Muzani: Free Nutritious Meal Programme a Breakthrough Towards Golden Indonesia 2045
People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Ahmad Muzani has spoken about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme and the Red and White Village Cooperatives during his speech at the MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives and the Regional Representatives Council. Muzani specifically emphasised that MBG is not merely about distributing food.
He initially spoke about how, in 81 years of independence, Indonesia has achieved much in infrastructure, education, health, and agriculture. However, he noted that the fate of children has not been sufficiently addressed.
‘There are still our children who go to school without breakfast. There are still families who must choose between buying food or paying for medical treatment,’ Muzani said during his speech at the Plenary Session Hall, Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (14/8/2026).
He described MBG as one of the breakthroughs to address this problem. According to him, MBG is not just about handing out food, but an effort to enhance the intelligence of future human resources.
‘It is within this framework that we view the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme as a breakthrough in realising the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. The programme is not merely food distribution, but part of the endeavour to enhance the intellectual life of the nation and build a healthy and high-quality Indonesian populace,’ he stated.
Muzani stressed that superior and competitive children are a national aspiration. Therefore, fulfilling nutritional needs is a long-term investment.
‘Our collective task is to ensure that these good intentions are implemented with good governance, are well-targeted, and accountable,’ he added.
Muzani also discussed the Red and White Village Cooperatives or Red and White Sub-district Cooperatives. He quoted the constitution, which stipulates that the economy is structured as a joint endeavour based on the principle of kinship.
‘This mandate implies that Indonesia’s economic development must not be left entirely to free competition, which makes the strong mightier and the weak increasingly marginalised,’ he said.
Muzani asserted that cooperatives are a means of bringing democracy to economic life. Through cooperatives managed in a healthy and professional manner, he said, farmers, fishermen, and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) operators will benefit.
‘Farmers can strengthen their bargaining position, fishermen can gain market access, micro-entrepreneurs can grow, the distribution of essential goods can be shortened, and economic added value can be enjoyed by the community,’ he said.
‘Therefore, the success of a cooperative is measured by the growth of productive economic activities, the increase in members’ incomes, the strength of governance, and the growing self-reliance of the community,’ he concluded.