DPR Budget Committee's Response to Proposal to Redirect Free Nutritious Meal Funds to Teachers
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Said Abdullah, stated that the redirection of the free nutritious meals (MBG) budget is entirely the government’s authority. Said made this remark in response to a request from a student in Kudus, Central Java, who wished for the MBG budget allocation to be redirected to support his less prosperous teachers.
“On the aspect of programme implementation, that is the government’s domain; the authority is certainly no longer with the DPR,” said the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle politician at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Monday, 6 April 2026.
Said did not comment extensively on the mechanism for redirecting the MBG budget for teachers’ welfare as proposed. He left the decision to the government. “The government is welcome to make the best policy,” he said.
Said explained that he, along with the DPR Budget Committee leadership, had discussed the MBG implementation with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, and his deputy, Sony Sanjaya, at the DPR building on Monday, 6 April 2026. The closed meeting discussed the progress of the MBG implementation, which has been running for more than a year.
Said appreciated the National Nutrition Agency because the number of nutrition fulfilment service units (SPPG) established has reached 26,000 points. However, he noted that some MBG kitchens do not yet meet feasibility standards, causing problems.
“However, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency has a strong commitment to resolving governance enforcement aspects. In fact, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency stated that many coordinate points (SPPG) have been revoked, and some have been suspended for not implementing SOPs,” he said.
According to Said, Dadan also explained that the National Nutrition Agency has saved a budget of Rp20 trillion after the programme was set to apply for five school days. He supported that decision.
“We must have the same sensitivity to various fiscal pressures. Let’s share the burden and sharpen priorities,” Said stated.
A vocational high school student in Kudus sent a letter to President Prabowo Subianto requesting that his MBG allocation be redirected as additional welfare for teachers.
Muhammad Rafif Arsya Maulidi, an 11th-grade student at SMK NU Miftahul Falah in Kudus, stated that he refuses to receive MBG benefits. He hopes that the budget allocation can be used to help teachers whom he considers still not prosperous.
“If possible, the funds that should be allocated for me could be redirected as additional allowances for my teachers,” Rafif said when asked for confirmation on Thursday night, 2 April 2026.
Rafif admitted to feeling sorry seeing the direct condition of some teachers today. Especially teachers at his school who continue to teach with dedication, even though their welfare is not yet adequate.
He then simply calculated the value of the MBG benefits he would receive until graduation, around Rp6.75 million. According to him, that amount may not have a big impact on him, but it could be a form of appreciation for teachers.