Prabowo Says There Are Many Ways to Save: No Crisis, We Won't Stop MBG
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto stated that the government has many ways to implement savings if a crisis occurs.
According to Prabowo, the MBG programme should not be stopped every time there is a crisis.
“So, don’t go in the direction of okay, there’s a crisis, then we stop MBG. Right? There are still many other ways we can save. There are still many,” said Prabowo during a dialogue with several figures and journalists in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, quoted from a video shared by the Presidential Secretariat on Sunday (22/3/2026).
Prabowo said the MBG programme has also received appreciation from the Rockefeller Institute from the United States.
“So this is strategic, this is for our human capital, right. So there are still many other real savings that we can do. We have exercised, we have done savings in many sectors, right,” added Prabowo.
Prabowo stated that the MBG programme will be maintained.
He assessed that it is better for state money to be used to feed the people than to be corrupted.
“I will hold on as much as possible rather than the money being corrupted; it’s better if my people can eat. Don’t you see the stunting children? I see them; I campaigned several times in the villages. I see a child your age? 11 years old. His body is like a 4-year-old child,” he said.
President Prabowo is very optimistic about the MBG programme.
“I am absolutely certain I am on the right path. Our money is there. Our money is there. I stake my leadership; in 2029 we will see. This is my plan here,” he stated.
According to Prabowo, many children outside Java greatly need MBG, to the point that some pack it up to eat at home.
This former Minister of Defence even mentioned that he has closed more than 1,000 problematic SOEs.
“That there are shortages, we address them. I have said there are more than 1,000 that we have closed. Right? But you see that, and in many areas outside Java, they really need it, really need it,” he said.