Anwar Abbas Supports MBG Moratorium, Proposes Programme Focus for Poor Children

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has initiated a moratorium or temporary halt on adding new kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah and Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Buya Anwar Abbas, responded to the moratorium. According to Buya Anwar, MBG is important because the nation does not want any child to suffer from stunting. However, those who need to be provided with MBG from the state budget are not children from wealthy families, not only because they can already afford it, but also because government funds are quite limited. “For that reason, the ones who need to be given MBG are children of the poor, destitute, and neglected, as stipulated in Article 34 of the 1945 Constitution,” Buya Anwar told Republika on Wednesday (10/6/2026). Buya Anwar stated that if the government focuses the programme solely on helping underprivileged children, the required funds would only be ten per cent of the current amount. If the 2026 budget is set at Rp 268 trillion from the revised and efficiency-adjusted initial ceiling proposal, which was previously planned at Rp 335 trillion, then ten per cent would only be around Rp 26.8 trillion. He added that the difference of around Rp 241.2 trillion could be used for other interests, such as salaries and development. “Regarding its management, I believe it does not need to be like it is now. It is enough to be organised by each school in cooperation with the parents’ association and the surrounding community. This is important to do so that the quality of food, the process, and its supervision can be much better and easier, so that if there are problems, they can be addressed quickly and appropriately,” said Buya Anwar. Therefore, Buya Anwar emphasised his strong agreement with the moratorium to give the government an opportunity to find a form and method that is far more effective and efficient than the current one.