Purbaya Speaks Out on Budget Cuts for Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has confirmed he has communicated with the palace regarding news of budget cuts for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Purbaya offered a brief confirmation. “Yes,” Purbaya said when asked for confirmation at the Parliament Building on Thursday (11/6/2026). However, regarding the amount of the cut, Purbaya appeared hesitant to mention the figure. “What level is it? 90, is it?” Purbaya disclosed, uncertain. Purbaya stated that concerning the cuts, the government will follow the direction of President Prabowo Subianto. Previously, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi spoke out, revealing the government is currently recalculating the requirements for the MBG programme. He said that preliminary calculations show a reduction in budgetary needs for the programme’s implementation. “It is not a cut, but from the results of the calculation, we believe there will be a reduction in the budget requirement for this free nutritious meal programme,” Prasetyo said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office in Central Jakarta on Thursday (11/6/2026). Prasetyo stated the recalculation process for the MBG budget requirements is still ongoing. The recalculation is being carried out in line with plans to improve the governance of President Prabowo’s priority programme. “That is why we are asking for time to also calculate with the Ministry of Finance and with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). So from this structuring process, we will be able to calculate more carefully exactly how much the total required budget for this nutritious meal programme will be,” he explained.