Prabowo Asks to Collect Critical Videos on MBG: Let Me Watch Them Every Night

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – President Prabowo Subianto ordered Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodari to collect videos of those who have criticized and insulted the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. He said many people from the educated class, holding professorial titles, have declared that the MBG program will fail and is merely a waste of public money.

“For those who, when we had only been running for one month, already insulted us, already predicted we would certainly fail — Mr. Qodari, please collect the video clips of those who predicted we would fail, who said I was insulting the Indonesian people,” Prabowo said at the inauguration of a National Police-owned food distribution center (SPPG) in Palmerah, West Jakarta, on Friday (2/13).

Prabowo said the MBG program is purely aimed at saving Indonesia’s children. He expressed bewilderment at being accused of insulting children by giving them free meals.

“There must be a digital record, record it all. God willing, we will reach over 80-something million beneficiaries. Let me watch them every night — it’s fine. ‘Oh really, I’m insulting the Indonesian people?’” he said.

Prabowo said that as of Friday (2/13), there were already more than 60 million MBG beneficiaries, ranging from children to pregnant women. He called it one of Indonesia’s great achievements, noting that the number of beneficiaries is equivalent to feeding the entire population of South Africa.

“This number is roughly equivalent to feeding the entire population of South Africa every day, or ten times Singapore every day, or twice Malaysia every day,” he said.