Zulhas Vows to Address Free Nutritious Meal Programme Complaints, to Coordinate with New BGN Head

Coordinating Minister for Food and Chair of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Task Force, Zulkifli Hasan, has affirmed the government’s commitment to protecting implementing partners of the MBG programme from losses. The government is moving swiftly to respond to various operational obstacles, a moratorium policy, and unilateral terminations of kitchen partnerships occurring in the field. The man familiarly known as Zulhas made the statement after receiving an audience from the MBG Partners Presidium at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office in Jakarta on Thursday (25/6). The presidium comprises cross-organisational representatives, including DPP Gapembi, HMD Gemas, APGI3T, REL MBG, APPBGN, and the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU).

“I understand the partners’ concerns. Many partners have already made sacrifices. All reports will certainly be checked and reviewed. Partners are asked to wait because we are also establishing communication with the new Head of BGN (National Nutrition Agency),” Zulhas said in a statement on Friday (26/6). To resolve this polemic, Zulhas promised to invite presidium representatives to a Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) with BGN and other relevant stakeholders in the near future.

During the audience, PBNU representatives M. Nurkhoiron and Ai Rahmawati revealed that their organisation had committed to developing 1,000 Nutritional Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchen points within pesantren (Islamic boarding school) environments. However, coordination barriers with BGN have stalled realisation. As of June 2026, only around 214 pesantren kitchens are recorded as operational, while 130 other points are stuck. Several major pesantren that have yet to operate include Pondok Pesantren Darul Ulum Jombang, Pondok Pesantren Tambakberas Jombang, and Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo, Kediri. “The biggest challenge currently remains the aspect of coordination and communication with BGN,” Nurkhoiron stated.

Beyond the pesantren issue, the MBG Partners Presidium outlined a chain of new regulatory problems deemed to be crippling the business continuity of upstream-downstream partners. REL MBG Chair H. Chaerul Shaleh highlighted the implementation of Circular Letter Number 12, which suspends operations during the 18-day school holiday period. This policy directly impacts the loss of income for kitchen volunteers. Meanwhile, APPBGN Chair Ahmad Yazdi criticised the absence of an independent oversight mechanism and transparency regarding the policy of temporarily suspending SPPG operations or unilaterally closing kitchens in the regions. “A number of kitchen closure cases require clarity on the legal basis, procedures, and a transparent objection mechanism so as not to create uncertainty for partners,” Ahmad Yazdi said.

Chairman of DPP Gabungan Pengusaha Makan Bergizi Indonesia (Gapembi), Alven Stony, reminded that the active involvement of the private sector and independent partners has saved the state budget a massive amount. In the initial design, BGN intended to build physical kitchens itself using state budget funds (APBN) at an estimated cost of Rp4 billion per unit. “However, with the independent investment involvement from partners, the state can save a very large budget. If multiplied by the target of 27,820 kitchens, the potential APBN savings reach approximately Rp111.28 trillion,” Alven explained.