No Interference Regarding Removal of National Nutrition Agency Head, Purbaya Focuses on Efficienting Free Nutritious Meal Budget

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has commented on the removal of Dadan Hindayana as the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Purbaya stated that the dismissal of Dadan was a decision made by President Prabowo Subianto following a performance evaluation of his tenure as Head of the BGN.

“This decision regarding Dadan’s removal as Head of the BGN was made by the President after evaluating his performance. We do not interfere,” Purbaya said when met in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He further added that his office has currently reduced the budget for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme to Rp268 trillion, down from the previous allocation of Rp335 trillion. “Due to various budget cuts and adjustments, the allocation will decrease,” Purbaya explained.

Previously, the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) officially named the former Head of the BGN, Dadan Hindayana, as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal programme for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. In addition to Dadan, two former Deputy Heads of the BGN have also been named as suspects and were immediately detained. The Attorney General’s Office identified the corruption related to the appointment of affiliated foundations as partners for the School Nutrition Implementation Unit (SPPG).

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has noted that the removal and detention of the National Nutrition Agency Head, Dadan Hindayana, does not yet resolve the fundamental issues surrounding the MBG programme.