Prabowo Acknowledges MBG Programme Still Faces Many Problems: We Have Closed More Than 3,000 MBG Kitchens

Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that the implementation and management of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme still faces numerous challenges on the ground. He said this in a speech on the Macro Economic Framework and Principles of Fiscal Policy (KEM-PPKF) for the 2027 State Budget (RAPBN 2027) in the DPR plenary meeting room, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The head of state noted that the government has even closed thousands of MBG kitchens for failing to meet programme standards. ‘We acknowledge that there are many shortcomings in MBG management. We have closed more than 3,000 kitchens,’ said Prabowo. The admission signals that the government is taking a broad evaluation of the national flagship programme, long touted as the backbone of improving public nutrition. Despite various implementation obstacles, Prabowo assured that the MBG programme would continue to operate and be expanded. According to Prabowo, to date the MBG programme has reached tens of millions of daily beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups such as under-five children and pregnant women. ‘MBG is now enjoyed by 62.4 million every day. The figure includes 6.3 million under-five children, lactating mothers and pregnant women,’ he said. In addition to targeting schoolchildren, the government has begun expanding food assistance to deserted elderly groups living without family support. ‘We will also provide MBG to 500,000 elderly people living alone, destitute and in need of MBG,’ Prabowo revealed. He emphasised that the programme is not merely an ordinary social policy, but part of a constitutional mandate that requires the state to protect the poor and vulnerable. ‘Therefore the orders of Articles 33 and 34 of the 1945 Constitution, that the poor are to be looked after by the state,’ he said. Prabowo urged regional officials down to members of the DPR to directly supervise MBG kitchen operations. He stressed that the government does not want any careless management of this national strategic programme. ‘I call on officials and I order the DPR, the regents, to inspect all kitchens. If nothing meets the standards, report immediately and we will take action,’ he said. Prabowo emphasised that the government will act firmly against programmes that do not meet standards. In his view, MBG must truly be a state instrument to help the people, not merely an administrative project without oversight.