Parliament urges BGN to evaluate MBG programme amid Ramadan protests

A parliamentary committee member has urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Free Nutritious Food (MBG) programme, which continues during the holy month of Ramadan and has drawn protests from some parents. Eem Marhamah Zulfa Hiz, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), said Ramadan should be an opportunity to improve the quality of children’s nutrition for those who fast, not a reason to lower standards.

She lamented reports from various regions about MBG packages whose economic value is estimated to be far below Rp 10,000. “Ramadan must not be an excuse to degrade quality,” Neng Eem told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday 4 March 2026. She argued Ramadan should make MBG a hopeful experience for pupils rather than a source of disappointment.

The misgivings about MBG have emerged from several areas, including Kudus Regency in Central Java, where parents complain that MBG packages consist only of fried peanuts, abon bread, a small boxed milk, a boiled egg, and a single orange. A similar situation occurred in Lumajang Regency, where pupils reportedly received only 125 ml of milk, a salted egg, and an unripe orange.

Neng Eem stressed that the issue is not merely about appearance but indicates non-compliance with budget guidelines and national calorie standards. “If discrepancies are found, there must be coaching up to administrative sanctions for the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) – the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit,” she said. “We must not allow public complaints to be treated as wind.”

As a concrete step, she asked BGN to promptly draft Ramadan-specific standards for the MBG menu. The standard should cover shelf life to ensure meals remain suitable for consumption at iftar, balanced nutritional composition, and transparency of the value of packages in each region.

According to Neng Eem, tight oversight is needed so every rupiah of state funding lands on pupils’ plates in the form of quality nutrition, not mere formalities. “Children who fast still require balanced nutritious intake to maintain health and concentration at school,” she explained.

Neng Eem wants the issue resolved quickly and not repeated with public complaints. “We need rapid action to ensure clear nutritional composition and sufficient calorie values,” she concluded.