Prabowo: State Funds to be Disbursed to the People Through MBG and Kopdes

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto stated that various government programmes are being launched to disburse state funds to the people. Some of these programmes include the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), the Merah Putih Village/Urban Ward Cooperatives (Kopdes), people’s housing, and others. “What’s wrong? What’s wrong if the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the government he leads wants to pour money to its own people? What’s wrong?” Prabowo said in Cilacap, Central Java, on Wednesday (29/4/2026). According to him, the funds would certainly be corrupted if not used for programmes whose benefits circulate at the grassroots level. “What’s wrong? I feel I am on the right path, we are on the right path, we are on the side of the Indonesian people,” Prabowo stated. As the head of government, Prabowo affirmed that he will continue to side with the community and the Indonesian nation. Each MBG kitchen or Nutrition Service and Fulfilment Unit (SPPG), for example, employs 50 people. Currently, the number of SPPG units across the country has reached 26,000. When the number of SPPG reaches 30,000 units, the number of workers absorbed will reach 1.5 million people. “One cooperative employs 18 people. 80,000 times 18, you calculate it yourself, over 1 million,” Prabowo said. On the other hand, both MBG and Kopdes Merah Putih are also planned as off-takers or parties that purchase agricultural products. Several SPPG are known to buy raw materials for dishes from farmers or traders. “The harvest is not absorbed. Middlemen come and slash prices. It’s impossible for our people to prosper; now we change it. Almost all farmers and fishermen have market guarantees through off-take,” he said.