Hoax: Purbaya Claims MBG Program Burdens National Budget

A Facebook post claimed that Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program was one of the causes of the national budget deficit. The post featured a photo of Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as if he was confirming the MBG program burdened the national budget. The caption read: ‘Purbaya Says MBG Program Is One of the Causes of the National Budget Deficit’. However, is it true that Purbaya stated the MBG program caused the budget deficit? Fact-checking revealed no official statements from the government or credible media sources indicating that Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa claimed the MBG program caused the national budget deficit. According to ANTARA, Purbaya stressed that all government programs, including MBG, had been carefully calculated to avoid disrupting the national budget structure and to keep the deficit below 3% of gross domestic product (GDP). ‘All budgets have been carefully planned, with the deficit remaining under 3% of GDP,’ Purbaya stated. He also noted that citizens need not worry about the sustainability of national financing, as the fiscal framework had been meticulously designed. Therefore, the claim that Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated the MBG program caused the national budget deficit is false and a hoax.