Prabowo Vows to Continue Free Nutritious Meal Programme with Improvements

President Prabowo Subianto has asserted that he will continue the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, albeit with a note on the need for improvements and efficiency. He made this statement during the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Friday, 14 August 2026. Prabowo initially explained that the MBG programme was implemented to address the problem of stunting among Indonesian children. “But that is the reality we found, and we implemented this MBG programme to address it, to tackle the stunting still experienced by our children, which in some places is as high as 25 percent,” Prabowo said. He noted that one in four Indonesian children is stunted, meaning their brains and muscle cells do not develop properly. Under such conditions, Prabowo assessed that they would not be capable of working as farmers or at ports. “To be a dockworker alone, he might not be able to. To be a farmer, a farm labourer, he might also not be able to,” he explained. Prabowo stressed that he does not want any Indonesian children to suffer from stunting. Therefore, he is determined to continue the MBG programme. “We cannot accept that one in four Indonesian children is stunted. We cannot accept that, and because of that, I am determined to continue the MBG programme, but with improvements, with efficiency,” Prabowo concluded.