PDIP Claims Free Nutritious Meals Programme Drains Education Budget

Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has refuted claims circulating that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme budget does not come from education funds.

MY Esti Wijayati, Deputy Chair of Commission X of the House of Representatives for the PDIP faction, stated that according to the attachments in the 2026 State Budget Law and the Presidential Regulation concerning the budget, the MBG programme draws funds from the education budget.

“In the APBN attachments in the form of Presidential Regulation, it is clearly stated that from Rp769 trillion in education budget, Rp223.5 trillion is used for MBG. That is official in the APBN attachment document,” said MY Esti at a press conference at PDIP Party School in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

“We from Commission X of the House of Representatives feel the need to clarify explicitly so the public knows the truth in accordance with the data,” she added.

In agreement with Esti, Deputy Secretary General of the PDIP Central Leadership Board Adian Napitupulu also dismissed claims that the MBG budget stems from ministerial and institutional efficiency measures.

He invited the public to refer directly to the applicable legal instruments.

“What some state officials are saying, as if the MBG budget is a result of efficiency and not from the education budget, is incorrect. In fact, we can see Law Number 17 of 2025 concerning the 2026 APBN,” said Adian.

Adian detailed that in the explanation of Article 22 of that law, it is explicitly stated that funding for the operational implementation of education already includes the Free Nutritious Meals Programme at general and religious educational institutions.

Furthermore, this regulation is reinforced by Presidential Regulation Number 118 of 2025 on the Details of the 2026 State Budget. In this Presidential Regulation, the budget allocation for the National Nutrition Agency reaches more than Rp223 trillion, precisely Rp223,558,960,490.

Adian emphasised that PDIP’s step in opening this data to the public is not merely criticism, but a form of respect for the constitution and transparent state governance.

“Our state is guided by law. Communicating correctly in accordance with law and Presidential Regulation is a way of honouring the House of Representatives and Government as their makers. So we clarify: it turns out the funds are indeed taken from the education budget,” said Adian.