BGN Deputy Head: Mr Prabowo Sees MBG Not a Business Venture

Jakarta, VIVA – Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, the Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Communications and Investigations, stressed that the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) was never designed as a business programme from the outset, but arose from President Prabowo Subianto’s concern for the condition of society, particularly the poor.

According to Nanik, the idea began from Prabowo’s personal experience in 2012, when he directly witnessed conditions in Cilincing, North Jakarta. He saw residents scavenging leftover food from factory workers to take home and eat again with their families.

‘Mr Prabowo at that time was very angry to see such conditions. From there, he formed a determination that if one day he was entrusted with the presidency, he would ensure that the people, especially children, receive decent food. So Mr Prabowo regards MBG as not a business orientation,’ Nanik said in a statement, quoted on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

Nanik further revealed that the MBG programme is indeed designed as a social and humanitarian investment. In the initial phase, the government opened opportunities for partnerships with organisations wishing to participate in providing MBG kitchen services, prioritising foundations working in education, social, and religious fields.

According to Nanik, the policy aims to ensure that social organisations that have long assisted the public also receive support to improve their facilities.

‘Initially, partners had to be in the form of a CV or PT. But they must be in the form of a foundation. Foundations must have criteria: education, social, religious.’ Why? Because at that time Mr Prabowo thought that these foundations were already working to help the country, but lacked funds, so it was hoped that if incentives existed they could be used to repair their boarding houses and schools, since the meals were already funded by the state,’ he said.

However, in its development, Nanik acknowledged that a number of parties exploited the opportunity by establishing foundations merely to manage MBG kitchens. In fact, some parties managed many kitchens simultaneously with a business orientation.

‘Tetapi, hal di luar dugaan terjadi. Sampai bulan Juni, Juli, itu masih on track lah. Kebanyakan adalah yayasan-yayasan yang benar-benar pure yayasan. Tapi begitu Pak Presiden juga karena enggak enak selalu di jalan, “Pak, kapan MBG? Kapan MBG?” Akhirnya target sangat tinggi sekali, muncullah ternak-ternak yayasan. Banyak orang memiliki lebih dari satu dapur,’ she said.