Government Gives One Month to Resolve MBG Abuse and Problematic Points

JAKARTA - The government has given one month to reorganize the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal or MBG program. The evaluation includes allegations of abuse, determination of the location of recipients, to the point that has been selected but does not have a Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit.

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan said the results of the study would be submitted to President Prabowo Subianto to determine the next steps.

"We ask for one month to complete and tidy up. After that we will report to the President to be decided," said Zulkifli Hasan at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.

According to the man who is often called Zulhas, there are quite a lot of issues being examined. One of them is related to abuse in the implementation of the program.

The government will also reassess the points that are considered eligible to receive MBG services. A number of locations have been designated, but do not yet have a Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit or SPPG as a kitchen.

"There are so many points that have been determined, but there is no SPPG. Some have already built, but there are still many things that need to be cleaned up," he said.

Zulhas did not specify the form of abuse found, the number of problematic locations, or the areas that were the focus of the evaluation.

He also did not explain whether the addition of new points would be temporarily stopped during the arrangement period.

The one-month evaluation will be the basis for the government to determine improvements to the program. The results will be presented to the President before the final decision is made.

"In this one month we will present to the President to make the right decision," said Zulhas.