National Nutrition Agency Bans Staff from Owning Free Meal Kitchens to Avoid Conflict of Interest
Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Agustina Arumsari, stated that the agency prohibits BGN employees from owning a Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG). This was emphasised by Agustina on the grounds of avoiding conflicts of interest. “The main thing is that BGN employees, as decision-makers and policy-makers, are not allowed to own SPPGs. Why? Because they make policies, which then resulted in a flat incentive of Rp6 million for SPPGs, changed from the previous calculation of 2,000 multiplied by the number of beneficiaries, and kitchen specifications revised from 400 square metres to 100 square metres, all due to various interests,” Agustina said after a Hearing Meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday, 15 June 2026.
Under the new policy to improve the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, Agustina explained that partners must not simply build kitchens to gain profit, but must return to the original intention of improving the nutritional quality of the nation’s children. “There is a distinction. Previously, the approach might have been ‘just build kitchens, as many kitchens as possible’. We do not want that. We are refocusing on beneficiaries who are truly targeted according to government nutritional interventions that genuinely require it, and then the consequence will naturally be kitchens,” she revealed.
She mentioned that BGN will create a new index regarding which SPPGs meet the established standard operating procedures and quality, prioritising the interests of beneficiaries. “For others, whether it is A, B, or C, the important thing is that the kitchen technically meets the requirements and quality standards. We will later create a new index; if they meet it, that is the point,” she elaborated.
Furthermore, Agustina explained that the government is currently focusing on improving the governance of beneficiary targeting to ensure meals reach recipients and the programme is run transparently. “We are now talking about reform first. In 2026, the focus is on beneficiary targets, then we will talk about kitchens. Later, we will make this process as transparent as possible so that the public can access, observe, and participate in oversight, because this is a strategic programme,” she stated.