Hashim Recounts Prabowo's Proposal for MBG Since 2006

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Affairs Hashim Djojohadikusumo revealed that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto first proposed the idea for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in 2006.

Hashim stated that his brother came up with MBG after witnessing young children suffering from stunting or malnutrition.

“Stunting was what prompted Prabowo Subianto to propose the idea for this MBG programme in 2006. That was 19 years ago, or 20 years ago,” Hashim said at the Abpednas event at the Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta on Sunday night (19/4/2026).

Hashim recounted that at the time, Prabowo had not yet formed a party, as the Gerindra Party had not been established.

“However, Mr Prabowo already recognised that stunting posed a threat to our nation’s future,” he said.

Hashim noted that Prabowo was concerned because the Ministry of Health recorded that 30% of Indonesian children suffered from stunting.

Yet, these children would become Indonesia’s workforce decades later.

Hashim did not deny that the implementation of MBG is not yet perfect and has many shortcomings.

However, he considered this normal because MBG is being implemented for the first time and immediately targets a large number of recipients.

“We can see there are shortcomings, such as poisoning incidents and the appearance of maggots and so on. But I think this is quite normal,” Hashim said.