Mardiono Ensures MBG Programme Continues to be Perfected
President’s Special Envoy for Food Security, Muhamad Mardiono, has assured that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is continuously being refined and improved through national-scale policy adjustments in line with its on-the-ground implementation. MBG is a programme that addresses the people’s basic needs while also boosting the local economy.
“The government is not turning a blind eye to shortcomings. On the contrary, they are part of the correction and refinement process. However, shortcomings must not be used as a tool to weaken public trust in a programme that clearly benefits the people,” he said on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
Mardiono stated that, based on his field observations, the MBG programme has received widespread acceptance from the public. “This is a programme that touches on the people’s basic needs while also stimulating the local economy. Therefore, it is highly inappropriate if there is reporting that steers opinion as if this programme has failed,” he said.
Indeed, he continued, there are individuals who attempt to exploit the MBG programme for personal gain. However, this must not be used as a reason to halt a programme whose benefits are widely felt by the public.
“If there are deviant individuals, then those individuals must be firmly dealt with. Not the programme that should be stopped,” he said. Meanwhile, at the same time, the government will improve regulatory gaps so that in the future, the implementation of this programme becomes more accountable and on target.
According to Mardiono, the direction of President Prabowo Subianto’s policy at present is to carry out fundamental improvements to national economic governance, including stopping old practices that harm the state, particularly in the management of natural resources.
“We must not turn a blind eye to the fact that there have been leaks and corrupt practices in the management of natural resources so far. President Prabowo is carrying out major corrections so that the nation’s natural wealth is no longer enjoyed by just a few parties,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to him, the transformation carried out by the government aims to build a fair and sovereign economic structure. “What is being built today is an economy of the people, by the people, and for the people. Not an economy from the people that then only flows to oligarchs. This is a firm policy line that cannot be negotiated.”
Meanwhile, besides MBG, Mardiono also highlighted the issue of the “June movement”. According to him, the situation must be addressed wisely by prioritising national stability. Moreover, the president is a constitutionally legitimate leader.
“President Prabowo is a president who was legitimately elected through constitutional mechanisms in the general election. To date, there is no constitutional basis for removing the president. Narratives pointing in that direction only have the potential to disrupt national stability,” he said.
The president, he continued, is currently carrying out major overhauls through various priority programmes. In this context, national stability is key. “Therefore, there must be no efforts aimed at impeachment or other steps that could cause domestic instability,” he said.
Mardiono also reminded that every major change almost always faces resistance from parties who have enjoyed the status quo so far. “It is understandable that various initiatives by President Prabowo may not be liked by a group of people who have enjoyed inequality so far. However, the government will not back down. This major agenda is to return economic sovereignty to the people,” he said.
He also invited all elements of the nation not to get trapped in narratives that weaken unity, and to jointly support the national transformation agenda. “This is a momentum to correct the nation’s direction. Do not let narrow interests hinder the great struggle towards economic justice. The government will remain steadfast on the side of the people.”