Purbaya: Many Schools Requesting MBG Shows Public Approval

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has said that a significant portion of the public supports the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, as indicated by requests from schools and parents.

Purbaya made the remarks at his office after meeting with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, last weekend.

“I simply asked whether any schools had requested it. There are certainly many that have. And the demand is quite massive. This means that, in my view, the MBG programme is very well received by a portion of the public. The schools themselves are still asking for it in large numbers,” he said.

The MBG is a priority programme of President Prabowo Subianto. It was announced during the campaign and implemented in the first year after his election. The programme consumes hundreds of trillions of rupiah, which is why it has drawn broad public attention.

Not only the Indonesian public but also investors have been concerned about the potential for the programme to widen the budget deficit beyond 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“I said, if that is the case, you should announce to the public how many schools have requested it. So that people know that a portion of the public does indeed like this programme. If not all of them, then most of them,” Purbaya explained, repeating what he had conveyed to Sudaryono.

The BGN will increase the number of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions, Islamic boarding schools, and areas outside Java that still require programme services. However, it has been confirmed that there will be no additional budget allocation.

“The 3T regions are included for next year. He said there will be a reallocation from one budget line to that one. Can the funds be used? Yes, they can,” Purbaya asserted.