PDIP Criticises BGN Head Over Proposal to Expand Free Nutritious Meal Programme to Saudi Arabia
Charles Honoris, Vice Chairman of Commission IX of the DPR from the PDIP faction, has highlighted the discourse regarding the expansion of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme for Indonesian schoolchildren in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Charles requested that Dadan Hindayana refrain from proposing unusual ideas.
“Enough, there is no need for strange ideas. Do not speak of expanding the MBG programme abroad if domestic governance is still in disarray. What needs to be fixed now is not expanding the programme’s scope, but tidying up the implementation management,” Charles told journalists on Tuesday.
Charles stated that the oversight of the MBG programme within the country is not yet maximal. He does not want existing energy to be exhausted on new discourses. “Oversight is poor, coordination is chaotic, and quality control is still problematic. This is what must be resolved first. Do not let energy be wasted on creating new discourses while domestic affairs are still messy,” he revealed.
“The measure of MBG’s success is not how large the budget spent is or how many claims of beneficiaries there are. What is more important is the quality of the food provided, the nutritional quality, and the guarantee that this programme is implemented correctly,” he added.
The PDIP official requested that Dadan resolve domestic MBG issues and increase supervisory control. “If domestic governance is still in disarray, how can we supervise a programme running thousands of kilometres from Indonesia? Do not let the problems be exported. Just focus on fixing what exists. Tidy the system, strengthen oversight, and improve quality control,” he said.
Statement from the Head of BGN
Dadan Hindayana previously proposed the MBG programme for Indonesian schoolchildren in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Dadan intends to report this proposal to President Prabowo Subianto first.
This was stated by Dadan during a visit to the Indonesian School in Jeddah. According to him, there are approximately 1,081 children of migrant workers studying there. “I was asked to visit the Indonesian School in Jeddah, where there are about 1,081 children of migrant workers educated there, and I think this is a good programme because it can give these migrant workers’ children hope for the future,” Dadan said, as quoted on Tuesday.
Dadan noted that around 100 students and 56 teachers enthusiastically welcomed his visit. He mentioned that during the occasion, students spontaneously requested the MBG programme similar to the one in Indonesia. “They spontaneously wanted to enjoy the programme that their peers in Indonesia experience,” he said.
However, the proposal will be reported to President Prabowo first. The programme could potentially serve as a pilot project for other locations with Indonesian migrant workers. “We visited to observe, and I will report to the President whether it is possible to establish a Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit at the Indonesian School in Jeddah. There may also be migrant workers in Malaysia and in plantations, etc.; this could serve as a pilot project,” he said.