Buya Anwar: MBG Program Must Focus On The Poor

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council Anwar Abbas suggested the Free Nutrition Food program (MBG) focus on targeting students and the community who come from poor families. He considered that the move was in line with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution (UUD) and the principle of budget savings.

"In my opinion, sort it out. What is in accordance with the constitution article 34 is the poor and neglected children are cared for by the state. So what is right to be financed by the state to eat nutritiously are children who come from poor families," said the religious figure who is familiarly called Buya Anwar, while talking with Eddy Wijaya on the EdShareOn podcast which aired on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

The head of the MSME, Community Empowerment and Environment Division, PP Muhammadiyah explained, the principle of saving can be fulfilled if the MBG program does not spread to all groups, but specifically for the poor. "So that the necessary funds from the APBN go down and can be used for other purposes," he said.

Buya Anwar's statement is in line with criticism from various parties regarding the implementation of the MBG program. The Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) assesses that the distribution of MBG can be inappropriate if distributed to all circles. They asked President Prabowo to focus on those most in need.

Buya Anwar said the MBG program must also consider a number of economic impacts caused. For example, the decline in food stalls and traders operating around schools. "It has happened in several places, the brother and brother, the empok-empok, which trades (around schools) no longer have income," he said.

The cleric who was born in Limapuluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra, February 15, 1955, emphasized that the government should empower food traders who are already operating in the school environment to manage the MBG program. "But they need to be educated in terms of nutrition and cleanliness," he said.

Another economic impact, Buya Anwar added, the lack of opportunities for small farmers or breeders as suppliers of a nutritious diet. He assessed that so far suppliers have provided more opportunities for large companies because of the strict requirements for MBG foodstuffs. For example, eggs that must be certified. "Well, if it's detrimental to micro and ultra micro businesses, can Prabowo still be declared pro-people?" he said.

Constrained by IUP, Muhammadiyah Has Not Been Able to Manage Mines to Eddy Wijaya, Buya Anwar Abbas expressed disappointment with the 7th President Joko Widodo who promised to grant mining management permits to PP Muhammadiyah. This is because the Mining Business Permit (IUP) for mining management for PP Muhammadiyah has not been issued until the regime has changed from Jokowi to Prabowo Subianto.

"This has been promised for a long time but it has not materialized. In the media, it has been noisy if in NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) you have received the IUP, but Muhammadiyah has not yet received it," said Buya Anwar. Buya Anwar explained that Muhammadiyah had tried their best to get the IUP from the government. In fact, it has often coordinated with the authorities for the smooth process of issuing the IUP. But I cannot force the government to issue (IUP) because there are systems and procedures. If they (the government) do not want to give how do we urge them?' he said.

However, the lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, did not know the reason why the government had never issued the IUP for the management of the mine. Even though Muhammadiyah has prepared itself to carry out management ranging from experts to budgets. In terms of preparation, we are ready, but if the goods (IUP) are never given, how do we implement them?' he said.

Buya Anwar added that there are two things that Muhammadiyah pays attention to if it gets the trust to manage mining companies, namely that people should not be persecuted and the environment should not be damaged due to mining projects. Regarding our environment, we already have experts," he said.

The granting of mining permits to religious organizations is a policy at the end of President Joko Widodo's term of office. Muhammadiyah has formed a mining business entity called PT. Mentari Swadaya Ecomining to manage mines. However, the company has not yet operated because it is hampered by the IUP.

The figure of Eddy Wijaya is a podcaster who was born on August 17, 1972. Through the YouTube account @EdShareOn, Eddy interviewed many national figures ranging from state officials, legal experts, political experts, national politicians, to Indonesian celebrities. The man with the characteristics of the right cheek dimple is also a nationalist who is an activist in the struggle of discriminated and social observers by helping the community through the Wijaya Peduli Bangsa foundation. He is also active in sports by serving as Daily Chair of the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi) Pacu and has also served as Deputy Chairperson of the All-Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) East Jakarta.

His ideas were formed because of his hard work to be independent from the age of 13 years until his success as it is now. For Eddy, the world of work is not as smooth as imagined, failure and rejection are commonplace. This is what makes him hold on to the tagline Success is only a matter of time.