Prabowo Asks Workers: Is MBG Beneficial or Not?
President Prabowo Subianto asked about the benefits of the free nutritious meal (MBG) programme to the worker masses during International Labour Day celebrations at the National Monument area in Jakarta on Friday, 1 May 2026. Prabowo emphasised his view that the programme is crucial for Indonesia.
Prabowo asked for the workers’ opinions while delivering a speech from the Mayday Fiesta stage at Monas. He was discussing his government’s social programmes at the time. “We also provide very substantial social protection,” he said to the audience.
One of those social programmes, the Gerindra Party Chairman stated, is MBG. “We also provide MBG. I ask you all, is MBG beneficial or not?” Prabowo asked.
However, Prabowo’s question was not answered compactly by the worker masses. Some expressed agreement while others stated disagreement.
The former Minister of Defence continued his speech by highlighting the importance of MBG for children to overcome stunting. On the other hand, Prabowo also mentioned that MBG can revive the national economy.
“MBG is very important for our children. Your children, many of them suffer from malnutrition, their bodies are small, their cells do not develop. With MBG, our economy comes alive everywhere,” he said.
According to him, the impact of MBG can be felt by workers. Because, he said, MBG creates stable demand for meat, eggs, milk, fish, and agricultural produce. “Our economy comes alive, farmers get income, you all. This money circulates. Indonesia becomes more prosperous,” said Prabowo.
President Prabowo’s administration continues to accelerate the realisation of the MBG project for around 82 million beneficiaries. This programme is Prabowo’s flagship that he promised during the 2024 presidential election.
Several economists urge the government to cut the MBG budget. Cutting MBG funds is considered the easiest option amid the government’s plans to carry out efficiency in the budgets of ministries/institutions to avoid the risk of a state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN) deficit.
Professor at Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) University, Didin Damanhuri, stated that the MBG budget allocated this year of Rp 335 trillion should focus on areas with stunting and malnutrition. Based on his calculations, with reallocation of that budget, MBG would likely only spend around Rp 40-50 trillion.
“So the other budget can avoid deficits, fund rising oil prices, fund social assistance and various development needs,” said Didin in an online discussion on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
Economist from the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia, Dipo Satria Ramli, also suggested similar steps. “All rating agencies, many economists comment, we should just cut MBG, that’s the easiest and simplest,” he said.
Cutting the MBG budget is seen as able to give positive sentiment to market players and economic actors that the government understands the current fiscal problems. The global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, previously highlighted the MBG programme which is considered at risk of causing APBN expenditure to swell beyond the set target.