Prabowo Slams 'Barbaric' Corruptors Targeting Free Nutritious Meals Programme

President Prabowo Subianto has condemned parties involved in corruption within the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Prabowo said those who profit from food intended for children do not deserve respect.

“I consider those who would corrupt from food for these children to be barbaric people. These are people who are not worthy of our respect. In my view, this has completely lost any sense of humanity,” Prabowo said in his state address at the Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD, at the parliamentary complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday (14/8/2026).

Prabowo said the MBG is part of the government’s effort to meet the basic needs of Indonesian children. He does not want Indonesian children to study while hungry.

“We are starting from the most basic thing, namely nutrition. None of our children should study while hungry. No child can learn well if they are hungry. Perhaps some of us will never see or feel what it is like for children who do not eat in the morning. But that is the reality we find,” he said.

Prabowo said the MBG programme is a solution to address the problem of stunting. He revealed that 25 percent of Indonesian children still experience stunting.

“We are implementing this MBG programme to address that, to address the stunting still experienced by our children in some places, as high as 25 percent of our children,” he continued.

According to him, in stunted children, the cells in their bodies will not develop properly. This will have an impact on the child’s future life.

“Brain cells do not develop properly, muscle cells do not develop, bone cells do not develop properly. To become a port labourer, he may not even be capable. To become a farm labourer, he will not be capable. We must not accept that 1 in 4 Indonesian children experience stunting, we must not accept this,” he said.

Therefore, he is committed to continuing the MBG programme. “And because of that, I am determined to continue the MBG programme, but with improvements and efficiency,” he said.