DPR Commission IX Member Criticises BGN Head's Proposal to Extend Free Nutritious Meal Programme to Saudi Arabia

A member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR), Irma, has expressed concerns regarding the National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) plan to extend the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme to Saudi Arabia. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Irma emphasised that domestic priorities should come first, noting that many schoolchildren within Indonesia have yet to receive their MBG allocations.

Irma called on the BGN to first demonstrate that the MBG programme can effectively improve children’s immunity and IQ levels, as well as achieve its primary goal of reducing stunting rates. She stressed the importance of focusing on the nutritional value distributed via each Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) within the country to prove the programme’s efficacy.

Furthermore, Irma urged the BGN to consider the nation’s fiscal capacity and the logistical challenges of oversight in Jeddah should the proposal be realised. She noted that if rights are the primary consideration, children of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BMI) worldwide deserve similar programmes. However, she highlighted that the state’s budget must be considered, alongside the difficulty of monitoring such programmes in foreign countries. She pointed out that rather than looking towards Saudi Arabia, the agency should consider the much larger population of Indonesian migrant worker children in Malaysia who also require attention.

This criticism follows a proposal by Dadan Hindayana, who suggested implementing the MBG programme for Indonesian students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Dadan, who intends to report the proposal to President Prabowo Subianto, made the suggestion during a visit to the Indonesian School in Jeddah. He noted that there are approximately 1,081 children of migrant workers enrolled at the school.

According to Dadan, the visit was met with enthusiasm from around 100 students and 56 teachers. He reported that students spontaneously expressed a desire to enjoy the same programme enjoyed by their peers in Indonesia. Dadan stated that his proposal to establish a Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit at the school would be presented to the President, potentially serving as a pilot project for other regions with significant Indonesian migrant worker populations, such as plantations in Malaysia.