JAKARTA — The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) and the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) have confirmed that zakat funds are not used to fund the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG). This statement clarifies information circulating in the public sphere regarding the program’s funding source.
Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar emphasized that zakat management must comply with Islamic law.
“Zakat is only distributed to eight asnaf in accordance with sharia and is not used for the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG),” emphasized Nasaruddin.
In line with this, the Head of the Baznas Collection Sector, Rizaludin Kurniawan, ensured that zakat, infak, and alms (ZIS) funds collected from the public were not diverted to finance government programs.
“Zakat, infaq, and alms collected from the community are fully distributed according to religious provisions and are not diverted to fund government programs,” said Rizaludin.
Meanwhile, funding for the MBG has been agreed upon through the State Budget (APBN) mechanism with the House of Representatives (DPR). The Chairman of the DPR RI Budget Committee (Banggar), Said Abdullah, stated that the MBG budget allocation had been approved in the 2026 APBN.
“The House of Representatives’ Budget Committee (Banggar) approved the budget for the MBG program in the 2026 State Budget as part of the nation’s human resource development strategy. The MBG program, which was jointly approved by the government and the House of Representatives, reflects legislative support for improving the nutrition of schoolchildren,” Said said.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya also denied rumors that the program would cut the education budget.
“The MBG program does not reduce existing education programs or budgets,” he said.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti expressed a similar sentiment. He called the MBG a long-term investment for the nation’s generations.
“The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is an investment in Indonesia’s future because it targets nutrition from conception through school age, ensuring a healthier and more productive future generation. The 2026 education budget is actually increasing, and the MBG is not cutting the education budget, ensuring the program remains robust while meeting the nutritional needs of the nation’s children,” he said.
With this affirmation, the government ensures that zakat funds will continue to be managed in accordance with religious provisions, while MBG funding comes from the APBN, which has been discussed and approved with the DPR in a transparent and accountable manner.
