Commission IX DPR Reprimands SPPG Employee for Social Media Post Dismissing Public Concerns as Ingratitude

Deputy Chair of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Charles Honoris has criticised a Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG) employee in Purbalingga who posted on WhatsApp stating “I’m exhausted before facing ungrateful public comments”, a remark that resulted in dismissal. Charles stressed that the School Meal Programme (MBG) utilises state budget funds intended for the public benefit.

“First and foremost, the MBG programme is a programme that uses the state budget, that is, public funds, for the benefit of the public. Therefore, what is provided to children must not merely be about quantity,” Charles Honoris said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (17 March 2026).

Charles expressed regret over the statement made by the SPPG employee. The PDI-P politician noted that the public frequently scrutinised nutritional standards and this should not be construed as ingratitude.

“The target or success of the MBG programme is not merely determined by the number of recipients, but by the quality of nutrition provided. So when an SPPG employee says that the public is ungrateful for this programme, even though the nutritional quality delivered is poor, this is deeply regrettable,” he said.

“Because certainly, the Indonesian people deserve the best from what the MBG programme delivers,” he added.

According to reporting from detikJateng on Tuesday (17 March), screenshots of the status were among those shared by the Instagram account @infopurbalingga.id. The post prompted various reactions from social media users.

After the WhatsApp status caused a stir on social media, the employee subsequently issued a clarification through a post shared on social media. The individual apologised for the post.

“Regarding my post which ultimately caused a commotion, I sincerely apologise. I recognise and acknowledge that what I have written is indeed wrong. The language I used was entirely inappropriate,” according to a screenshot posted on Monday (16 March).

Mei Sandra, Regional Coordinator of the SPPI for Purbalingga District, confirmed the incident. She stated that the SPPG employee’s post was made on Friday (15 March) at approximately 19:30 Western Indonesian Time. The SPPG employee was subsequently terminated.

“It is correct that the volunteer was from one of the SPPGs in Purbalingga District, namely SPPG Purbalingga Karangreja Tlahab Lor 1, under the Samingah Mendidik Indonesia Foundation. The post was made on 15 March at approximately 19:30 WIB,” Mei said when asked for confirmation by detikJateng.

“The follow-up action was that the volunteer was dismissed from the SPPG and was asked to produce a video apologising to the public,” she added.