BRIN Researcher Proposes Four Strategic Steps to Strengthen Free Nutritious Meal Programme
Jakarta - Researcher Yanu Endar Prasetyo from the Population Research Centre at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has proposed four strategic improvements to ensure the future implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme runs more optimally and without obstacles.
During an interview at the ANTARA Heritage Center in Jakarta on Wednesday, Yanu explained that the first recommended strengthening measure is the full application of the principle of transparency, not only in budget management but also in the procurement of goods and services. Yanu cautioned the government to learn from the history of previous procurements so that the trillions of rupiah in funds are truly allocated appropriately and avoid any grey areas.
"Number one, transparency. Transparency starts not only from the budget, the budget is also certain. Like the previous case of procuring electric motors, then the case about procuring socks and so on that went viral among the public," he explained.
The second step, Yanu continued, is to strengthen leadership integrity and law enforcement within the implementing agency to rebuild public trust. "Whether the current leadership is truly free from previous conflicts of interest, for example, or not involved and so on, that also needs to be declared. So that the public believes," he said.
For the third step, Yanu urged the government to immediately refine regulations and rules of the game that can tightly close off the potential for moral hazard or abuse of authority. Through robust regulations, he added, every party involved is required to work according to their respective main duties and functions for the success of the national nutrition programme, without being disturbed by group interests.
"So supervision cannot be handed over only to auditors, we also do not know how they are appointed. So there must be internal auditors, independent external auditors, plus the public must all be involved in the supervision," stated Yanu Endar Prasetyo.