KPK Backs 100 Per Cent MBG, Issues Key Governance Notes to National Nutrition Agency (BGN)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conveyed its support for the government’s priority programme, Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG). However, KPK said it would also raise important governance notes with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) as MBG’s operator.

Director of Monitoring Aminudin of the KPK explained that MBG, as one of the government’s priority programmes, naturally attracts KPK attention. He said the KPK fully supports this MBG programme and has taken a serious interest by conducting a review of the programme.

“Whatever becomes the president’s flagship programme, government priority programmes will be backed 100 per cent by the KPK. Yet, in line with its mandate, the KPK also has an obligation to ensure that flagship programmes run well, are targeted, transparent, with governance that is accountable, and of course there should be no corruption in its implementation,” Aminudin said at a KPK media gathering in Anyer, Serang Regency, Banten, on Wednesday (20 May 2026).

Aminudin stated that MBG is a flagship programme of the Prabowo-Gibran administration which has been promoted since the campaign. He described the programme as the president’s crown jewel.

“So this is like the president’s crown, so because it is the president’s crown, the crown is on the head, we must handle it carefully. If we touch it poorly, we risk being accused of, sorry to say, undermining the president’s programme,” he explained.

Aminudin said the support given by the KPK comes because KPK believes all flagship programmes have noble aims. Nevertheless, he added, there are notes from KPK’s study regarding the programme.

First, he said, in his study MBG appears to operate without a comprehensive blueprint. He explained that currently the output of the programme is measured by how many beneficiaries receive free nutritious meals. Yet, he noted, the President’s intention is for MBG to address malnutrition or stunting.

“The MBG’s goal is not yet reflected in its outputs; currently, outputs are measured by the number of beneficiaries. The President intends MBG to tackle malnutrition or stunting, so this is what we are flagging. There is no comprehensive blueprint for MBG, at least not yet, including short-, medium-, and long-term targets,” he said.

He also noted that there is excessive discretionary space among policy makers in charge of MBG, which could open room for transactional practices, fraud and corruption.

This also relates to the risk of incorrect beneficiary targeting. Distribution should ideally be linked to health ministry data on areas with high stunting rates.

In his review, he also found notes on policy design that are highly vulnerable to misappropriation. He said operational funds sourced from government assistance (Banper) are channeled by BGN to foundations only as a reporting system, whereas BGN should continually supervise and account for the flow of those funds to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries.

“So this involves a Ban mechanism…”