Inactive Ombudsman Chair Once Directed Staff Not to 'Touch' Free Nutritious Meal Program, Says Jimly

The Ethics Council of the Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) has revealed that the inactive Chair of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Hery Susanto, had previously directed his staff not to ‘touch’ the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme.

The Chair of the Ombudsman Ethics Council, Jimly Asshiddiqie, expressed regret over this directive. According to Jimly, although the MBG is a highly important national programme, it must still be subject to supervision by the Ombudsman.

“This is quite insolent. After all, the evidence shows that the leader of the MBG programme has now been arrested and named a suspect, which means there are problems in governance,” Jimly stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

Consequently, he emphasised that the Ombudsman must not refrain from performing its supervisory duties simply because a programme is a flagship initiative of the government. Jimly explained that Hery’s directive was disclosed by several Ombudsman staff members during the council’s investigation.