Are PDIP Cadres Involved in the Free Nutritious Meal Project?
The Central Leadership Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has issued a Circular Letter prohibiting all its cadres from exploiting the free nutritious meal (MBG) project.
Bonnie Triyana, a member of Commission X at the People’s Consultative Assembly from the PDIP faction, confirmed receipt of the letter on 24 February 2026. According to her, the letter is confidential and intended for internal party use only. Bonnie stated that she and other party cadres must comply with the party’s regulations, which explicitly prohibit their involvement in MBG kitchen management.
“After the circular was issued yesterday, PDIP’s position is clear and firm—the party forbids it. This means that from the moment this instruction was issued, all cadres must comply without exception,” Bonnie said when contacted on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Tubagus (TB) Hasanuddin, a member of Commission I at the People’s Consultative Assembly from the PDIP faction and a retired TNI officer, also agreed with Bonnie’s statement. He believes the Central Leadership Board carefully considered the matter before issuing the prohibition. According to TB, there is a possibility that PDIP cadres are involved in the MBG project.
“There may be, but I don’t know who specifically is involved,” TB said via messaging application on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Separately, PDIP politician Mohamad Guntur Romli explained that the letter was issued in response to allegations made by Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency. Nanik appeared as a speaker in IDN Times’ “New Year Spirit” programme on 14 January, where she claimed that all political parties operate MBG facilities.
According to Guntur Romli, by prohibiting PDIP cadres from involvement in the MBG project “business”, the party is reinforcing its stance against the commercialisation of the free nutritious meal scheme. The reason, he explained, is that MBG is a government programme intended to serve the public during its implementation.
However, Guntur claimed that PDIP cannot guarantee that all its cadres are not involved in managing MBG facilities. He views this circular as a preventive measure going forward.
“We cannot be certain. We received information from the Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency that all party cadres operate MBG kitchens, which is why we issued a circular prohibiting our cadres from involvement,” he said.
In the letter signed by Komarudin Watubun, Head of the PDIP Central Leadership Board’s Ethics Division, and Hasto Kristiyanto, Secretary General, PDIP cadres are not only prohibited from exploiting the MBG project for financial or material gain.
PDIP cadres at structural, legislative, and executive levels are also required to maintain integrity and ensure that no abuse of authority occurs that could damage public trust in the party.
Cadres are also instructed to oversee the implementation of the MBG project in their respective regions to ensure it operates in accordance with legal regulations, targets the right beneficiaries, maintains transparency, and prioritises the safety and welfare of the community.
“Any violation of this instruction shall be considered a breach of party discipline and shall be subject to organisational sanctions in accordance with party statutes and internal party regulations,” the letter stated.