Prabowo Vows to Continue Free Nutritious Meals Programme, House Commission IX Demands Strict Oversight

President Prabowo Subianto has vowed to continue the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, while Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX, Putih Sari, has called for strict supervision of the programme’s operational kitchens, known as Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG).

Putih Sari emphasised the need for rigorous oversight of the SPPG’s standard operating procedures to ensure food quality and safety. “There needs to be a real-time monitoring system, from the selection of raw materials involving MSMEs to the cooking process, to ensure public transparency,” Putih Sari told reporters on Saturday (15/8/2026). She also stressed the importance of enforcing Hygiene Sanitation Eligibility Certificates (SLHS), supervising distribution to prevent food safety risks, and strengthening the governance structure of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to ensure the programme adheres to the principles of good and clean governance, free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN).

While expressing full support for the programme’s continuation, Putih Sari highlighted its dual benefits. “The MBG programme must continue because it not only ensures the nutritional adequacy of tens of millions of Indonesian children and addresses malnutrition, but also acts as a driver for local economies by absorbing products from local MSMEs, farmers, and livestock breeders,” she added.

Fellow Commission IX member Irma Suryani Chaniago was more critical, pointing to weak supervision since the programme’s inception. “From the start, this programme only focused on establishing SPPGs but was weak in control, resulting in waste because much of the food is not eaten, and the state loses out because targets are not met,” Irma stated. She urged the government to overhaul the programme’s management, evaluate its human resources and budget, and ensure that the expenditure aligns with the benefits received and the President’s targets. Irma also cautioned against abruptly shutting down kitchens, noting that many involve community investment. “If they are closed, how much loss will the public bear, especially those who have invested and not yet broken even, let alone made a profit?” she questioned.

In his state address at the Annual Session of the MPR and Joint Session of the DPR-DPD 2026 on Friday (14/8/2026), President Prabowo stressed that he did not want Indonesian children to study on an empty stomach. He revealed that 25 per cent of Indonesian children suffer from stunting, a condition that prevents cells from developing properly and has long-term negative impacts. “That is the reality we face, and we are implementing this programme to overcome stunting, which is still experienced by our children in some areas at a rate as high as 25 per cent—one in four Indonesian children,” Prabowo said. He concluded by affirming his determination to continue the MBG programme, but with improvements and greater efficiency.