Government Investigates Paper Proposing Free Nutritious Meals Programme for Nobel Peace Prize

The government is investigating the emergence of a paper proposing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. The paper, titled “Nobel Peace Prize 2026 Free Meal Program by The National Nutrition Agency Building Smart Business for Food Security Industry and Indonesia’s Economic Growth,” was uploaded to papers.ssn.com and lists Prabowo Subianto as one of the authors. “It is under investigation,” said Head of the Government Communication Body Muhammad Qodari at the Bakom RI office in Jakarta on Wednesday (5/8). Similarly, Head of the Ministry of Home Affairs Information Centre Benni Irawan stated he had read the paper, which attached a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs numbered ND/KIE/001/I/2026. “It is now being clarified, whether it is indeed from the Ministry of Home Affairs institutionally or what. Then, whether the letter submitted is truly from the Ministry of Home Affairs or not, we must confirm first,” said Benni. Additionally, Benni said he had also coordinated directly with the Institute of Home Affairs Governance (IPDN) regarding the paper. The clarification was made in connection with the name of an employee listed in the paper. “I have clarified with IPDN. It is not from IPDN. We have called the rector, it is not from IPDN,” said Benni. “But there is indeed a staff member named Ashar in the Directorate General of Politics and General Government. That is what the Director General of Politics and General Government has asked for internal clarification from Mr Akmal. So far, I have not received the results of the clarification. I have not received an update,” he added. The paper, which discusses the MBG programme and is said to be submitted as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, recently went viral on social media. Several social media accounts posted excerpts of the paper. Some accounts even claimed there was not just one paper, but several papers written for a similar purpose.