Jakarta Rally Voices Support for Free Nutritious Meal Programme Continuation

A group of residents from the Aliansi Masyarakat Jakarta Timur (East Jakarta Community Alliance) held a rally in the Patung Kuda area of Central Jakarta on Wednesday (17/6/2026) to support the continuation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. The crowd, dressed all in white, began gathering at the location at 11.30 WIB.

Coordinator Edi Marzuki stated that 10,000 members attended to support President Prabowo Subianto’s programme, declaring they would stand behind the President against any opposition. Edi highlighted that MBG has created millions of jobs, providing employment for women who previously could not enter the formal workforce or restaurant industry. He noted the programme has allowed workers to achieve prosperity, buy food, and give pocket money to their children, while also enabling previously out-of-school children to attend classes.

Edi further emphasised that the programme provides meals for the elderly and shows empathy for pregnant women needing nutritious food. While supporting the programme, the demonstrators demanded that corruptors misusing MBG funds be arrested and imprisoned. They called for improved governance rather than the closure of the programme, carrying slogans urging the President to capture corruptors who cause public suffering. The alliance issued a statement pledging full support for the continuation of the MBG programme and for President Prabowo’s efforts to arrest corruptors, vowing to safeguard the government’s key initiatives.