Yesterday: Rp18 Trillion Allowance for 1.6 Million Civil Servant Teachers - Eid al-Fitr on 21 March
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Several interesting news items from Thursday (19/3) can be revisited, ranging from the government paying Rp18 trillion for various allowances to 1.6 million civil servant teachers to the government setting Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
1.) BGN: MBG Boosts Regional Economic Movement through Trillions in Funds to SPPG
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) states that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) not only impacts the fulfilment of public nutrition but also drives economic activity in the regions with trillions of rupiah circulating through the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).
BGN Head Dadan Hindayana explained that the majority of BGN’s budget is directly channelled to the regions via a virtual account mechanism connected to SPPG across Indonesia.
2.) Government Pays Rp18 Trillion for Various Allowances to 1.6 Million Civil Servant Teachers
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) reported that from January to March 2026, it has disbursed more than Rp18 trillion in various allowances to over 1.6 million regional civil servant (ASN) teachers throughout Indonesia.
Director General of Teachers, Education Personnel, and Teacher Education (Dirjen GTKPG) at Kemendikdasmen, Nunuk Suryani, emphasised that the change in the mechanism for disbursing various teacher allowances, now monthly, is part of the government’s efforts to provide better services to teachers.
3.) Government Sets Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, 21 March 2026
The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) of the Republic of Indonesia, has officially set the Eid al-Fitr holiday for 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
“Based on calculations and the absence of a visible crescent moon, it is agreed that 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026,” said Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar during a press conference for the Isbat Session of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah at the Kemenag office in Jakarta on Thursday.
4.) Kemenag: Crescent Moon Height in Indonesia Does Not Meet MABIMS Criteria
Member of the Hisab Rukyat Team at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) RI, Cecep Nurwendaya, explained that the height of the crescent moon across all regions of Indonesia does not meet the criteria of the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS).
In a seminar ahead of the 1447 Hijriah Isbat Session at the Kemenag office in Jakarta on Thursday, Cecep stated that the crescent moon height in Indonesia ranges between 0° 54’ 27” (0.91°) and 3° 07’ 52” (3.13°), with elongation between 4° 32’ 40” (4.54°) and 6° 06’ 11” (6.10°).
5.) Djarum Boss to Be Buried in Rembang Regency, Central Java
Michael Bambang Hartono, owner of the Djarum Group, who was reported to have passed away on Thursday (19/3/2026) at 13:15 Singapore time, is scheduled to be buried in Rembang Regency, Central Java.
“That decision was made after an internal family meeting,” said Senior Manager of Public Affairs at PT Djarum Kudus, Purwono Nugroho, in Kudus on Thursday.