DPR Deputy Speaker Dasco Calls Nutrition Agency Head During Student Protest on Free Meals Programme

The leadership of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) received a mass audience of students staging a protest in front of the parliament building in Jakarta today. During the audience, Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad telephoned the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S. Deyang.

This was conveyed by Deputy Speaker Saan Mustopa after the audience at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday. Saan stated that the communication was an effort to respond to the students’ demands regarding the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.

“We received a lot of input from the students. Some were answered directly, especially regarding the MBG issue. Mr Dasco communicated directly with the Head of MBG, Mrs Nanik,” said Saan.

Saan stated that the communication also addressed efficiency measures in the management of the MBG programme. He mentioned a potential budget saving of up to approximately Rp 70 trillion.

“In the remaining time, there are savings related to the management of MBG of around Rp 70 trillion, resulting from a review of inefficient MBG programmes and so forth,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dasco stated that he would forward the various student aspirations to the government. He said the DPR is carrying out its oversight duties.

“Today, the DPR leadership and commission leaders have received aspirations from the students, from HMI MPO, Trisakti, Mercubuana, Esa Unggul, and several other campuses. In essence, they conveyed aspirations to be forwarded to the government, and conveyed aspirations to the DPR regarding its oversight function,” said Dasco.

Dasco said the dialogue proceeded well. He stated that the DPR would open further communication channels with the students.

“We communicated and interacted very well, and because time was limited, we will communicate more with the students in the future,” he said.