmad acknowledged that he still respected the process of conveying aspirations even though the crowd could not engage in direct dialogue with BGN leaders. He believed the aspirations voiced by the rally participants had been received by the relevant parties even though they had not yet obtained a direct response. “Indeed, we could not be received today, but rest assured that what we have voiced has certainly been heard,” he said. Ahmad also apologised to the rally participants because their aspirations could not be delivered directly to BGN leaders during the action. He hoped volunteers would not be discouraged and would continue to maintain order in fighting for their aspirations through peaceful means. “We apologise because we could not directly convey the complaints of our fellow volunteers regarding BGN’s holiday yesterday,” he said. According to Ahmad, his side will continue to consolidate volunteers and MBG organising partners in various regions to provide constructive input to the government regarding the programme’s implementation. Previously, hundreds of rally participants walked from the Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan area to the BGN office in Kebon Sirih. In the action, they requested a dialogue with BGN leaders and pushed for improvements in the governance of MBG implementation so that the programme’s sustainability continues to provide benefits to the wider community, especially micro-business operators who are programme partners.