Prabowo Warns Free Nutritious Meal Programme Must Not Enrich Corrupt Individuals

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has reminded officials that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme must not be used as a means to enrich a handful of individuals. He delivered this warning to thousands of SPPG heads and MBG implementation partners during the ‘Building Indonesia’s Future Generations Through Nutrition’ event in Bogor Regency on Wednesday.

“It must not become a tool to enrich certain individuals. Food is the easiest thing to corrupt,” stated Prablagowo. He emphasised that the MBG programme is a vital initiative specifically intended for those in need, as he aims for all Indonesian children to grow with proper nutrition.

Prabowo’s remarks coincide with the Attorney General’s Office naming three former leaders of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) as suspects regarding alleged corruption and mismanagement within the MBG programme for the 2025-2026 period. The suspects include BGN Head Dadan Hindayana and two Deputy Heads, Lodewyk Pusung and Sonny Sonjaya.

“Following a series of examinations of DH, SS, and LP based on sufficient evidence, investigators have named DH, SS, and LP as suspects,” said Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of Investigation at the Attorney General’s Office for Special Crimes.

The suspects are linked to alleged corruption involving the mark-up of procurement projects for various goods, including electric motorcycles, shoes, and tablets. The investigation covers the procurement of 21,801 electric motorcycles totalling approximately Rp1 trillion, 32,000 pairs of non-compliant shoes, over 31,000 tablets that failed to meet specifications, and 5,400 75-inch televisions, all involving inflated costs.