AMMSI: Halting free meals during school holidays aligns with efficiency principles

The Indonesian Free Nutritious Meals Partners Association (AMMSI) stated that the temporary suspension of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme distribution during the school holidays is a rational form of control and aligns with the principle of state spending efficiency. According to AMMSI Chairman Rizky Herdianto, the policy also provides certainty regarding the operational mechanism of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) so that programme implementation can proceed in a more orderly, measurable, and needs-appropriate manner. “We view this policy as a proper step to strengthen programme governance and improve the efficiency of state budget use,” Rizky said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday. He added that the policy ensures every rupiah allocated for the Free Nutritious Meals programme is used effectively, transparently, and accountably. He stated that AMMSI fully supports the issuance of Circular Letter Number 12 of 2026 from the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, dated 17 June 2026, concerning the adjustment of SPPG operations during the school holiday period for the 2026 fiscal year. AMMSI believes that strengthening oversight of SPPG facility use during school holidays is an important step to prevent budget misuse or the use of state facilities outside established provisions. Therefore, all parties involved in implementing the MBG programme must comply with the stipulations in the circular. “For this reason, we firmly reject any kitchens that emerge outside the official mechanism, especially kitchens registered through illegal point trading processes, being forced to operate, as the official registration portal has long been closed,” he said. He argued that such actions lead to a surplus of kitchens, resulting in state financial waste. “This practice has the potential to cause irregularities, damage the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals programme, waste the state budget, and undermine public trust in this national strategic programme,” Rizky stated. Meanwhile, AMMSI Secretary General Luqman Hakim said the association urges the National Nutrition Agency, government internal supervisory apparatus, and all relevant stakeholders to achieve budget efficiency by closing kitchens forced to operate in areas that have exceeded their kitchen quota. This step is intended to avoid conflicts of interest involving parties currently facing legal issues. “Budget efficiency must go hand in hand with strong oversight. There must be no room for illegal practices, including the existence of kitchens operating outside official mechanisms,” Luqman said. Previously, the National Nutrition Agency announced that the MBG programme would not be distributed during the school holiday period and would instead be used to support governance structuring and standardisation. The policy coincides with the formal school holiday period set by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, running from 22 June to 13 July 2026. During this period, all beneficiaries will not receive MBG, including students and the ‘3B’ group of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers not enrolled in early childhood education. With the suspension of MBG distribution during the holidays, SPPG units will also not receive incentives.