Following the US and Europe, the 'MBG Polri' Book is Expected to Become a Diplomatic Instrument in Saudi Arabia
The ‘Rasa Bhayangkara Nusantara’ book, produced by the SPPG Polri and featuring recipes from the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, has been distributed to the Middle East. This distribution is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s cultural diplomacy initiative.
This book has previously been distributed to Europe and America. The presentation of the book in the Middle East was led by the Deputy Chief of Police, Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo, to the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Yusron Bahauddin Ambary, as part of a courtesy visit in Jeddah on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
This handover marks the presence of ‘Rasa Bhayangkara Nusantara’ in the Middle East as part of a cultural diplomacy effort that emphasizes culture, social awareness, and the development of Indonesian human resources on the world stage.
The presence of ‘Rasa Bhayangkara Nusantara’ in Jeddah complements Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy efforts around the world. On January 21, 2026, the book was presented to the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK in London and also introduced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The English-language version of the book has also been introduced at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC, United States.
Several international media outlets have praised the book’s presence in Davos as a new approach to Indonesian diplomacy, which combines strategic policy, culture, and social programs into a communicative and easily accepted narrative for the global community.
The Special Assistant to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for Communication and Policy Analysis, Dirgayuza Setiawan, as the author, affirmed that this book was designed from the outset as a diplomatic instrument for the country. According to him, the book not only talks about cuisine but also conveys the country’s policy messages through a universal cultural approach.
“The presence of this book is a strategic diplomatic instrument. This book helps the Ambassadors of the Republic of Indonesia in various countries, including in Jeddah, to explain to the international community about the richness, diversity, and successful implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program in Indonesia,” said Dirgayuza in a statement on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Dirgayuza Setiawan added that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, as one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programs, has become a topic of interest and discussion among various world leaders. According to him, the diversity of cooking traditions and local wisdom makes the implementation of MBG in Indonesia one of the most diverse in the world.
“In various international forums, MBG has even been called one of the world programs that has received global support and attention, including from the United Nations (UN). To date, 107 countries have implemented similar programs as part of efforts to improve the nutritional quality of their communities,” he explained.