Jakarta – Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the President’s Special Envoy for Energy and Climate, emphasized that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program for children and pregnant women will not end and is a long-term investment for Indonesia’s future generations. MBG is President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to continue until its goals are achieved.
“I think it’s no secret that the government is determined to continue the MBG program. We won’t stop until we succeed. We’ll provide nutritious food to all children and pregnant women who need it. That’s the determination, that was Prabowo Subianto’s campaign promise. We won’t stop; we’ll continue,” Hashim said when met by media crews in Jakarta.
According to Hashim, the MBG program was Prabowo’s idea around 2006. It stemmed from Prabowo’s desire to improve the health of Indonesian children, particularly those affected by stunting. MBG was also a campaign promise long before he was elected president.
“This was a campaign promise made by Prabowo Subianto in 2009, when he was still a vice-presidential candidate, continued in 2014 as a presidential candidate, continued in 2019, and continued in 2024. It was Prabowo Subianto’s campaign promise that all children in Indonesia who want it will receive free nutritious food, so that we can overcome the very serious condition of stunting,” he said.
He added that relevant ministries and institutions, including members of Srikandi Jaga Desa, must participate in overseeing the implementation of the MBG program to ensure it runs according to its objectives.
“Programs with noble goals, but if their implementation is not properly monitored and guided, we have already seen the results,” said Hashim.
The Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency, Muhammad Qodari, echoed this sentiment. He emphasized that the MBG program is ongoing and will not stop. He stated that the ongoing implementation of the MBG will continue. Qodari stated that comprehensive improvements are being made to the implementation and governance of the MBG.
This affirmation is crucial to correct public perception. Evaluation does not mean the program has failed. Rather, it is the government’s way of ensuring that the MBG program operates to higher standards. The government is making improvements to beneficiaries, the operational conditions of the SPPG, the nutritional quality of the food, governance, and the involvement of local vendors.
“Thus, criticism of the MBG should not be directed at stopping the benefits already enjoyed by millions of Indonesian children. It is more appropriate to use criticism to encourage more orderly, transparent, and high-quality program implementation. A program as large as the MBG certainly has challenges on the ground, but these challenges should not deter the country from striving to improve the nutrition of the younger generation,” he explained.
The MBG program continues to operate because its benefits are tangible. The government is improving the system because quality remains a priority. Children continue to eat, while governance continues to be strengthened. This is the key message that needs to be conveyed to the public: the MBG program should not be discontinued, but should be evaluated to ensure it is safer, more targeted, and truly benefits the future of Indonesian children.