National Survey: People Feel Positive Impact, Most of the Public Support MBG

JAKARTA - The effectiveness of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, which had sparked various discussions at the beginning of its launch, has now proven to be the main engine of public satisfaction as well as a catalyst for economic growth at the grassroots level. Based on the latest national survey from Poltracking Indonesia, the public's confidence in the Prabowo-Gibran government is at a very solid figure, namely 75.1 percent.

Interestingly, from 74.1 percent of people who expressed satisfaction with the government's performance, the main factor that boosted the figure was the success of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

"We are exploring the MBG priority program. From this data, 88 percent of the public know about this very popular and phenomenal program, only 55 percent are satisfied with this program," said the Head of Poltracking Indonesia, Masduri Amrawi.

In addition, Poltracking data shows that 36.5 percent of the public assess MBG as the program that is most directly felt to be beneficial, surpassing other assistance programs such as wage subsidies and health services.

Poltracking's findings are in line with the opinion of Oscar Darmawan, founder and chairman of Indodax, the first and largest digital asset exchange in Indonesia. Oscar considers this program interesting. From a macroeconomic point of view, he argues that there are many benefits felt by the public from this MBG.

"MBG absorbs a large workforce. MBG kitchens at every point absorb a large workforce. Indonesia has a challenge, with many people but many are unemployed. If people are unemployed, it has a negative effect on the country. So one way is that we must have a business that employs many people with skills that everyone can learn," he said.

More than that, according to Oscar, school children living in small towns still do not get a decent lunch.

"Regardless of all the controversies about the MBG program, they are still better off having lunch than not eating. Rather than just eating instant snacks. At least at MBG they can have rice, chicken, and eggs," he said.

Oscar also agreed that the large MBG budget formed a wider economic cycle. Speaking of money, the economy is not just money that goes into the coffers of certain people.

"There are many people who manage the MBG kitchen. So the money from the APBN will flow," he said.

Oscar's statement is in line with what is happening on the ground. Samuel Seronadi, Chairman of the Bina Kasih Farmers Group, Kadiwano Village, East Wewewa District, Southwest Sumba, acknowledged the positive impact of this program.

"It just so happens that in our farmers' group, our vegetables are diverse, such as broad beans, chickpeas, Japanese pumpkins, and mustard, for MBG supplies. There are 21 members of our group who work on their respective land. With the MBG in our area, our crops are sold, we don't have to go to the market anymore," he said.

Samuel also admitted that before there was an MBG kitchen, the amount of agricultural products they brought to the market was so much that it was not absorbed by the market.

"So the market can't buy. Sometimes we feed livestock," he complained.

But now Samuel and his group of cattle have opened up land again to meet the MBG kitchen troops in his area.

"We are grateful for this MBG, our agricultural products are absorbed, our children can eat regularly. In East Indonesia, sometimes school children do not eat if they go to school early in the morning. Including my child," said Samuel.

The Free Nutritious Meal program is not just a free lunch, but a new foundation for food security as well as a government intervention in building the quality of the Indonesian people. With the strengthening of the local supply chain and continuous evaluation, MBG is predicted to continue to be a key pillar towards Indonesia's Gold 2045.