Prabowo: MBG Toxic Cases Still Within Scientific Limits

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the number of cases of poisoning of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program that recently occurred in a number of areas is still in the "corridor of error" category based on science.

The Head of State explained that of the 1.4 billion servings of food that had been distributed, there were around 8,000 cases of poisoning, or statistically only 0.0007 percent.

"If 1.4 billion is divided into 8,000, I think that in science in this science it is still in the corridor, say corridor of error," said the President while attending the Open Senate Session at the National University of the Republic of Indonesia (UKRI) at the Trans Convention Center, Bandung City, West Java, Saturday.

According to the President, MBG, which has reached millions of Indonesian children, is one of the most successful programs in the world, although it is still overshadowed by a number of criticisms.

"So, where there is a 99.99 percent human effort, it is said to have failed, but we don't want any children to get sick, maybe because the food is not good, not clean, and so on," said the President.

Responding to the number of cases, the Head of State emphasized that the government would not stop trying to achieve zero errors.

"We have ordered all kitchens to have the best tools to clean and we will continue to perfect it," he said.

The Head of State also asked all teachers for children to wash their hands before eating, to be taught how to eat with a spoon to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering digestion.

The President conveyed the success of the MMBGnegara.

Indonesia is now known as the boldest and fastest country in expanding the national nutrition program.

"India takes 11 years to reach 40 million beneficiaries, while we can reach 36 million in just one year," the President said.