Golkar Claims PDIP Did Not Reject Free Nutritious Meals Budget in Budget Committee and Plenary Session

Golkar’s Deputy Chair of Commission IX, Yahya Zaini, stated that the budget for the free nutritious meals programme (MBG) was agreed upon by all factions, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) in the Budget Committee (Banggar) and parliamentary plenary session.

This statement was made in response to PDIP’s assertion that the MBG programme has allocated 20 per cent of the education budget in the state budget (APBN).

“All factions in parliament agreed with the MBG budget that was approved by the budget committee and ratified in the plenary session, becoming the State Budget Law. The PDIP faction did not oppose it during discussions in the Budget Committee and plenary session. This became a unanimous decision,” Yahya said when contacted on Friday, 27 February.

“The Chair of Parliament is from PDIP, and the Chair of the Budget Committee is also from PDIP. They all agreed with the MBG budget,” he added.

Yahya stated that as an institution, Golkar is not involved in managing the MBG programme. However, Golkar supports the success of the programme.

He cited that similar nutritious meals programmes have been implemented by many countries and have proven successful in creating a golden generation. Yahya gave examples including Japan, which has run the programme for 137 years, Brazil for 71 years, South Korea for 70 years, and India for 31 years.

“Golkar as an institution is not involved in managing MBG because it is not within the purview of political parties. The management of MBG is an area of cooperation between a foundation legal entity and the state that is broadly implemented by the community,” he said.

Previously, PDIP’s Deputy Chair of Commission X, MY Esti Wijayanti, stated that the MBG programme takes an allocation of 20 per cent from the education budget of Rp223 trillion. Esti said this allocation is formally stated in Law Number 17 of 2025 concerning the 2026 State Budget.

Esti stated that of the Rp769 trillion education budget allocation, the MBG budget takes Rp223.5 trillion. “This is also clearly stated: the Rp769 trillion education budget is allocated, amongst other things, to MBG in the amount of Rp223.5 trillion. This is officially recorded in the state budget appendix,” Esti said during a press conference at her party school in the Lenteng Agung area, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, 25 February.