President Prabowo Vows to Continue Free Nutritious Meal Programme with Improvements and Efficiency

President Prabowo Subianto has expressed his determination to continue the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme with improvements and efficiency to ensure the nutritional needs of Indonesian children are met. The President stated that the MBG programme aims to address the problem of malnutrition still experienced by children in several regions. “I am determined to continue the MBG programme with improvements, with efficiency,” Prabowo said during his state address at the MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the DPD and DPR for 2026 at the MPR/DPR Building in Senayan, Jakarta, Friday (14/8/2026). Prabowo stated that human development is the most decisive factor for Indonesia’s future and must begin with the fulfilment of 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 Head of State stated that the prevalence of malnutrition in some places still reaches 25 per cent, or about one in four Indonesian children. According to Prabowo, this condition cannot be allowed to continue because malnutrition can hinder the development of children’s brain cells, muscles, and bones. “To become a dockworker, he might not be capable; to become a farm labourer, he might also not be capable. We cannot accept that one in four Indonesian children experience stunting; we cannot accept that,” the President stressed. Therefore, Prabowo affirmed that the government will continue to run the MBG programme by making improvements while increasing its efficiency. On Friday, the MPR, DPR, and DPD held the MPR Annual Session and the DPR-DPD Joint Session, one of the agendas of which was President Prabowo Subianto’s speech for the Submission of the Performance Report of State Institutions and the State Address of the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the context of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. In addition to the speech, the government will also screen a video of government performance achievements. This annual session is a state agenda to welcome the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, which carries the theme “A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia”.