Prabowo Calls for Careful, Unhurried Review of Free Nutritious Meal Programme Improvements

Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Agustina Arumsari revealed President Prabowo Subianto’s message that improvements to the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) should be carried out cautiously. Prabowo wants every decision taken to be carefully studied. This was conveyed by Agustina after a limited meeting with Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. The meeting discussed the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP) and the implementation of the MBG. One focus is the restructuring of beneficiaries. Agustina stated that children in the 8th decile and above will no longer receive MBG. “But the important point is this: the President asked that every policy to be taken be truly studied. There is no need to rush, that is the President’s message,” Agustina said. “Because it is not easy to make a policy for millions of people. This already has 63 million beneficiaries, it is not easy,” she continued. Agustina then gave an example of the MBG restructuring decision, where children in the 8th decile and above no longer receive MBG. However, dynamics arise if within a school there are still those in the 8th decile and below. “It means we must ensure there isn’t a situation where some receive and some do not. Consider the psychological aspect, consider this aspect, consider that aspect,” she said. Agustina stressed that Prabowo wants this matter to be studied in depth. Prabowo has given one month for further developments. “So the President asked us to study things like that again. We were given approximately one month, please study it again,” she said. “Once again, the President’s main point is please study it again. The President does not want to rush in making decisions. He wants to be careful,” Agustina continued. Furthermore, Agustina emphasised Prabowo’s focus on continuing to pay attention to people who are truly in need. “Those who indeed do not need it because their condition is in a decile that is already high, indeed do not need it. So that is the broad policy direction given to us,” she said.