Prabowo Remarks on Wealthy Children's Schools Rejecting Free Nutritious Meals

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, emphasised that the government has a major target to provide Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) to 82.9 million beneficiaries, ranging from schoolchildren to pregnant women and toddlers.

However, Prabowo stated that he has no issue if certain schools reject MBG. He suggested that such schools might have students who are children of wealthy individuals.

He emphasised that there will be no compulsion for all parties to accept MBG.

Prabowo made these remarks during a visit to one of the Red White Fishermen’s Villages in Gorontalo on Saturday (10/5), as quoted from detikFinance.

Initially, Prabowo asked the attendees at the Fishermen’s Village whether MBG was already available in the area. He faintly heard some residents complaining that they had not yet received MBG.

“Those who don’t need it, that’s fine, right? If the children of wealthy people don’t need (MBG), that’s okay. True, no one is forced. But we want our children to be strong, we want our children to be enthusiastic, we want our children to be smart, we want our children to study diligently,” Prabowo asserted in a video broadcast virtually.

Regarding the response from residents who claimed they had not yet received MBG, Prabowo said his team would note the complaint and promptly open access to Free Meals throughout all parts of Gorontalo.

He stressed that all schools which feel they need MBG are guaranteed to receive it.

“How about in Gorontalo? Is MBG already available in the schools? Is there any that hasn’t? There is? Yes, the ones that haven’t will be noted and addressed immediately. This year, all schools that feel they need it will be provided with MBG,” said Prabowo.

Prabowo further emphasised that the purpose of MBG is to ensure that schoolchildren in Indonesia can be strong, diligent in their studies, and enthusiastic about attending school.