MBG Budget Scrutiny Grows as Gerindra Urges Against Narratives That Sow Public Doubt

The Gerindra faction’s coordinator for Commission III of the DPR RI, Muhammad Rahul, highlighted the growing narratives about the sources of funding for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. Rahul said the allegations that education funds are being cut to finance MBG are baseless.

The head of the Gerindra DPW in Riau Province stated that the process of drafting the State Budget (APBN), including allocations for education and the MBG program, is conducted collectively by the government and all factions in the DPR RI. He said the decision was approved at a plenary session of the DPR, including by PDIP, before it was enacted into the APBN Law.

“It should be understood that the determination of the national education budget and its details is the result of deliberation between the government and all factions in the DPR RI. It is not correct if there are narratives implying only one party makes the decisions,” Muhammad Rahul said in a statement on Wednesday (4 March 2026).

He added that MBG is a policy of President Prabowo Subianto aimed at strengthening the nutrition of Indonesian children as part of a long-term investment. He hoped there would be no narratives that sow doubt about the program.

“Our main focus is to ensure the program runs targeted, transparent, and truly delivers tangible benefits for Indonesian children. If the program is for the people’s interest, let us oversee it together. Do not build narratives that sow doubt about a program for the nation’s generation,” Rahul said.

Previously, PDIP had criticised that MBG funds for students were sourced from the national education budget. The issue became contentious because it was seen as potentially undermining efforts to improve the quality of education.

This was responded to by Deputy Speaker of Commission X DPR MY Esti Wijayati, member of Commission X Adian Napitupulu, and Bonnie Triyana. PDIP described the stance as a response to officials’ statements that MBG funding does not take away from education budgets.

“In the APBN annex as a presidential regulation, it is clearly stated that from the Rp 769 trillion education budget, Rp 223.5 trillion is allocated to MBG. That is official in the APBN annex book,” Esti said at the PDIP Central Executive Board (DPP) Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (25 February 2026).

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Cabinet (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya emphasised that the MBG program will not reduce education programs. He described the claim that MBG cuts education funding as incorrect.

“I want to correct the understanding and the incorrect narrative. About what? Recently there were parties, a small number of parties, who claimed that the Free Nutritious Meals program reduces education programs and budgets. As a result, schools are neglected, and teachers are not looked after. So, I want to say that this is a false narrative,” Teddy said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Friday (27 February 2026).