Budget separation for MBG and drop in Pertamax prices

Various economic events occurred on Thursday (31/7), ranging from the government following the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the separation of the MBG budget to the decrease in Pertamax prices to Rp15,950 per litre effective 1 August.

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the government will adhere to the Constitutional Court’s ruling concerning the separation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme budget from the education budget, to be implemented no later than 202lag8. “We will follow the Constitutional Court’s decision. It is set for 2028,” Purbaya said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman revealed that the government found approximately 80 per cent of circulating fortified rice does not meet quality standards following testing of samples from various regions. “After taking samples of all registered fortified rice, as well as some unregistered ones, 80 per cent of the registered stock does not meet the standard,” the Minister stated during a media briefing in Jakarta.

Minister of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, urged the public to be wary of provocative narratives on social media regarding the Kopdes Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperative). He noted that misleading content has been circulating, falsely claiming that the establishment of kiosks and grocery stores is prohibited within a two-kilometre radius of the cooperative, and that existing shops would face fines or orders to relocate.

Minister of Housing and Residential Areas, Maruarar Sirait, announced that Danantara is prepared to build 141,000 units of subsidised low-cost flats (rusun) on the donated Meikarta land in Bekasi Regency, West Java. He noted that the 30-hectare donated land has completed the handover process to the state, assisted by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).

PT Pertamina (Persero) announced that the price of non-subsidised Pertamax fuel will decrease to Rp15,950 per litre starting 1 August. According to Pertamina’s official website, the company is implementing this fuel price adjustment.