Prabowo Vows to Continue Free Nutritious Meals Programme with Improvements and Efficiency

President Prabowo Subianto is determined to continue the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme with improvements and efficiency to ensure the nutritional needs of Indonesian children are met. “I am determined to continue the MBG programme with improvements, with efficiency,” Prabowo said during his state address at the 2026 Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and the House of Representatives (DPR) at the MPR/DPR RI Building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday. Prabowo stated that human development is the most decisive factor for Indonesia’s future and must begin with fulfilling basic needs, especially nutrition. “We start from the most basic thing, which is nutrition. None of our children should study while hungry. No child can learn well if they are hungry,” he said. The President noted that the MBG programme aims to address the problem of malnutrition still experienced by children in several regions. The Head of State stated that the prevalence of severe malnutrition in some places still reaches 25 per cent, or about one in four Indonesian children. “To become a port labourer, he might not be capable; to become a farm labourer, he might also not be capable. We cannot let one in four Indonesian children experience stunting; we cannot accept that,” the President asserted. Therefore, Prabowo emphasised that the government will continue to run the MBG programme by making improvements while increasing its efficiency.