Continue MBG, Prabowo: What's Wrong with the President Distributing Money to the People?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has emphasised the government’s commitment to channelling state wealth back to the people through various strategic programmes, such as the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG).

Prabowo stressed that MBG has had a tangible impact on society, particularly for farmers and fishermen who now have market certainty for their produce.

Therefore, Prabowo stated that he will continue MBG until completion.

“We have already produced MBG (for) tens of millions (of people). And we will continue it until finished. We have many shortcomings that we are addressing. But we have already felt the benefits. Farmers whose harvests were previously not bought. As soon as they harvested mangoes, the mangoes were not taken, they spoiled in the orchard. The harvest was not absorbed. Middlemen came and slashed prices,” said Prabowo during the groundbreaking of 13 downstreaming projects phase 2 in Cilacap, Central Java, on Wednesday (29/4/2026).

Furthermore, Prabowo claimed that the current government policy aims to return state funds that were previously at risk of leaking due to corruption, so they can be utilised for the people’s interests.

“What’s wrong if the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the government he leads wants to pour money to its own people? This money is money that we saved from corruption,” he explained.

“I ask that we be objective and scientific. We calculate it mathematically,” Prabowo added.

Previously, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana revealed that BGN received a budget allocation of Rp 335 trillion for 2026.

“We have received a budget ceiling of Rp 268 trillion with standby funds of Rp 67 trillion, so the total budgeted is Rp 335 trillion,” said Dadan when met at Kompas Tower, Central Jakarta, on Monday (19/1/2026).

“It’s much (larger this year), last year we had Rp 71 trillion, this year Rp 335 trillion,” he said.

That budget allocation follows the target distribution of the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme, which will target 82.9 million recipients in 2026.