Saan Asserts DPR Maintains Checks and Balances, Highlights Free Nutritious Meals and Pertamax Issues

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Saan Mustopa has stressed that his institution continues to conduct oversight and checks and balances on the government. Saan said the DPR accommodates public complaints, including evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme and the issue of rising Pertamax prices.

“Checks and balances are still running, right. For example, regarding public complaints about government policies and programmes, the relevant commissions also address and criticise them,” Saan told journalists at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (22/6/2026).

Saan said the DPR receives and listens to all public complaints to date. This includes, he said, public criticism of the government regarding MBG.

“For instance, concerning the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals programme, MBG. From what was decided by the government, for example, the trigger was a legal issue involving a senior official at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), and that was used as momentum to carry out governance reforms, this has already been done,” he stated.

The Nasdem Party deputy chairman also mentioned that the DPR received student representatives who demonstrated in front of the DPR building. Saan noted that a few days ago, together with other DPR leaders, he met with the student masses.

Saan said at that time they accommodated the students’ complaints and aspirations regarding MBG. In fact, he said, the DPR directly contacted BGN Head Nanik Sudaryati Deyang and obtained assurance of improvements to the MBG programme.

“So in my view, in this matter the DPR has continued to carry out its functions as an institution that represents the public interest, and we continue to do so,” he said.

Saan assured that the DPR always monitors what the government does. The legislator from West Java touched on one polemic regarding the rising price of Pertamax and the scarcity of subsidised fuel.

“So we cannot stand alone in handling this. Therefore, when the students questioned that issue, we immediately connected with the government, with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Bahlil. And Mr Bahlil has also conveyed his commitment to answer what has become the public’s demand, voiced by the students and other groups, by trying to make adjustments, for instance, as this is also very much determined by the peace between America and Iran, you see,” he explained.

Therefore, Saan reiterated that the DPR will certainly continue to monitor the government’s commitments and public complaints. “So once again, the DPR will continue to strive to oversee what has become the government’s commitment while also conveying the issues that exist within society,” he added.