BEM UI Urges Total Evaluation of Free Nutritious Meal Project Following Removal of Dadan
The University of Indonesia Student Executive Body (BEM UI) is urging the government to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme following the removal of Dadan Hindayana from his position as Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
BEM UI Chairperson, Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan, believes the change in BGN leadership signals that the government recognises serious issues in the implementation of this flagship programme. “The government must stop pretending that the MBG is fine,” said Athof, as he is commonly known, in a statement on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
According to Athof, the dismissal of the BGN head is an indirect admission that the governance of the MBG faces various problems, ranging from oversight and budget usage to field implementation. “They know there is chaos in implementation, they know there are problems in supervision, they know there is wasteful spending, and they know the public is starting to see that the MBG is not as sweet as the campaign promises,” he stated.
BEM UI believes the government needs the courage to acknowledge the programme’s weaknesses and implement improvements. Athof cited several emerging issues, such as food poisoning cases, problems within the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), budget bloating, and the involvement of military and police elements in the programme’s execution, which he argues should be managed by civilian professionals.
“The MBG is problematic not only technically but also in terms of governance,” he said.
Consequently, BEM UI is demanding a total evaluation of the MBG programme. One of the demands presented is the suspension of the MBG and SPPG implementation, which is deemed poorly targeted, and the reallocation of funds and resources that have proven ineffective, to support the education sector and other basic community needs.
Athof also requested that the MBG budget no longer be drawn from the education allocation. “One way is by removing the MBG funds from the education budget allocation. Cancel budget allocations that are wasteful, non-transparent, and do not truly favour the beneficiaries,” he asserted.
Furthermore, BEM UI is encouraging that budgets deemed poorly targeted be redirected to more urgent needs, including post-disaster recovery in Aceh and Sumatra.
The student from the Faculty of Economics and Business at UI also requested that the government follow up on the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) study regarding eight high-risk corruption points in the implementation of the MBG programme.
BEM UI also urged the government to open MBG implementation data to the public, including the list of problematic SPPGs, oversight mechanisms, budget usage, distribution patterns, food safety standards, and the parties involved in the programme’s execution. “The public has the right to know who is benefiting, who is responsible, and why a programme of this magnitude can operate with such fragile governance,” said Athof.
Nevertheless, BEM UI emphasised that meeting the nutritional needs of the community is a state obligation. However, according to Athof, this objective should not be used as an excuse to maintain a programme that is deemed to still harbour many problems. “If the government truly believes that we are a great nation, then prove it with the greatness of heart to admit that the MBG is not okay and must be totally overhauled so that it does not continue to miss its targets,” he concluded.