PKS Calls on Government to Evaluate Free Nutritious Meals Programme
The Chair of the PKS Central Advisory Board has called on the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme following the temporary suspension of over 1,000 nutrition service units (SPPG).
Mulyanto, Chair of the PKS Central Advisory Board, stated that the suspension of 1,000 SPPG units serves as an alarm for complete programme evaluation. He noted that whilst the free nutritious meals programme is strategically important for developing human resources, it has been too centralised and dependent on state institutions, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), and political parties.
Mulyanto argued that the MBG programme would be stronger if designed with greater decentralisation, centred on regional governments, schools, and local economic actors. “However, looking at the case of the temporary suspension of over 1,000 kitchens, it shows that implementing a social programme of this scale requires more mature governance, is not rushed, is transparent, and is based on local community capacity with reliable oversight,” Mulyanto said in a written statement on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
He assessed that the case demonstrates MBG implementation design requires improvement to avoid excessive centralisation and dependence on state institutions. The involvement of institutions such as the TNI and Polri should be limited to logistical support or specific circumstances, rather than being primary managers of MBG kitchens.
The programme would have dual benefits if managed by cooperatives, community groups, and particularly small and medium-sized food enterprises (UMKM), which have long been the backbone of local economies across regions. Serious UMKM involvement would not only strengthen programme sustainability but also create broad economic impacts.
Food supply chains, catering services, and logistics distribution can stimulate local economies and provide direct benefits to communities around schools. The programme’s oversight system must be built transparently and accountably, Mulyanto added. Sanitation standards, nutritional quality, and budget use need to be monitored openly involving regional governments, oversight bodies, and public participation to maintain public trust.
With a more decentralised, participatory, and transparent design, the MBG programme would not only be a nutrition assistance initiative but also an instrument for empowering citizens economically and strengthening sound and sustainable public service governance, he concluded.
The National Nutrition Agency this week temporarily suspended operations of 1,512 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) across Java. The temporary closure followed the agency’s discovery of several kitchens that failed to meet operational standards, including sanitation requirements and facility completeness.
Albertus Dony Dewantoro, Director of Regional Monitoring and Supervision II at the National Nutrition Agency, said the suspension was part of the reorganisation of the MBG programme services. “We have temporarily suspended 1,512 SPPG operations. This was done as follow-up to evaluation of the fulfilment of operational standards and facilities and infrastructure requirements at several SPPG,” Dony said as reported by Antara on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
The thousands of service units are distributed across various provinces on Java, including 50 units in DKI Jakarta, 62 units in Banten, 350 units in West Java, 54 units in Central Java, 788 units in East Java, and 208 units in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
From the evaluation results, one key finding was the absence of sanitary hygiene fitness certificates (SLHS). The National Nutrition Agency recorded that at least 1,043 SPPG had not registered such certificates. Additionally, the agency found that 443 SPPG lacked proper wastewater treatment facilities (IPAL) meeting standards.
Other issues included the unavailability of residential facilities or accommodation for SPPG heads, nutritionists, and accountants at several service units. This condition was found at 175 SPPG distributed across several provinces, including Banten, DI Yogyakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java.