Blunt Truth! PDIP Claims Rp 223 Trillion Education Budget Diverted to Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has refuted narratives circulating that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme budget was not drawn from education funding.

MY Esti Wijayati, Deputy Chairperson of Commission X of the Indonesian Parliament representing the PDIP faction, stated that according to the annex to the 2026 State Budget Law and related Presidential Regulations, the MBG programme does draw funds from the education budget.

“Within the APBN annex in the form of a Presidential Regulation, it is clearly stated that from the Rp 769 trillion education budget, Rp 223.5 trillion is used for MBG. That is officially in the APBN annex document,” MY Esti said at a press conference at the PDIP Party School in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

“We from Commission X of Parliament feel the need to explain clearly so the public knows the truth based on data,” she added.

In agreement with Esti, PDIP Deputy General Secretary Adian Napitupulu also dismissed claims suggesting that MBG budget originated from ministry and institutional efficiency measures.

He encouraged the public to refer directly to applicable legal products.

“What has been conveyed by some state officials as though the MBG budget is the fruit of efficiency, not from the education budget, is incorrect. In fact, we can see Law Number 17 of 2025 concerning the 2026 State Budget,” said Adian.

Adian elaborated that the explanation to Article 22 of that law explicitly states that the operational funding for the provision of education already includes the Free Nutritious Meal Programme at general and Islamic educational institutions.

Furthermore, the regulation is reinforced by Presidential Regulation Number 118 of 2025 concerning the Detailed 2026 State Budget. In that regulation, the budget allocation for the National Nutrition Agency reaches over Rp 223 trillion, precisely Rp 223,558,960,490.

Adian emphasised that PDIP’s step in opening this data to the public is not merely criticism, but rather a form of respect for the constitution and transparent state governance.

“We govern ourselves guided by Law. Communicating correctly in accordance with the Law and Presidential Regulation is a way of respecting Parliament and the Government as their makers. So we set the record straight: indeed it has been taken from the education budget,” said Adian.