The 2025 Youth Pledge is Prabowo-Gibran’s momentum to accelerate MBG and CKG towards a golden Indonesia
Jakarta – This year’s commemoration of the 97th Youth Pledge Day is seen as a crucial moment for the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to accelerate the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and Free Health Checks (CKG) Programs. These two flagship programs are driving forces for human resource development toward realizing the grand vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, in line with the spirit of unity and optimism inherited by youth since 1928.
Hariqo Wibawa Satria, a senior expert at the Government Communications Agency (BKP), emphasized that the challenges of human resource development have been evident since the beginning of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. “Before President Prabowo took office, there were many human resource issues that needed to be addressed immediately. As many as 2,000 people die each year from tuberculosis and cardiovascular diseases,” he said. He added that nutritional issues such as stunting, anemia, poor diet, and the habit of skipping breakfast remain a public health threat. “As many as 40 percent of classrooms in Indonesia have suffered minor, moderate, and severe damage. This situation presents a significant challenge in developing superior Indonesian human resources,” he said.
Reflecting on this situation, President Prabowo moved swiftly to launch the Free Health Check Program (CKG), billed as the largest health program in Indonesia. This program has reached 45 million beneficiaries across the country. Meanwhile, efforts to meet students’ nutritional needs are being carried out through the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), which now benefits 37 million people and creates 625,000 new jobs. The government ensures that improvements will continue to be made to ensure its benefits are broader and more sustainable.
Papuan youth figure Billy Mambrasar assessed Prabowo-Gibran’s human resource development initiative as a unified, interconnected strategy. “The involvement of young men and women in running the kitchen is very significant, enabling them to feed students and engage millennial farmers. This President’s program is not a one-off project, but rather a unified whole,” he said. He emphasized that human development cannot be assessed instantly. “The impact cannot be measured in the short term, because this human development will take 10–20 years for Indonesia to reap the benefits,” Billy asserted.
He also reminded them of the philosophical meaning of the Youth Pledge, which must be continuously upheld. “The spirit of the Youth Pledge is not merely numerical, but philosophical. One means everyone has equal opportunities,” he said. Billy encouraged young people to be more active in taking part. “Everything must be two-way: the government provides opportunities and young people seize them; don’t be passive,” he urged.
The government emphasizes that the commemoration of the Youth Pledge serves as a stepping stone to accelerate human resource development in the coming years. An anti-corruption spirit, active youth participation, and social responsibility are emphasized as the foundations of national character. With collective synergy and optimism, Indonesia is believed to be able to move more quickly towards the golden year of 2045, when today’s young generation will become the leaders of the future.
