House Commission IX Welcomes Prabowo's Instruction for Ministers to Help Fix Free Nutritious Meals Programme

President Prabowo Subianto has issued instructions through the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for all relevant ministers to help fix the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Deputy Chairman of House Commission IX Charles Honoris welcomed the move. “Yes, I think it is a very positive and good step. If we look at what happened under the old leadership, they seemed to become a superbody. Everything was done alone without wanting to involve other institutions and agencies,” Charles told reporters at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (16/7/2026). Charles said the involvement of relevant ministers could improve the governance of the MBG programme. “With coordination among other stakeholders—be it the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, or regional governments—the governance of this programme will certainly improve,” he said. Charles also reminded the relevant ministers to re-evaluate the beneficiaries. According to him, there is no need to force the fulfilment of 82 million beneficiaries. “There is no need to force the 82 million figure, but focus on those who truly need it,” he said. It is known that President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all relevant ministries and agencies to assist the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in overhauling the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The overhaul will be coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for Food. This was conveyed by BGN Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari after a limited meeting with Prabowo at the Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/7). The directive was one of the main points of the meeting, considering the MBG programme is not an easy task as it targets millions of beneficiaries. “And the most important point from the meeting is that the President assigned all relevant ministers to help the BGN leadership in carrying out the overhaul. That is his direct order. So, please, the Ministry of Finance, the BPKP, and others are all coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for Food,” Agustina said. “For us, the BGN leadership, what we are most pleased about is the President’s order to all ministries to help the BGN leadership fix this, because we know it is not easy, involving millions of beneficiaries,” she continued.