Villagers Complain Village Development Stalled After Introduction of MBG
Residents of Labbo Village in Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi, have complained about the government’s priority programme for free nutritious meals (MBG). One villager from Labbo Village, Ashar, stated that development in his village is now hampered because their village budget has been slashed.
He felt the impact particularly after the introduction of the MBG programme. Ashar said the most noticeable effect is the reduction in the village budget, which was previously used for infrastructure development and community priority programmes.
“Since MBG was introduced, the village budget has decreased. Yet the village still relies heavily on those funds for development, such as roads and other facilities,” said Ashar during the Public Discussion: Free Nutritious Meals and Education in Commemoration of National Education Day, organised online by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) on Monday, 4 May 2026.
Ashar recounted that several programmes resulting from village development planning deliberations (musrenbang) are no longer being realised. As a result, the basic needs of residents, particularly those related to infrastructure access for distributing agricultural produce, are not being met. “What should be the priority is not proceeding. This is contrary to the needs of rural communities,” he said.
In addition to stalled physical development, Ashar also complained that following the MBG programme, the village economy has become even tighter. He stated that prices of various daily food needs have risen.
Similar complaints were voiced by the Head of the Neighbourhood Association (RT) of Labbo Village, Bantaeng, South Sulawesi, Rahmad Saldi Asiddiq. He mentioned that there had been shortages of basic necessities, such as chicken and rice. “Rice is hard to obtain because it has already been bought in advance for MBG at higher prices,” he said.
He regretted that village officials could not do anything about the various difficulties faced by residents in his neighbourhood. Because, according to Saldi, village officials have interests in MBG. “Those who should be supervisors have their own MBG kitchens or are involved in MBG. If everyone is involved, who can the community complain to?” he said.
Saldi also touched on indirect impacts on the education sector. He received many complaints from residents about the loss of education assistance such as the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP), which is suspected to be related to adjustments in welfare data (decile) amid budget efficiency policies.
Residents hope that the central government will review the MBG funding scheme, while ensuring that village development continues. “If the village is not developed, it is the community that will be most affected,” he said.