Said Confirms Cabinet Secretary on Free Nutritious Meal Programme Funded from Education Budget Approved by DPR Budget Commission
The Chair of the State Budget Commission (Banggar) of the House of Representatives, Said Abdullah, has responded to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya regarding the controversy surrounding the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme being funded from the education budget, which was approved by the DPR Budget Commission. Said endorsed Seskab Teddy’s statement that all parliamentary factions unanimously agreed on the 2026 state budget, including the MBG programme allocation.
“I endorse what was conveyed by Mr Teddy, the Cabinet Secretary, that the MBG budget was discussed and approved jointly between the government and the DPR since 2025 and 2026, as stipulated in the state budget. All parliamentary factions unanimously approved the 2025 and 2026 state budgets, which allocated funds for the MBG,” said Said to journalists on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Said stated that he and all DPR members bear responsibility for this decision. He will not back away from the MBG budget allocation that has been approved through the 2026 State Budget Law.
“Therefore, I and all DPR members are ethically and constitutionally responsible for approving the MBG budget,” Said explained.
“We at the DPR, particularly myself as Chair of the DPR Budget Commission, will not back away from the MBG budget. Especially in discussions with the government, the DPR considers the MBG programme important as it is a priority programme of President Prabowo,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the MBG programme aims to improve child nutrition across Indonesia. Said emphasised that the DPR’s approval of the state budget aligns with support for the programme championed by President Prabowo Subianto.
“This programme is intended as an intervention to improve child nutrition, and we support this. If we did not support it, we would not have approved it in the state budget,” he said.
Said verified the statement made by Cabinet Secretary Teddy regarding the MBG budget from education having been approved by both the DPR and the government. However, Said stressed that the parliament also provided notes regarding its governance.
“I reiterate that we endorse what was conveyed by Mr Cabinet Secretary that the MBG budget was approved jointly by the government and the DPR. However, we have provided notes on MBG governance. The governance of the MBG needs to be improved so that the nutritional intervention intended by President Prabowo can be achieved,” he emphasised.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy’s Statement
Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya addressed the controversy surrounding MBG funds being sourced from the national education budget, which has recently been highlighted by the PDIP party. Teddy stated that the decision on the size of the education budget allocation in the state budget had been approved by the government together with the DPR.
“So the education budget is 20 per cent of the state budget. This year it is 769.1 trillion rupiah, which is 20 per cent. And that is the education budget. What is the education budget? It contains many items and allocations,” said Teddy at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Teddy stated that the State Budget Law has passed through agreement between the government and the DPR, including the deliberation stage at the DPR Budget Commission. He then referenced the Chair of the DPR Budget Commission, who also comes from the PDIP faction, namely Said Abdullah.
“And its contents and allocations were already agreed upon last year by the government, the DPR, and the DPR Budget Commission, where the Budget Commission Chair is also from PDIP, as it were,” said Teddy.
“And previously, all of this, including the MBG, is the foundation for improving education going forward,” he continued.
Teddy also stressed that the MBG programme will not reduce education programmes. He dismissed claims that there is a narrative suggesting the government is not paying attention to education quality.
“I want to correct misunderstandings and incorrect narratives. About what? So yesterday, there were some parties who said that the Free Nutritious Meal programme reduces education programmes and budget. As a result, schools are neglected and teachers are not given attention. So I want to address that as an incorrect narrative,” said Teddy.