April 23, 2025 | 05:09 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto claimed the free nutritious meal (MBG) program targeting pregnant women to be the only one in the world.
“We are probably the only country in the world to provide free meals to pregnant mothers, to deliver the food to their homes,” he said during a speech at the Indonesia Planting Movement in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Prabowo claimed several countries are seeking to study the free meal program, but the government has yet to open the opportunity to allow the program to reach a one-year mark first.
The president said all potential resources are mobilized to run the program, even through direct deliveries to the pregnant people. Even so, Prabowo ensured nobody would be forced to accept the free meals.
Researcher from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Dewi Anggraeni, previously suggested that the government stop the free nutritious meal program due to problematic implementations.
The polemics between the public kitchen partners and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) partner foundation in Kalibata, Jakarta, have added to the long list of drawbacks with the project. “It’s better to stop it now instead of letting it get more chaotic going forward,” said Dewi when contacted on Friday, April 18, 2025.
The MBG kitchen owned by Ira Mesra, a partner of the BGN foundation, has been forced to stop operations since the 2025 Eid holiday season after suffering up to Rp975.3 million in losses.
Ira's attorney, Danna Harly Putra, said the material losses were caused by the unpaid costs of raw materials and operational needs from the BGN partner, the Berkat Media Nusantara Foundation (MBN).
Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana on Wednesday, April 16, summoned both parties to mediate and find out more about the problem. It was discovered that the foundation and the kitchen partner were not one entity, as is often the case with BNG partners. The free nutritious meal kitchen has since been resuming operation.
Andi Adam Fathurrahman contributed to this article.
Editor’s Choice: Prabowo Responds to Alleged Misappropriation of Free Nutritious Meal Funds
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Intimidation for Opponents of the TNI Law Revision
43 menit lalu
There are indications that the military intimidates people opposed to the revised TNI Law. Opposition movements continue to appear.
Indonesia Sends Jokowi for Pope Francis' Funeral
1 jam lalu
The Indonesian government offers its condolences following Pope Francis' death on Monday, April 21.
Prabowo to Dispatch Envoy to Pope Francis' Funeral
6 jam lalu
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto remembers Pope Francis in a condolence after passing on Monday morning, April 21, 2025.
Prabowo Responds to Alleged Misappropriation of Free Nutritious Meal Funds
9 jam lalu
President Prabowo pledges that authorities will investigate allegations of misappropriation involving the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program funds
Prabowo on Meeting Malaysian Deputy PM: Reminiscing Old Friendship to Gaza Talks
19 jam lalu
President Prabowo met Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Jakarta Presidential Palace.
Cianjur Declares 'Extraordinary Occurrence' After Mass Food Poisoning Linked to Free Meals
22 jam lalu
A mass food poisoning incident has left several students traumatized and unwilling to consume the government's free meals.
Prabowo Receives Malaysian Deputy PM's Visit at Merdeka Palace
23 jam lalu
Deputy PM of Malaysia visits the Presidential Palace to meet with President Prabowo at 3.00 PM.
Free Nutritious Meal Project for Family and Friends
1 hari lalu
The Prabowo family and their cronies have been running the free nutritious meals project. It is a populist program rife with corruption.
Dozens of Students in Cianjur Suffer Food Poisoning from Free Nutritious Meal Program
1 hari lalu
Dozens of students from PGRI Junior High School in Cianjur are suffering from alleged food poisoning originating from Free Nutritious Meal program.
Housing Deputy Minister: World Bank to Fund Uninhabitable Home Renovations in Indonesia
1 hari lalu
World Bank and several donor agencies will assist in funding the renovation program for uninhabitable houses in Indonesia.
