Prabowo Receives Letter from Primary School Student About Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - President Prabowo Subianto received a letter from an 11-year-old student during his working visit to Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday (16 May 2026). The letter was given while Prabowo was carrying out a series of activities in the region.

Quoting CNN Indonesia, the sender of the letter is Alkhalifi Muhammad Marfen, a 5th-grade student at MI Darussalam Sidoarjo. He took the time to deliver his written message directly to the President during the visit.

In his letter, Marfen expressed gratitude to the President. He said he was happy that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme implemented by the government is now available at his school.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for the free nutritious meals. I am happy to receive them because the food is nutritious,” Marfen wrote in his letter, as quoted from a written statement.

Marfen expressed his simple wish to meet President Prabowo in person. For a child of his age, seeing the President directly is a big dream that he wants to fulfil, other than just watching him on television.

“I want to meet Mr. President by participating in the 17 August 1945 ceremony at the State Palace because I can only see it on TV,” he wrote.

For Marfen and millions of other children, this programme means more than just providing lunch menus. The initiative is considered a real form of attention from the state that is directly felt by students at school.

The letter was closed with a sincere prayer. “Thank you, Mr. President, stay healthy,” Marfen concluded his letter.

The Free Nutritious Meal programme currently targets students from early childhood education to senior high school throughout Indonesia. In addition to students, the target of this programme also includes pregnant mothers, breastfeeding mothers, and children under five years old.

In addition to this agenda, during his visit to Nganjuk, President Prabowo inaugurated the Ibu Marsinah Museum as a form of tribute to the national hero. He also inaugurated the operation of 1,061 Red and White Village/Urban Cooperative (KDKMP) spread throughout Indonesia.