JAKARTA - Public policy observer, M Gumarang, acknowledged that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is a positive step for the government in building long-term human capital quality.
Unfortunately, the implementation of the program is still carried out in a hurry without a thorough study from various aspects.
"The MBG program is good, but the implementation is too forced," he said, Sunday, May 17.
He said the MBG program is actually an investment in human capital investment whose benefits cannot be felt in a short time.
Therefore, the impact on new economic growth will only be seen in the long term after the quality of the younger generation has improved.
The question, continued Gumarang, is that the MBG budget which reaches Rp. 335 trillion in 2026 becomes a heavy burden on the state budget if it is not accompanied by proper planning.
According to him, the government should first conduct a comprehensive mapping of the fiscal, geographical, socio-economic, and cultural conditions of the community before the program is widely implemented.
"The MBG program is an investment in the development of quality generations in the long term, so that it cannot be expected to immediately have an impact on economic growth," he said.
Gumarang also highlighted the potential for budget irregularities in the program.
The reason is that weak supervision and disciplinary and integrity issues of the apparatus are serious risks in the implementation of programs with large budget values.
Therefore, he suggested that the government carry out the MBG program gradually according to the fiscal capacity of the country.
In addition, the implementation of the program must also take into account the geographical conditions of Indonesia as an archipelago country, especially remote and lagging areas that require priority nutritional intervention.
"The implementation of MBG must be gradual and adjusted to the fiscal, geographical, socio-economic, and cultural conditions of the community so that it is more effective and does not become a waste of budget," he said.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto admitted that the MBG program still had many problems.
Therefore, he will discipline every problem of his flagship program that touches directly to the community.
"There are many problems, yes. There are many challenges, that's right. MBG has many problems, we have to be orderly," said the president when inaugurating 1,061 Red and White Village Cooperatives in Nganjuk, East Java, Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Prabowo explained that various challenges in the MBG program must be faced openly, including the issue of the integrity of a number of individuals involved in the management of the program.
He emphasized that he would not hesitate to take action against anyone if necessary to be removed from office.
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