Facts on BGN Electric Motorcycle Procurement: Claims of Below-Market Price, No Budget for 2026

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The procurement of electric motorcycles intended for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, particularly for the heads of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), continues to be a hot topic of public discussion.

When met at the Palace, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, revealed the urgency of purchasing thousands of electric motorcycles, which he claimed were acquired at below-market prices.

However, the purchase of these electric motorcycles prompted Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to decide against continuing the budget allocation for such vehicles in 2026.

“Yes, this programme reaches areas that will be very difficult to access. It covers villages and remote regions that can only be reached by motorcycle. This is to support operations,” said Dadan at the Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

Dadan added that the use of electric motorcycles is not limited to SPPG heads but can also be utilised by other SPPG staff to support field operations.

Nevertheless, he assured that the procurement of these vehicles would not continue this year.

“For now, we’ll make do with what we have, as this is the 2025 budget, and there are no plans for purchases in 2026,” he added.

“The market price is Rp52 million, but we bought them for, if I’m not mistaken, Rp42 million, below the market price,” said Dadan.

He emphasised that the purchase of these electric motorcycles was indeed included in the 2025 budget, with a target of 24,400 units, but BGN could only realise 21,800 units.

“And it was already included in the 2025 budget,” he stated.

Amid the controversy over the BGN motorcycles, the Finance Minister affirmed that the procurement of these operational vehicles is no longer included in the current year’s spending allocation.

Purbaya admitted that the decision to halt was made after his side only recently learned of the procurement in the previous budget structure.

“We only found out late; the budget was already cut, if I’m not mistaken. I need to check with the director general of the budget again,” he continued.

Ultimately, Purbaya took the step of cutting the budget immediately after receiving the information.

Thus, he ensured that there would be no more fund allocations for the purchase of BGN electric motorcycles this year.

“When we found out, I cut the budget,” he asserted.