BGN suspends two nutrition service units run by person claiming to be minister's grandchild
Jakarta — The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has suspended two foundations managing Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) in Ponorogo, East Java, after investigations revealed systematic intimidation of staff and facility mismanagement by operators falsely claiming ministerial family connections.
The heads of two SPPG operations in Ponorogo, Rizal Zulfikar Fikri and Moch. Syafi’i Misbachul Mufid, travelled to Blitar to appeal for protection from the Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, reporting months of pressure and intimidation from the Bhakti Bhojana Nusantara Foundation management. They alleged they were threatened with police action and lawyers if they failed to comply with foundation demands.
“These two SPPG heads came all the way from Ponorogo seeking protection because they’ve been under sustained pressure and intimidation from a foundation claiming to be owned by a minister’s grandchild,” said Deyang when confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the heads, staff were coerced to contribute personal funds for facility repairs whilst the foundation refused to invest in infrastructure maintenance. The foundation also allegedly manipulated food procurement. Staff and beneficiary schools were pressured to sign documents demanding the removal of the SPPG heads.
Following the complaint, Deyang immediately tasked Brigadier General Albertus Dony Dewantoro, Director of Monitoring and Supervision for BGN Region II, to conduct direct inspections. The inspection revealed severely inadequate wastewater treatment facilities using only connected concrete pipes, nearly overflowing and covered with thin plywood, and generally unsuitable conditions for operation.
“Stop! If necessary, permanently shut down these units unless they demonstrate improved conduct towards the SPPG heads, nutrition supervisors, and finance supervisors,” Deyang stated.
Deyang subsequently contacted the minister whose family connection was claimed. The minister categorically denied having a grandchild of the alleged name and explicitly stated that any person falsely claiming family relations should have their SPPG facility closed immediately.
The suspension targets operations previously involved in the Free Nutritious Meals programme (MBG), highlighting governance failures in nutrition service delivery across public institutions.