Free Nutritious Meal Programme Twisted into 'Mas Bahlil Ganteng', Bahlil: Oh Dear, What a Mess

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has voiced his irritation over the Free Nutritious Meal programme (MBG) being distorted into ‘Mas Bahlil Ganteng’ (Brother Bahlil is Handsome) on social media. Addressing HIPMI cadres, Bahlil emphasised that MBG is a noble programme, not material for jokes. He conveyed this during his speech at the 18th National Conference of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) in Lampung on Wednesday (10/6/2026), where he specifically addressed the manipulation of the MBG term trending online. ‘Lastly, the MBG (Free Nutritious Meal) is good, but I want to say that it should not be twisted,’ Bahlil said. ‘MBG stands for nutritious food. Do not say Bahlil is handsome again, oh dear, what a mess,’ he continued. Bahlil stated that the free nutritious meal programme must be supported collectively because it concerns the future of Indonesia’s children. He claimed to understand the importance of the programme deeply, having experienced hardship and malnutrition in his youth. ‘This programme is one we must realise. As a former child of underprivileged people who suffered from malnutrition, I say that this free nutritious meal programme is a noble programme,’ he remarked. The Chairman of the Golkar Party also urged all HIPMI cadres to help perfect the MBG programme if shortcomings are still found in its implementation. ‘If there are shortcomings, let us perfect them together. We do not need to blame each other. That is our task as HIPMI cadres,’ Bahlil concluded.