Public Highlights Claim That Free Nutritious Meal Programme Cuts Regional Revenue
A group of citizens under the banner of Jaringan Aktivis Nusantara (JAN) staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs building in Jakarta. The protesters demanded that Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian evaluate and dismiss the Acting Governor of Riau, SF Hariyanto, from his post.
The call for removal was triggered by a statement from SF Hariyanto claiming that the decline in Riau Province’s locally generated revenue (PAD) was caused by budget allocations for the national Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme.
JAN coordinator Umar deemed the argument put forward by Riau’s top official to be erroneous and indicative of a stance that does not align with the central government’s commitment to advancing strategic national programmes.
“Logically, the MBG programme should actually increase regional revenue because the state budget allocated to the region in the form of funds for the Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG) will certainly pay taxes on various SPPG purchases, not reduce PAD,” Umar stated in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/6/2026).
Umar alleged that the decline in PAD experienced by Riau Province is purely the result of poor financial governance and the failure of regional executive management to explore local retribution and tax potential, rather than a burden imposed by the free meal programme. He expressed regret over the regional head’s attitude, which he viewed as seeking justification for poor fiscal performance by blaming a presidential priority policy.
“Don’t use the national programme as a scapegoat just because he failed to increase PAD,” Umar remarked.
In light of this situation, JAN urged the Ministry of Home Affairs not to remain silent and to immediately summon SF Hariyanto for clarification. Umar stressed that an acting regional head appointed by the central government is tasked with safeguarding and accelerating strategic national programmes in the region, not the opposite.
“That is why we are urging the Home Affairs Minister to immediately investigate and remove SF Hariyanto from his position as Acting Governor because he does not support the national programme,” Umar asserted.