BGN Boss Admits He Was Called By Prabowo Twice, Asked About The Issue Of The MBG Food Tray Pig Oil

Head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana (right). (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The atmosphere at the office of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) suddenly became quiet when the cellphone of the Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana rang in the middle of the signing of a Joint Decree (SKB) with the Ministry of Public Works (PU) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) regarding the construction of a nutrition service fulfillment unit (SPPG) or the MBG kitchen.

At that time, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian was giving a speech and Dadan rushed to ask Tito to stop his remarks for a moment.

The reason is not kidding, the call came from President Prabowo Subianto.

Dadan also seemed serious about talking by telephone for a few minutes, which turned out to be discussing the food route issue for MBG's priority program.

In fact, Dadan was seen lifting the phone from the Head of State twice.

When met by reporters after the event, Dadan explained, the conversation with the number one person in Indonesia did mention the issue that was busy with the use of pork oil in the food route production process.

"Well (the food route problem containing pork oil) was asked by the President, why did I pick up the phone. The issue of oil (babi) is not in the food route, because the food route component is metal, one of which is nickel. So there is no oil in the food route," explained Dadan when met by reporters at the BGN office, Jakarta, Thursday, September 18.

"The oil is used when stamping or printing used on the equipment so it doesn't heat up and (more) is easy. Well then after it is printed, the oil will then be cleaned, soaked, so it is sterile," he continued.

According to Dadan, the recent polemic is more about the use of oil in the production process.

Even so, he ensured that the imported food tray had a halal caption stamp.

His party has also coordinated with the Halal Guarantee Administration (BPJPH) regarding this matter.

"Now the issue is to use oil (babi). For domestic use of vegetable oil on average, meaning from plants. And we will focus on this food route based on domestic industry. Now for imports, we have coordinated with BPJPH so that the imported food route has been pasted. halal like that," he explained.

However, Dadan did not deny that domestic supplies have not been fully able to meet the needs of the MBG program.

"Look, our needs now in the last four months are 15 million food routes per month. Now, domestic production can only be 11.6 million, so there is a (lack) of four million. If we close the imports, I'm afraid this program will be disrupted. But then Kamo has collaborated with BPJPH so that all importers ask for halal certificates to (they) so that the food route will be labeled halal," he said.