East Jakarta Residents Meet Deputy State Secretary, Demand MBG Programme Continue

A group of residents from the East Jakarta Community Alliance, who staged a protest at the Horse Statue area, met with Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro at the State Secretariat office in Central Jakarta. During the meeting, Juri revealed the discussions held with the demonstrators. “These friends from the East Jakarta community, representing sub-districts across East Jakarta, conveyed their aspirations regarding the continuation of the Free Nutritious Meals programme, MBG. The community is not willing for MBG to be stopped. They want MBG to continue because it is truly needed by the people,” Juri Ardiantoro said at the State Secretariat office on Wednesday (17/6/2026).

Juri stated that the group also provided several notes on the programme’s implementation. The demonstrators demanded that parties misusing the MBG programme be dealt with by the President. “They also gave notes or conveyed aspirations that things tarnishing MBG’s image should be addressed. For example, the issue of corruption. They want the President and all his staff to firmly take action against anyone or any party that misuses MBG and commits corruption within the programme,” he said.

Juri added that the group also requested improvements to the programme. They want the standards of the MBG meals served to be enhanced. “Secondly, they also demand improvements in the service of providing free nutritious meals to our children. Thirdly, they also want the standards of every MBG menu served to meet proper requirements. There should be no reduction in aspects, no reduction in quantity, and so on,” he explained.

Juri noted that the discussions with the demonstrators are in line with the government’s own efforts. “MBG is a programme that must continue because its benefits are felt by the community and for the sake of our children’s future, our generation. But of course, we will continue to fix things that give MBG a negative image. For instance, the issue of corruption, then services, and so on. So, what the community conveyed aligns with the government’s interests,” he said.

Action coordinator Edi Marzuki stated that the Deputy State Secretary would convey the group’s demands to President Prabowo Subianto. He also expressed satisfaction at being able to hold an audience with government officials. “I am very pleased. As for the target, we will see the feedback later. But in terms of happiness, we are already quite happy, quite satisfied to be received there. We consider this percentage already more than enough. We were appreciated, we were received well at the State Secretariat,” said Edi.