Prabowo: I'm Attacked Over Free Nutritious Meals, But Trillions Vanish Without Protest
President Prabowo Subianto has once again addressed those who have been critical of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Prabowo expressed puzzlement that the programme is considered wasteful, whilst the leakage of trillions of rupiah in state wealth over decades has drawn little scrutiny.
He made the remarks while delivering directives at a Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (20/7/2026). Prabowo initially asserted that one measure of a nation’s success is its ability to meet its people’s food needs.
“Every economy is certainly measured, and we have our measures. We ask whether a nation can provide food, feed its people — that is the yardstick. What is the point of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia if we cannot provide the foundation of a civilisation, the most fundamental of which is providing food,” Prabowo said.
“If there are clever people who say there is something more important than a hungry stomach, then by all means, my friends. What I know from thousands of years of human history is that no society has survived without food. Civilisations perished if they did not eat,” he continued.
Prabowo said the government continues to work to ensure food prices remain under control, fertiliser is available at affordable prices for farmers, and schoolchildren receive nutritious meals through the MBG programme.
“We now ask: are food prices under control? Is fertiliser available for farmers at affordable prices? Do schools receive nutritious food at school?” he said.
Prabowo then highlighted the criticism continually directed at the government over the implementation of the MBG programme. According to him, the programme actually targets those most in need.
“My friends, I am attacked because I want to provide nutritious food for Indonesian children, to feed Indonesian children, for pregnant mothers, for the elderly — and it is considered wasteful,” he said.
Prabowo then compared this criticism with the minimal attention given to the leakage of state wealth which, according to him, has occurred over decades.
“Yet the trillions that have evaporated, that have left Indonesian soil over 34 years — there are no comments, no experts protesting, no investigations,” he said.