National Weekly: MBG Electric Motorcycle Procurement - Saiful Mujani's Criticism
The second week of April 2026 was marked by several political events in Indonesia. One of the highlights was the procurement of 21,000 electric motorcycles for the operations of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.
This procurement was carried out by the National Nutrition Agency. The policy of distributing electric motorcycles to MBG kitchens has been deemed to leave many irregularities. Another event concerned criticism voiced by Saiful Mujani, founder of one survey institution.
His statement criticising the performance of President Prabowo Subianto was delivered during a halal bihalal event organised by observers titled “Before Observers Are Silenced”. Saiful Mujani’s statement then became a topic of public discussion.
Here, Tempo summarises three political events over one week from 6 to 11 April 2026.
- Irregularities in the Procurement of 21,000 MBG Motorcycles
The BGN purchased 21,000 units of electric motorcycles from the manufacturer Emmo Electric Mobility Indonesia. There were two types of motorcycles bought by the BGN, namely the Emmo-JVX GT and Emmo-JV Max.
Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana said the procurement of tens of thousands of motorcycles for MBG kitchen heads used the 2025 budget. According to him, his agency is no longer budgeting for electric motorcycle procurement this year.
He claimed that the price of the motorcycles bought by his agency for MBG operations was below market rates. According to him, the price per unit is Rp 41 to 43 million.
Dadan said the BGN bought tens of thousands of electric motorcycles because the MBG project implementation reaches remote areas. According to him, those areas can only be accessed by motorcycle. “The procurement of motorcycles is to support operations,” said Dadan on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the budget for motorcycle procurement was proposed by BGN to his ministry last year. However, he stated that the proposal was rejected by his ministry.
In a separate statement, Dadan said the procurement process in his agency has been approved by the state treasurer. He claimed that budget use always employs multi-layered mechanisms involving various government agencies.
“In the payment process, everything is approved by the Ministry of Finance,” said Dadan on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) will summon the BGN to discuss the MBG motorcycle procurement. Deputy Chairman of Commission IX DPR Charles Honoris stated that his commission was never consulted by BGN regarding the procurement.
“On Monday (13 April), we will invite the BGN along with several other agencies,” said Charles on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
- Saiful Mujani’s Criticism of Prabowo Subianto
Founder of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), Saiful Mujani, assessed that one way to save Indonesia is by toppling President Prabowo Subianto. According to him, the Gerindra Party Chairman lacks presidential stature in implementing government policies.
Moreover, he assessed that the head of state is no longer receptive to advice for improvements. “Advising Prabowo doesn’t work either. The only way is to topple him. That’s saving, not saving Prabowo, but saving ourselves and this nation,” said Saiful.
However, he denied that his call to topple Prabowo was an act of rebellion. According to Saiful, his statement was a form of political stance and participation expressed in front of many people.
He said his criticism of Prabowo should be interpreted as a peaceful action. He stated that the political participation he carried out is aimed at the public interest.
“The stance I expressed verbally is a manifestation of freedom of expression or opinion,” he said on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
Former Head of the Presidential Office Hasan Nasbi assessed that the statement has the potential to create provocation. According to him, the statement is inappropriate to make amid the current global situation.
Hasan assessed that there is a tendency to undermine the legitimate government without due process through the statement by the survey institution founder. “They claim to be democracy fighters, but they never understand the essence of democracy,” said Hasan in his statement, as reported by Antara on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
Hasan opined that provocative actions to impeach a legitimate government without constitutional process constitute a violation of democracy. According to him, what Saiful Mujani did by urging the public to topple Prabowo is based on personal feelings.
“You want to urge society to topple the president because your feelings are not fulfilled, because your desires are not achieved, that’s something unacceptable,” said Hasan.
Saiful Mujani was reported to the Metro Jaya Police by a person named Robina Akbar, who claims to be from the Eastern Society Alliance. Saiful was reported for alleged hate speech over his statement at the observers’ halal bihalal event.
“Yes, it’s true he was reported,” said Head of Public Relations Division of Metro Jaya Police Commissioner Budi Hermanto when confirmed on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
Budi said Robina Akbar filed the report on Wednesday, 8 April 2026 around 21:30 WIB. The complainant filed the report for alleged violation of Article 246 of the Criminal Code.
- Developments in the Acid Attack Case on Andrie Yunus
The Indonesian National Army Military Police Centre stated that it has completed the entire investigation process in the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus. The Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) was attacked by four members of the Headquarters Intelligence Agency Detachment of the Indonesian National Army (Denma Bais TNI) on 12 March 2026.
Head of TNI Information Centre Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah stated that the completion of the investigation process is marked by the handover of the case file to the Military Prosecutor II-07 Jakarta. “The TNI Puspom investigators have completed the entire series of investigation processes in accordance with applicable provisions,” said Aulia in a written statement on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
TNI Puspom investigators have also handed over the suspects and