MP Questions Incentives for Temporarily Closed Nutrition Service Units
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives Charles Honoris has questioned the policy of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to continue providing incentives to Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) that have been temporarily closed.
According to Charles, the policy is not only surprising but also morally problematic in the use of state budget funds.
“The statement from the Head of BGN that they are still disbursing incentives of Rp6 million per day to temporarily closed SPPG is not just a logical flaw, but a moral scandal and an outright insult to public reason,” Charles said in his statement to Kompas.com on Wednesday (29/4/2026).
The PDI-P politician assessed that the policy contradicts the government’s narrative of budget efficiency that has been promoted so far.
On one hand, said Charles, the government is pushing for savings in various sectors, but on the other hand, it continues to allocate funds for units that are not operating.
“The government keeps touting the rhetoric of budget efficiency and savings across the board, but on the other hand, state money is being squandered brutally to finance units that are not operating due to violations,” said Charles.
“Those funds should be used for education programmes or to improve the welfare of frontline healthcare workers, not wasted on paying for units that are being sanctioned,” he added.
Charles emphasised that Commission IX of the House of Representatives will request an explanation from the Head of BGN regarding the policy at the upcoming working meeting.
He also reminded that the main objective of the Free Nutritious Meals programme should not deviate from its initial target.
“The purpose of the Free Nutritious Meals is to improve child nutrition, not for project sharing. Do not let the essence of improving public nutrition be betrayed by poor management,” said Charles.
It was previously reported that temporarily closed Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) are still receiving government budget support of Rp6 million per day.
It is known that as of early April, there were around 1,720 SPPG that were temporarily closed.
“For those (temporarily closed), they are still given support because they have to handle various needs,” said Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, when inaugurating the SPPG owned by Hasanuddin University on Tuesday (28/4/2026).