Prabowo: MBG does not make the state budget swell, a deficit of 3 percent

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the government's priority programs, including Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), did not make state expenditures swell, even Indonesia only had a deficit of 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

In his speech at the Inauguration and Groundbreaking of 1.179 SPPG and the Inauguration of 18 Food Security Warehouses of the National Police in Palmerah, Jakarta, Friday, President Prabowo ensured that the country's fiscal condition remained maintained.

He said the State Budget (APBN) remained within the corridor that had been set, even though the MBG program was running.

"Our state budget does not go beyond the parameters we set. Our deficit is still below the limit we set ourselves. So, our 3 percent deficit, 3 percent of GDP," said President Prabowo, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, February 13.

The President assessed that the MBG program was an important policy for low-income people. He emphasized that the program may not be felt by the able-bodied community, but is much needed by the majority of people.

The President said that the program had received various criticisms and ridicule, including from academics since it was first launched. In fact, according to him, there were parties who predicted that the program would fail and only waste state funds.

Prabowo assessed that the allegation was unfounded, because the funding for the program came from the results of government budget efficiency.

Savings are made by reducing various expenditures that are considered unproductive, such as meetings, seminars, conferences, and official travel that do not provide direct benefits to the community.

The Head of State emphasized that the transfer of the budget was actually carried out to prevent potential leaks and corruption practices in the management of state finances.

"This is what we save, this money that we divert for things like this," said the President.