Parliamentary Budget Committee: Free Nutritious Meals Budget of Rp223.5 Trillion Classified Under Education Allocation
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Budget Committee (Banggar) of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Said Abdullah, has clarified the controversy surrounding the budget allocation for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) in the 2026 state budget.
Said Abdullah emphasised that the substantial allocation for President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programme forms part of the education budget allocation, in accordance with a political agreement between Parliament and the Government.
Said Abdullah explained that the total education budget allocation for 2026 reaches Rp769 trillion. From this amount, Rp268 trillion is allocated to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), with the majority of its use falling within the education function.
“From the BGN budget of Rp268 trillion, Rp255.5 trillion is allocated for MBG programme support, and Rp223.5 trillion of this falls within the education function. This is already a political decision that has been ratified in the State Budget Law,” Said Abdullah stated in his statement on Friday, 27 February.
The Chairman rejected concerns that the MBG allocation was reducing budgets for technical ministries. On the contrary, he stated that budgets for related ministries such as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) had actually increased as a consequence of increased total state expenditure.
According to Parliamentary Budget Committee data, Kemendikdasmen’s budget increased by Rp21.5 trillion, the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education increased by Rp3.3 trillion, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs increased by Rp10.5 trillion.
“Therefore, the MBG allocation was placed within the education budget position without reducing budget increases at related ministries. Regarding lawsuits filed with the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the legality of this policy, we respect that process. However, the Government and Parliament have decided based on constitutional review,” he added.
Beyond budget classification issues, Said Abdullah highlighted operational effectiveness concerns regarding the nutritional fulfilment service units (SPPG), or communal kitchens. He urged the BGN to take firm action against poorly-managed or non-compliant communal kitchen operators.
Said Abdullah emphasised that the MBG programme represents a crucial step in improving Indonesia’s chronic child malnutrition prevalence, which currently stands at 19%. This figure remains far from the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, which classifies prevalence below 10% as low.
“This agenda is noble and important. Developed countries such as Japan, China and Norway have long implemented this. Our task in Parliament is to provide constructive advice so that governance improves and nutritional targets are achieved,” he concluded.