IAW Supports Free Nutrition Eating Program, Criticism Of Weak BGN In Technical

JAKARTA President Prabowo Subianto made the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program a milestone in equitable nutrition as well as efforts to alleviate structural poverty. Support came from Indonesian Audit Watch (IAW), but the institution also highlighted the weaknesses of program technical implementers.

IAW's Founder Secretary, Iskandar Sitorus, appreciated the steps taken by the Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadivewa, who poured Rp200 trillion into the banking sector to maintain liquidity so that the MBG program ran smoothly. However, according to him, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), which is the main technical implementer, has yet to show commensurate steps.

"Unfortunately, BGN failed to orchestrate the potential of a real kitchen partner to come with land, buildings, or equipment. Hopefully it won't fail," said Iskandar, Tuesday, September 16.

IAW assessed that BGN only built a registration system without a *matching* mechanism between land owners, kitchens, and equipment. In fact, consolidation is needed so that the program does not run on the spot.

In addition, IAW also highlighted the incidence of MBG food poisoning in several areas. In mid-2025 there were 22 cases of poisoning with 146 children affected, mostly elementary school students. In fact, three kitchens were revoked by the health office.

"The president himself is in trouble with this bad condition. Even though this is Prabowo's flagship program," said Iskandar.

IAW encourages BGN to form a special division of consolidation of kitchen partners that work full time, connect asset owners with financing schemes, and accelerate kitchen certification worth MBG.

Iskandar detailed five proposals for BGN, namely building a partner asset database, consolidating social franchise models, encouraging MBG's special financing scheme, designing rapid certification, and auditing cases of poisoning openly.

"If the MBG program fails, not because the people are lazy, but because BGN is slow. The President has given political space, the Minister of Finance has made a fiscal leap. Do not let the President's dream of being held hostage by a slow bureaucracy," he said.