MBG Partners Threaten Palace Protest Over Holiday Suspension of Free Nutritious Meals
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is set to halt the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme for beneficiaries during holiday periods. The decision is outlined in the Head of BGN Circular Number 12 of 2026 concerning Operational Adjustments for Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) during Holiday Periods in the Implementation of the MBG Programme.
Secretary General of the Himpunan Mitra Dapur Generasi Emas (HMD Gemas), Yusup Supriadi, considers the circular highly detrimental to the programme’s implementing partners. He also stated that beneficiaries of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programme would be affected, and therefore urged the Head of BGN to revoke the circular.
“The product of Circular Number 12 of 2026 is an internal decision of the National Nutrition Agency that violates its authority and is arbitrary, therefore HMDK Gemas urges and demands the revocation of this circular,” he said during a press conference in Tebet, South Jakarta, on Thursday (18/6/2026).
According to him, the circular will impact volunteers whose livelihoods depend on SPPG operations. When SPPGs cease operations during holidays, the volunteers, who number around 1.2 million people, will not receive incentives. “The volunteers clearly need money for their children’s schooling, and they work today to get incentives today to eat today,” he said.
Yusup also assessed that beneficiaries would feel the impact of the regulation, as they will no longer receive MBG rations during holidays. This includes pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, who are priorities of the programme.
Consequently, he demanded that BGN revoke the circular, which he claimed was issued without listening to the partners’ aspirations. He even threatened to stage a joint protest with approximately 12,000 SPPG members of HMDK Gemas if BGN proceeds with the circular. “If this demand is not met, HMDK Gemas throughout Indonesia will convey it through a peaceful demonstration at the Presidential Palace and in districts, cities, and provinces across Indonesia,” he stated.
Yusup said that HMDK Gemas, in principle, supports improvements in governance and service quality for the MBG programme, including budget efficiency measures by BGN. However, he requested that BGN listen to partners’ aspirations before making decisions. “Invite us to discuss, invite us to talk,” Yusup said.
It is known that BGN has issued the Head of BGN Circular Number 12 of 2026. The circular contains several new rules applied to the implementation of the MBG programme, including: no MBG services for students and non-students during holiday periods; security officers remain on duty 24 hours a day on a rotating schedule; SPPG facility incentives are not provided; all SPPG facilities are prohibited from being used for any purpose during holidays; violations of the facility use ban will be strictly penalised, up to operational termination; operational costs during holidays, such as electricity, water, internet access, and security officer incentives, are covered at cost from the operational budget allocation; all SPPG heads, nutrition supervisors, and finance supervisors must continue working to ensure the SPPG is orderly, clean, and safe; for holiday periods exceeding three days, the SPPG head, finance supervisor, nutrition supervisor, and volunteers must report to work one day before operations resume to ensure readiness, with volunteer incentives covered at cost; and the circular covers special regional holidays set by regional heads.