Zulhas Apologises for Free Nutritious Meal Programme Turmoil, Pledges Fixes

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan has apologised for the turmoil surrounding the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. He pledged that the government would work hard to improve the scheme going forward. “We apologise, for almost more than a year there has been extraordinary turmoil, irregularities have occurred here and there, and we have continuously found anomalies across almost all ministries. Action has been taken,” he said during a press conference on the 2027 State Budget and Financial Note at the Directorate General of Taxes office in Jakarta on Friday (14/8/2026). He noted that the programme is now under new leadership, referring to the young and intelligent Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Sudaryono. Zulhas requested a two-month period for refocusing, aiming to resolve issues in three priority regions: NTT, Papua, and Maluku, within one month. He also targets reaching 11 million toddlers, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women within one to two months. A further focus requiring up to two months involves adding approximately 13,000 new service points on Java and ensuring that 7,000 to 8,000 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units obtain their Sanitation Hygiene Eligibility Certificates. “God willing, the MBG programme will be much better in the next one to two months. In line with public expectations, we will work hard and ask for your support,” he stressed. Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto, speaking at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly, highlighted that the MBG programme not only provides meals but also purchases produce from local farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and small businesses around the service kitchens. He stated that the free meal promise, social assistance, and downstreaming are no longer just plans on paper but are running and beginning to be felt by the people. However, he cautioned against complacency, emphasising that many citizens still need these programmes and that true independence is what the people actually experience.