Asked by Many Parties to Investigate the MBG Problem, the KPK: The Strategy is Education-Prevention First

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JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said there were three strategies that could be used to combat corrupt practices. This institution does not necessarily take action but also prioritizes education and prevention through system improvement.

This was conveyed by the Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, who understands that many people hope that the KPK will investigate the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

This demand has emerged when the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) carried out a number of procurements that were eventually highlighted because they were considered unnecessary by the public, one of which was the procurement of IT for real-time monitoring.

"There are three strategies. The first is related to education, the second is prevention, the third is enforcement. So, the question is, 'why hasn't MBG entered into enforcement', right? ... Well, this is because the strategy is so," Asep told reporters, quoted on Saturday, May 23.

Asep said that his agency has always prioritized education and prevention. "Because the doctrine of handling cases is the ultimum remedium. That is, the enforcement is the last order," he said.

Asep agreed that the KPK had received a number of complaints from the public regarding President Prabowo Subianto's flagship program. From the complaints, the KPK then created a team under the Prevention and Monitoring Department.

"Then an in-depth investigation was carried out, where the points that were prone to corruption. From these points, the government will improve. If it still happens, it has been told, the point has been shown, it is still not being ignored, it is still a criminal act of corruption, "he explained.

Even so, Asep emphasized that the KPK could not work alone and needed public participation. Therefore, the public is expected to be brave to convey if MBG or other programs are problematic.

"Why, because we who are in Jakarta can't know that, it's impossible to reach our knowledge of the implementation in the region. Community participation is very necessary," he added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy for Prevention and Monitoring of the KPK, Aminudin, has revealed the potential for corruption, inefficiency, and maladministration in the implementation of the MBG program. One of them, the budget for the national strategic program has not been balanced by adequate governance and oversight systems so that the multiplier effect of the economy has not been felt.

"Next is the potential for corruption in MBG operations. Our study shows that the amount of money that returns to the region is very minimal, less than five percent. The majority of the money turnover goes back to big cities," said Aminudin, quoted Friday, May 22.

Aminudin explained that this condition occurred because the supporting ecosystem of MBG had not been developed systematically in the region. From tens of thousands of suppliers of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), only a small portion comes from village cooperatives and Village Owned Business Entities (BUMDes).

"So the impact on the surrounding community, yes, they only eat one ompreng per person per day but the other economic impact is not there, even if there is very little," he said.

Still from the results of the study, the KPK found problems in the National Nutrition Agency's (BGN) information technology system. At least there are three different systems that run on their own, ranging from distribution systems, monitoring, to determining SPPG points which make the internal supervision mechanism and checks and balances between units at BGN weak.

Not only that, the KPK highlighted the approach to implementing MBG which was too centralized, marginalizing the role of the local government. This situation is said to have the potential to trigger conflicts of interest in determining kitchen partners and food distribution chains.

Furthermore, the KPK also found the risk of rent practices in the Government Assistance (Banper) mechanism. This is because the long bureaucratic chain is feared to cut the portion of the food budget because it is absorbed for operational costs and rent.

Another problem highlighted is the weak food safety standards. The minimal involvement of BPOM and the Health Office is said to contribute to the emergence of a number of cases of food poisoning in the implementation of MBG in various regions.