House Commission IX Urges New BGN Chief Sudaryono to Clean Up Internal Affairs Amid Conflict of Interest Allegations
Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Yahya Zaini, has expressed hope that the new head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, will promptly rectify the agency’s internal governance. One of his main concerns is the suspicion that many BGN employees own Nutrition Service Fulfilment Unit (SPPG) kitchens.
Yahya said the new BGN head must be able to lead the newly appointed officials while also fostering cohesion within the agency.
“The new BGN head is expected to lead and mobilise the newly appointed officials. Cohesion and solidity are essential,” Yahya told journalists on Thursday (23 July).
He also urged Sudaryono to carry out reforms within the BGN, saying the agency’s internal ranks must be cleansed of potential conflicts of interest.
“He must also be able to clean up the internal ranks, because it is suspected that many BGN employees own kitchens,” he said.
He cited three policies that should be continued: the moratorium on building new kitchens, refocusing on programme beneficiaries, and budget efficiency.
According to Yahya, the moratorium on kitchen construction must not continue indefinitely. He asked the BGN to provide certainty for kitchens that have already been built by drawing up a clear classification system.
“The moratorium must have a time limit so that certainty can be given to kitchens that have already been completed. A classification must be made of which kitchens at which stage can proceed and which cannot,” he said.
Yahya also hopes the new BGN head can restore public trust in the agency following the corruption scandal that has engulfed the BGN.
He said the BGN’s image needs to be rehabilitated so that the public once again believes that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme is a strategic initiative to improve the quality of Indonesia’s human resources towards Golden Indonesia 2045.
“I hope the new BGN head can repair the agency’s image, which has been battered in the eyes of the public by the corruption case. The new BGN head must restore public confidence that the MBG programme is a strategic programme needed by the people, particularly in preparing quality human resources in the lead-up to Golden Indonesia 2045,” he said.
Sudaryono: Neither I Nor My Family Own an SPPG
National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Sudaryono has affirmed that he does not own a single Nutrition Service Fulfilment Unit (SPPG). He said none of his family members owns a Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) kitchen either.
“No, no, no. I do not own an SPPG, I do not own a kitchen, and no member of my family owns a kitchen or an SPPG,” Sudaryono said after being inaugurated at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (22 July).
Sudaryono affirmed that he would fix the BGN’s governance of practices that violate existing rules and regulations. He committed to ensuring that the agency’s entire budget for the MBG programme would be channelled to the right recipients.
“As head, I will work hard to fix what needs to be fixed. What is not transparent must be made transparent. If there are things still done manually, we will find ways to digitise them so there is a record. Nothing must be hidden any longer, and everything must be out in the open. This is a large budget that comes from the people and must be used for the people,” Sudaryono said.