Prabowo Challenges Critics of Free Nutritious Meals Programme: Come and Ask the Children!
President Prabowo Subianto has challenged those who continue to criticise the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to go directly into the field. From Gorontalo, Prabowo asked the critics to ask children, farmers, and fishermen themselves whether his flagship programme is needed or not.
The statement was made by Prabowo while attending the XVII National Farmer and Fisherman Week (PENAS) in Gorontalo. The moment began when Prabowo saw a number of children holding a banner reading ‘Indonesia Sehat Bersama MBG’ (Healthy Indonesia with MBG) during his speech.
"There are also those who disagree with MBG. Those who disagree with MBG should come here. Ask the farmers, fishermen, is MBG needed or not?" Prabowo said, as seen on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Wednesday (24/6/2026).
"Ask the children, is MBG needed or not?" Prabowo continued, which was then answered with a cheer of ‘needed’.
Prabowo then addressed the views of some parties who consider there are more pressing issues than overcoming hunger. In his view, no condition is more critical than an empty stomach.
"They say there are clever people who say there are things more critical than an empty stomach. I think there is nothing more critical than an empty stomach. A person with an empty stomach, if it is not filled immediately, will die!" Prabowo stated.
On the same occasion, Prabowo also reminded the audience about the threat of a global food crisis. He mentioned that the United Nations (UN) has warned of the potential for increasing world hunger figures this year.
"The UN has predicted that this year hunger in the world will be massive. Two years ago, around 300 million people were hungry in the world, it is estimated that now it has increased to 500 million, 700 million, the FAO is giving a warning," Prabowo said.
Amidst these threats, Prabowo said Indonesia is now beginning to be able to help other countries experiencing food supply shortages.
"Brothers and sisters, alhamdulillah, we are now starting to export, we are now helping other countries, all of you," he added.