Proposal to Reduce MBG by One Day to Save Rp 40 Trillion, Does Prabowo Agree?

A proposal has emerged to reduce the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) by one day, from six times a week to five, in order to achieve savings. The question arises whether President Prabowo Subianto agrees with this.

According to detikFinance, this proposal to cut MBG is one of the budget efficiency measures amid the surge in oil prices. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the plan is being finalised.

“We are finalising it,” said Prasetyo when asked if Prabowo agrees with the idea of reducing MBG to five days, met at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Central Jakarta, Friday (27/3/2026).

Prasetyo mentioned that the government’s steps to respond to the global situation will be conveyed this week, including matters related to the distribution of the MBG programme.

“(Announced) this week. There’s Saturday, there’s Sunday,” Prasetyo added.

It is said to be able to save Rp 40 trillion

Previously, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa revealed that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has prepared options for efficiency in the MBG programme. The efficiency plan is carried out by reducing the number of distributions, from six times a week to five times a week.

Purbaya said the state could save around Rp 40 trillion per year if this is done. That figure is based on a rough calculation from the BGN.

“So there is also efficiency from MBG. There is a significant reduction, he just said Rp 40 trillion as the first rough calculation, but it could be more. It’s not me cutting it, indeed they are doing it themselves because they (BGN) say there can still be efficiency with the current situation,” said Purbaya to reporters at his office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (25/3).