Palace Says Supreme Court Decision on MBG Budget Still Has Time until 2028

Special Advisor to the President for Communication Hasan Nasbi. (Teddy VOI)

JAKARTA - Special Presidential Advisor for Communication Hasan Nasbi said the government still has time to adjust the Free Nutritious Meal or MBG budget after the Constitutional Court's ruling.

Hasan said the government would not comment on the legal ruling.

This was conveyed by Hasan at the Presidential Complex, Jakarta, Friday, July 31, when asked about the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding MBG.

"It has become a legal decision and we do not comment on legal decisions," said Hasan.

According to Hasan, the Constitutional Court's ruling stipulates that the MBG budget be separated from the education budget. However, he said the transition process is still ongoing until 2028.

"That the budget must be separated from the education budget. We still have time, the transition is two years away. It's up to 2028," he said.

Hasan assessed that the ruling was not a big problem for the government because there was still time to adjust.

"So it seems that it's not too much of a problem," said Hasan Nasbi.

When asked whether the government would look for other ways to circumvent the ruling, Hasan denied it.

"No, it's not the time for the government to be silent," he said.

Hasan again emphasized that the government would regard the Constitutional Court's decision as a legal decision.

MBG is one of the main programs of the government of President Prabowo Subianto. With the decision of the Constitutional Court, the government needs to arrange the budget position of the program so that it is separate from the education budget in accordance with applicable regulations.