First MBG Kitchen in Mataram Completed, City Government Awaits Asset Handover

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has completed the construction of the first kitchen for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Built on land owned by the Mataram City Government, the kitchen is currently awaiting a clear mechanism for asset handover before it can begin operations.

The Regional Secretary of Mataram, Lalu Alwan Basundari, stated that the MBG kitchen is located on a 7-are plot near the Pagutan Green Open Space (RTH). Of the four locations proposed by the Mataram City Government to the central government, only one site was approved for construction.

“It was built for us by the central government through the Ministry of Public Works. There is one location, near the Pagutan RTH, and it has been completed,” said the Regional Secretary on Tuesday.

Although the physical construction is 100% complete, the facility cannot yet be utilised as the local government is waiting for certainty regarding the asset transfer process.

“We do not yet know the handover model. Whether this will be transferred from the Ministry of Public Works to us, or from the Ministry of Public Works to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN),” Alwan explained.

According to the initial plan, the kitchen building will be handed over to the Mataram City Government as a regional asset. Following this, the city government will establish a cooperation agreement with the BGN for its operation.

Alwan emphasised that the Mataram City Government will not allocate any portion of the Regional Budget (APBD) for the operational costs of the MBG kitchen, including the procurement of equipment or daily management. The local government’s contribution is limited solely to the provision of the land.

“We are not spending any budget at all. We are only providing the land,” he concluded.

Ultimately, the operation of the MBG kitchen will be under the control of the BGN. In its implementation, the BGN will engage partners or third parties responsible for managing the kitchen and preparing nutritious meals for the programme’s beneficiaries.