Purbaya: S&P Not Concerned Over Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbante Yudhi Sadewa has stated that he has never heard the rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) specifically express concern that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme would act as a burden on the State Budget (APBN).

“When I last met with S&P, they did not raise issues regarding that,” Purbaya stated at the DPR/MPR Building, Jakarta, on Saturday (6/6/2026).

According to Purbaya, who met with the agency some time ago, S&P’s concerns actually lie with negative sentiment from financial market players. “In reality, they are only concerned with sentiment, questioning or worrying about the negative sentiment present in the market. That is all. But as for the foundations, there is no problem,” he explained.

President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes, including the MBG and the Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP), have already been factored into Purbaya’s calculations. Purbaya is confident that the state budget deficit can be maintained below 3% of GDP.

“Those programmes are not being questioned, because we can ensure that even with those programmes, we can maintain the deficit at 2-3%. And if, for example, there are pressures such as high valuation prices, those can be controlled as needed,” Purbaya elaborated.

“So, the initial assumption was that the MBG is inflexible, and others are inflexible. I informed S&P that these can be adjusted; this can be adjusted. Therefore, there is no need to fear our fiscal condition,” he concluded.