Bahlil urges end to 'Mas Bahlil Ganteng' jokes, calls free nutritious meal programme 'noble'

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has appealed for the MBG acronym to stop being twisted into ‘Mas Bahlil ganteng’ (Brother Bahlil is handsome), a phrase that has spread widely on social media. Bahlil said the free nutritious meal programme is a noble initiative that must be perfected.

He made the remarks at the 18th National Conference of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) held in Lampung on Wednesday. At the close of his speech, Bahlil urged that MBG no longer be distorted.

“Lastly, MBG (free nutritious meals) is good, but I want to say don’t twist it,” said Bahlil. “MBG stands for nutritious food… what? Don’t you say ‘Bahlil is handsome’ again, oh dear, what a mess,” he continued.

Bahlil stated that MBG is a noble programme. He asked HIPMI members to help perfect the initiative.

“This is a programme we must realise. As a former child of impoverished parents who once suffered from hunger oedema, I say that this free nutritious meal programme is a noble programme,” he said.

“If there are shortcomings, let us perfect them together. There is no need for us to blame one another. Our task as HIPMI cadres is to do just that,” Bahlil continued.