NBI hails MBG as most noble programme set to become 'giant'
MBG will surely be loved by the people if not turned into a ‘looting project’. Netra Bakti Indonesia (NBI) considers the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme one of President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran’s most noble initiatives, set to become a ‘giant’ success if radical improvements are made.
Netra Bakti Indonesia Chairman Khalilur Abdullah Sahlawiy, known as Gus Lilur, said he supports MBG as it aligns with religious teachings, constitutional mandates, and the people’s real needs.
“However, this support does not mean tolerating deviations. In fact, as supporters of the President, we feel it our duty to voice criticism to safeguard MBG before public trust erodes further,” he stated in a Jakarta statement on Thursday.
He emphasised the MBG programme must be “clean”, ensuring children receive the best possible meals as their right.
He stressed President Prabowo Subianto must be assisted, not betrayed, by subordinates.
He believes the President must receive honest information that the issue with MBG lies not in the concept, but in the overly long implementation chain which creates room for rent-seeking.
MBG should embody the nation’s compassion towards Indonesian children, particularly the poor, he added. However, when meal budgets are slashed, substandard kitchens remain operational, and third parties enter solely for profit, the programme meant to be the President’s legacy risks becoming a moral and political burden.
“MBG will surely be loved by the people if not turned into a ‘looting project’. It will become President Prabowo’s great legacy if children’s meal budgets are fully preserved until they reach the plate,” he said.
Ideally, the state should establish a Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG) and manage it directly through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), without relying on third parties, he explained. This would prevent public funds from being wasted on rental structures, licensing fees, margins, and multi-layered business chains.
Moreover, he proposed that the SPPG management model should be as close as possible to schools. The government should build school kitchens and canteens, then involve school principals, parent-teacher committees, teachers, parents, health clinics, nutrition experts, local authorities, and oversight officials.
“Avoid too many third parties entering solely for profit, reducing meal budgets and undermining the President’s MBG ideals,” he said.
Gus Lilur said school kitchens and canteens would shorten the control chain, simplify oversight, and strengthen moral accountability, as schools know student numbers, conditions, schedules, special needs, and can directly receive complaints from teachers and parents if meals are substandard.
He also suggested the government start a national pilot project, with one district or city per province serving as a model for MBG management via school kitchens/canteens or state-run SPPG managed directly by BGN.
“President Prabowo wants to feed Indonesian children, so do not let his noble intent be hijacked by corrupt officials,” Gus Lilur stressed.