Chairman of Commission XI of the DPR States that the Overlap Between the MBG and Education Budgets is a Strategic Allocation

Chairman of Commission XI of the DPR RI, Mukhamad Misbakhun, said that the allocation of the budget for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program, which overlaps with the education budget, is a strategic allocation of the state budget. Misbakhun said this strategy should not be questioned.

“This is entirely a strategy for allocating the budget when the government’s policy is to increase the number and strengthen the recipients of the MBG program, so the strategy and policy for its allocation involve a cross-cutting budget policy. As a strategy for allocation, this choice is made and implemented,” said Misbakhun in a statement on Thursday (26/2/2026).

“This budget strategy should actually be praised as a smart strategy, rather than being questioned and politicised as a misallocation of the budget,” he added.

Misbakhun believes that the MBG program in 2026 is running smoothly and operating in all regions. Misbakhun said that the allocation of the education budget also always increases.

“Every year, the allocation of the education budget always increases, as mandated by the constitution, where the allocation of the education budget is 20% of the total budget in the state budget. Because the volume of the state budget also increases every year, the education budget also increases,” he said.

Misbakhun said that some people are now pitting the strategy of allocating part of the education budget for the MBG program against the development of education, which is still lagging behind. He said that the government has never reduced the allocation of the budget for education development.

“It is an exaggeration and disproportionate to pit the strategy of allocating part of the education budget for the MBG program against the development of education infrastructure, which is still lagging behind in some areas, because the government has never reduced the allocation of the budget for education infrastructure,” he said.

“In fact, it is being strengthened with the construction of community schools in many remote areas throughout Indonesia, with the Ministry of Social Affairs as the technical driver,” he continued.

Furthermore, Misbakhun believes that this is proof that the government’s attention to the world of education has never diminished. Misbakhun said that education must be prepared for the superior generation of the future.

“This is proof and a real commitment from the government that the country’s concentration and attention have never diminished on the world of education in order to prepare the next generation as a superior generation,” he said.

Watch also the video “Reasons Why Commission XI of the DPR Chose Thomas Djiwandono as Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia”

(whn/dhn)