DPR Commission IX Urges New BGN Head to Fix Poor Governance of Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Charles Honoris, has urged the newly appointed Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, to focus on rectifying the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. President Prabowo Subianto appointed Deyang on 2 June 2026. “I hope the new BGN Head focuses on fixing the governance of the MBG, which remains poor,” he stated when confirmed from Jakarta on Thursday. Charles asserted that a programme as large as the MBG cannot be measured solely by the size of the budget spent or the number of beneficiaries recorded. He stressed that the MBG programme must pursue quality, not just numerical targets for beneficiaries, given that the main objective is to improve the nation’s nutritional quality. “We must not chase only numbers while the quality of the programme lags behind,” said Charles. Previously, President Prabowo Subianto warned partners of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) to implement the MBG programme properly and not allow it to become a means for individuals to enrich themselves. “The matter of food is a sacred matter. Food for the poor must not become a means for individuals to enrich themselves. Food is the easiest thing to corrupt,” said President Prabowo. He conveyed that the MBG has a crucial role in ensuring nutritional intake for Indonesian children, preventing malnutrition which is a factor in stunting.