KPK Backs MBG 100%, But Warns of Potential Corruption Gaps in BGN

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says it fully supports the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, a priority initiative of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

“We all live in the Republic of Indonesia, so whatever is the president’s flagship programme, a government priority programme, the KPK will be 100 percent behind it,” said Aminudin, Deputy for Prevention and Monitoring at the KPK, on Thursday, 21 May 2026.

He noted that in line with its duties and functions, the KPK will ensure MBG runs well and reaches its targets so that corruption does not occur.

“Under our duties and functions, the KPK also has an obligation to ensure that flagship programmes run well, are targeted, transparent, with accountability protected, and of course there is no corruption in their implementation,” he said.

Aminudin stressed the importance of strengthening anti-corruption prevention, especially because the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) as programme implementer is a newly formed body that is still building its operating system and regulations.

“A newly established body, with its regulatory framework not yet mature, with its organisation not yet mature, entrusted with a national mandate and a large budget, we need to ensure that in its implementation this is not misused,” he said.

He noted that in 2025 the KPK, via its Monitoring Directorate, conducted a study on anti-corruption prevention relating to the MBG governance.

Aminudin highlighted several areas of concern, including regulatory readiness, organisation, and the supporting infrastructure for the programme, which still require strengthening.

“If we look at governance, it will be disorderly. A new institution is being formed; its infrastructure is not ready, its organisation and regulations are not ready either, yet it has been given a fairly large mandate with a large budget,” he said.

He stated that MBG’s 2025 budget reached Rp71 trillion with a realisation of 72.5 percent or Rp51.5 trillion as of 31 December 2025. Meanwhile for 2026, the budget, originally Rp335 trillion, was trimmed to Rp268 trillion.

Aminudin emphasised that the large budget increases the risk of misappropriation, so oversight needs to be strengthened.

“The large budget is what causes the KPK to engage in prevention, because when a project has a large budget, the risk of fraud or criminal corruption will surely be high,” he said.