Prabowo Warns Misconduct by Free Nutritious Meal Program Partners: 'If You Think You Are Smarter, Just Try It'

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has warned implementing partners of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme to carry out their duties correctly. This warning was issued following the arrest of several leaders of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) by the Attorney Ascendant General’s Office (Kejagung).

Prabowo cautioned ‘rebellious partners’ who dare to manipulate funds intended for the public. “If you feel you can be smarter than the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), then just try it,” Prabowo stated during the ‘Building Indonesia’s Future Generations Through Nutrition’ event at the Sentul International Convention Centre (SICC), Bogor Regency, on Wednesday.

Prabowo reminded them to return to the right path, emphasising that the MBG is a vital programme with a significant positive impact on society. He stated that he would not hesitate to take action against rogue partners and expressed readiness to strengthen the efforts of law enforcement agencies in investigating any cases.

“BPKP, KPK, everyone—we must strengthen law enforcement. Because I do not want the NKRI to be insulted. I do not want the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to be disrespected,” he said.

Previously, three former leaders of the National Nutrition Agency were named suspects by the Attorney General’s Office. The trio includes the Head of the BGN, Dadan Hindayana, and two Deputy Heads, Lodewyk Pusung and Sonny Sonjaya. They have been designated as suspects in relation to corruption involving mismanagement of the MBG programme for the 2025-2026 period.

“After a series of examinations of DH, SS, and LP based on two sufficient pieces of evidence, investigators have named DH, SS, and LP as suspects,” said the Director of Investigation of the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi.

He noted that the suspects are linked to alleged corruption involving mark-ups in the procurement of various goods, including electric motorcycles, shoes, and tablets. Specifically, the investigation covers the procurement of 21,801 electric motorcycle units totalling approximately Rp1 trillion, 32,000 pairs of shoes that did not meet regulations and involved mark-ups, over 31,000 tablets that were non-compliant and marked up, and 5,400 units of 75-inch televisions that were also subject to irregular procurement and mark-ups.