Daily Roundup: MBG Budget Separation and Distribution of 5 Million Books

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Several significant developments occurred across the nation on Friday (31/7). Notably, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) stated that the MBG budget will not halt other government programmes, alongside the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s distribution of 5.54 million reading books to 24,609 schools across Indonesia.

Head of BGN: MBG Budget Will Not Halt Other Government Programmes

The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, emphasised that the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme does not mean exhausting the entire state budget or halting other government programmes. “I am frustrated seeing social media comments suggesting that MBG is consuming the entire state budget, implying that other needs are being neglected. In reality, other programmes continue to be executed,” Sudary0no stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

This statement was made to correct misconceptions circulating on social media that the absorption of funds for MBG would lead to the stagnation of other vital projects, such as fertiliser provision, school repairs, irrigation, and bridge construction.

Commission X Views Separation of MBG Budget from Education Fund as Correct

The Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Lalu Hadrian, assessed that separating the MBG programme budget from the education budget, as per the Constitutional Court (MK) ruling, is a correct step. Speaking in Jakarta on Friday, Lalu stated that the financing of MBG, which aims to improve the quality of Indonesia’s human resources (HR), must be regulated proportionally to avoid reducing the education budget. “MBG is a good programme with a noble goal of improving human resource quality. However, its financing needs to be placed proportionally so that it does not reduce the allocation intended for educational operational needs,” he said.

BGN Recovers Rp311.2 Billion from Thousands of SPPG Virtual Accounts

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has returned Rp311,246,295,184 in state funds following an investigation into 414 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchens across various regions. “We are returning state funds, the people’s money, amounting to Rp311,246,295,184, resulting from our investigation of 414 SPPG kitchens,” said BGN Head Sudaryono during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday. The funds were recovered from thousands of virtual account (VA) records belonging to the 414 SPPG units.

5.54 Million Reading Books Distributed to 24,609 Schools in Indonesia

The Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has begun distributing 5.54 million copies of high-quality reading books to 24,609 primary and junior high schools throughout Indonesia to strengthen student literacy. The symbolic dispatch of the book distribution trucks was led by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, at the PT Pura Barutama premises in Kudus, Central Java, on Friday. The event was attended by various local officials and experts, marking a significant step in the national literacy initiative.