Prabowo Furious, Says Many Infiltrators Are Stealing from Free Nutritious Meals Programme
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will continue even though the government has found indications of irregularities by certain individuals. Prabowo even alleged that there are “infiltrators” who have entered the programme’s management.
“We will continue our MBG (Free Nutritious Meal) programme! But we understand and we are aware that many have sneaked into the MBG body to become thieves there,” said Prabowo, during the simultaneous inauguration of five dams in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (10/7/2026).
Because of this, he asked all regional heads and security forces to help monitor the programme’s implementation. Specifically, Prabowo called on governors, regents, sub-district heads and village heads to conduct direct inspections of the free nutritious meal kitchens.
If irregularities are found, he asked that reports be made immediately to the Head of the National Nutrition Agency or directly to himself.
“It’s simple. Talk about it on TikTok and I’ll immediately send a team to sort it out. Right? No need to make it complicated,” he said.
“This phone number… Military district commanders, police chiefs, precinct chiefs, please inspect, inspect, inspect — which means acting in good faith. Don’t call around trying to extort, don’t. I’ve been an Indonesian for a long time. Calling around asking for pay-offs… People, keep watch! People today are not stupid, people have gadgets,” Prabowo added.
On that occasion, Prabowo also did not deny that there had been cheating in the portions provided under the programme, such as the number of portions of cut chicken given.
“For us, one chicken should be cut into eight or ten pieces at least. At the very least… at minimum twelve. Don’t cut it into eighteen or twenty-two,” he said.
Prabowo also instructed the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, not to cook omelettes on the MBG menu, so that the nutrition given to children would be clear.
“Mrs Nanik, please don’t make omelettes for MBG. (Make) boiled or fried eggs! Yes. Omelettes are usually mixed with all sorts of things. Four people could eat from one chicken with that. Especially what’s it called… scrambled, what is it, scrambled? Orek (shredded chicken)! Especially orek. With orek there’d be even less,” he said.
Prabowo added that MBG is a strategic programme for the growth and development of the nation’s children.
“They can become healthy farmers, they can become good workers, they can become scientists, they can become doctors. If from childhood their food isn’t good, they won’t reach their full potential. We are perhaps the only country that provides meals to pregnant mothers. Check and see if anyone else does?” he said.