House Budget Commission Chair Highlights Governance and Budget Transparency of Free Nutritious Meal Programme
The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme continues to attract public scrutiny. Said Abdullah, Chair of the House Budget Commission (Banggar) of the House of Representatives (DPR), felt compelled to address the matter comprehensively, outlining the implementation status and budgetary position of the programme.
He acknowledged numerous inquiries from journalists, particularly concerning lingering confusion surrounding the initiative. He emphasised that the programme originated from genuine concern regarding the nutritional condition of Indonesian children.
“In light of this, I believe President Prabowo has recognised that the nutritional quality of Indonesian children requires improvement,” he stated in a written statement on Friday, 27 February.
He characterised the agenda as both noble and urgent, given that the prevalence of chronic malnutrition among Indonesian children remains at approximately 19 per cent, substantially exceeding the 10 per cent threshold established by the World Health Organisation.
Nutritional intervention programmes through schools are not novel, having long been implemented across numerous developed and developing nations. Countries including China, Japan, Finland, India, and Brazil have demonstrated the effectiveness of similar programmes in improving human resource quality.
Abdullah emphasised that support for MBG should be accompanied by constructive recommendations from the House to strengthen programme governance. His primary focus for improvement centres on the management of Nutritional Services Units (SPPG), or communal kitchens.
The government aims to operationalise 35,270 SPPG units this year, involving active participation from both charitable foundations and private individuals. However, Abdullah noted instances of kitchen operators failing to comply with service standards and nutritional menus established by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
“In response to such practices, I recommend that the BGN establish a blacklist of non-compliant partners and kitchen operators. They should be struck off as BGN contractors, and if necessary, subjected to further action,” he stated.
Alongside compliance concerns, Abdullah recommended evaluating the target number of students served by each SPPG unit. He proposed reducing the beneficiary coverage from 3,000 pupils to a maximum of 1,500 to 2,000 pupils per kitchen.
He considered this measure essential to ensure that food preparation and distribution occur more rapidly in accordance with student meal schedules. The smaller coverage area is expected to maintain the quality and hygiene standards of meals provided to children.
Abdullah also urged the involvement of regional governments and village administrations in direct supervisory functions in the field. Given that the BGN lacks vertical institutional structures at lower administrative levels, the role of regional authorities is critical for implementing preventative measures.
Regarding budgetary matters, Abdullah explained that the House’s position in the draft state budget (RAPBN) is to discuss and agree upon changes to budgetary allocations in conjunction with the government. Under the Constitution, the House possesses full authority to approve or reject proposed budget allocations.
Since President Prabowo assumed office, the education budget allocation has been guaranteed to meet the constitutional mandate of 20 per cent of state expenditure. In 2025, the education budget is set at 724.2 trillion rupiah, increasing to 769 trillion rupiah in 2026.
Within this allocation, there is a dedicated budget for the MBG programme, agreed upon jointly by the government and the House. The MBG budget for 2025 is recorded as 71 trillion rupiah, rising to 268 trillion rupiah in 2026.
In more detail, of the total 268 trillion rupiah allocated for 2026, 255.5 trillion rupiah is earmarked for programme support. The remaining 12.4 trillion rupiah is allocated for programme management requirements within the BGN.
Abdullah clarified that of the total programme budget, 223.5 trillion rupiah falls within the education function category. This explains why the MBG budget is integrated within the national education budget allocation.
The budget increase also applies to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and several other ministries undertaking educational functions. This increase represents a logical consequence of the rise in total state expenditure, which serves as the basis for calculating the 20 per cent threshold.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Works have also received budget increases to support educational functions within the state budget. Abdullah affirmed that the placement of MBG within the education budget is a political decision with legal force.
“Whether placing the MBG budget within education can be interpreted as part of the education budget mandated by the Constitution is a matter of interpretation. What is certain is that the government and the House have decided to incorporate it into the state budget law,” he said.
Regarding the constitutional challenge filed before the Constitutional Court concerning the placement of the MBG budget within education, Abdullah expressed respect for the move. He affirmed that only the Constitutional Court possesses the authority to assess the constitutionality of the policy.
“Whether this basis is legally sound is a matter only the Constitutional Court can determine. However, based on conviction and various constitutional studies, the House and the government have reached this decision,” he wrote.
Abdullah expressed hope that this clarification would provide a complete picture of the governance and budgetary situation surrounding MBG, whilst clarifying the House’s position in ensuring the programme operates in accordance with policy objectives and applicable legal frameworks.