Zulhas: Well-Off Schools Need Not Receive Free Nutritious Meals

The government is opening up the possibility of no longer targeting all students and schools for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan stressed that the assistance does not have to be distributed evenly to every school, particularly if the condition of the students and the school environment is already deemed adequate.

The statement emerged amid a large-scale evaluation currently being conducted by the government on the implementation of the MBG. In addition to improving governance, the government is also beginning to review the effectiveness of the distribution of benefits so that the state budget can be used in a more targeted manner.

“Focus on, for example, those that don’t need it, don’t give it. Good schools that don’t need it, don’t need to get MBG,” Zulhas said at the Parliament Complex on Monday (22/6/2026).

The statement indicates a possible change in approach in the execution of the MBG. If previously the programme was implemented broadly, in the future the government may direct the assistance to focus more on groups that are in greater need.

In addition, the government is also auditing the kitchens that supply food for the MBG. This step was taken in response to several cases of food poisoning that occurred during the programme’s implementation.

Zulhas emphasised that the safety of children must be the top priority. Therefore, the government does not want any more incidents that could disrupt the major objective of the national nutrition improvement programme.

“Then the governance is also being improved. The kitchens, yes, they are also being audited. Even though this is a matter of one or two of our children, poisoning must not happen again. Once this is fixed, then further on, we will continue the MBG,” he said.