Jember Community Forum Supports Government Continuing Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Hundreds of residents under the banner of the Forum Masyarakat Jember Maju held a peaceful rally to support the government’s policy of continuing the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, which they consider beneficial for the community. The peaceful action took place in front of the Jember DPRD building in East Java on Saturday, with participants carrying posters supporting MBG.

“We support and safeguard the government’s strategic programmes, especially the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG), the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (KDMP), and Sekolah Rakyat,” said action coordinator Agus Nur Yasin at the Jember DPRD. He also called on President Prabowo to immediately conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) system and governance.

“We also urge the BGN to improve its system and governance to be clean and transparent, and to carry out a thorough internal evaluation down to the grassroots level,” he stated. The protesters also expressed support for President Prabowo to continue the MBG programme and other strategic programmes aimed at enhancing the nation’s intellectual life and advancing public welfare.

“We are also ready to be at the forefront of the commitment to break the chain of poverty, enhance the nation’s intellectual life, and realise the Golden Indonesia 2045,” he said. He added that they are prepared to safeguard the government’s strategic programmes in order to achieve a prosperous Indonesia, based on the 1945 Constitution, which stipulates that one of Indonesia’s national ideals is to enhance the nation’s intellectual life and advance public welfare.

“Whoever the president is, it is legally obligatory to pursue these ideals. Moreover, the MBG programme has generated an extraordinary economic turnover in rural areas, with the impact strongly felt by rice farmers, fruit and vegetable farmers, egg breeders, and local village entrepreneurs,” he said. The protesters were met by Jember DPRD Chairman Ahmad Halim, who stated that the council would forward the demonstrators’ aspirations to the central government in accordance with existing mechanisms. The peaceful rally by hundreds of residents proceeded in an orderly manner, and participants dispersed after their aspirations and demands were received by the Jember DPRD.