Prabowo Wants MBG Focused on Malnourished Children, Analyst: Appropriate Suggestion

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto’s desire for the free nutritious meal (MBG) programme to be focused on malnourished children is an appropriate step.

Public policy expert from the University of Indonesia, Lina Miftahul Jannah, stated that the president’s wish presents a momentum to evaluate the MBG programme so that it can be more targeted towards malnourished children.

“This is indeed the time to conduct an evaluation, so that it is on target,” Lina told Kompas.com on Monday (13/4/2026).

Lina explained that the initial goal of the MBG programme is to provide free nutritious food.

This also applies to those who may have difficulty accessing nutritious food, whether from an economic, social, or distance perspective to nutritious food sources.

“Accessing means, for example, being far from the location and all sorts of things, so that should become the focus (as desired by the President). So if asked again whether (Prabowo’s desire) is appropriate? (The answer is) yes,” said Lina.

Lina also stated that the use of data from recipients of the Indonesia Pintar Programme (PIP) could serve as a benchmark to ensure the MBG programme is on target.

According to Lina, PIP can provide access to data on which children have parents who are unable to provide nutritious food due to economic limitations.

“I think by synchronising with schools, with PIP,” said Lina to Kompas.com on Monday (13/4/2026).

This data will enable quick integration so that President Prabowo Subianto’s desire for MBG to focus on underprivileged children can be implemented promptly.