TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for the Food Zulkifli Hasan admits about the practice of buying and selling points free nutritious meal (MBG) kitchens. According to Zulkifli, this practice has caused the number of MBG kitchens (SPPG) operating to exceed the government's target.
According to the coordinating minister, the number of recorded SPPGs currently stands at 27,877 points. Whereas the government initially targeted the construction of 21,000 MBG kitchens.
"There is the buying and selling of points (kitchens), which was supposed to be 21,000 points according to the initial plan, but now there are already 27,877 points. So, there is an increase of 6,877 points," said Zulkifli during a coordinating ministerial-level meeting regarding MBG at the Coordinating Ministry for the Food on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Not only that, Zulkifli also highlighted the increase in the number of MBG kitchens in the most disadvantaged, frontmost, and outermost areas (3T). He stated that the number of SPPGs has swelled to 8,617 points from the initial target of around 2,000 points.
Moreover, specifically for the kitchens in the 3T regions, 6,138 points have already obtained a decision letter for construction from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). However, only 1,700 kitchens have been completed in that area.
"If there is a decision letter, then the investors will put it in the bank, right? Yes, put it in the bank. So, it increased from 2,000 to 8,670, an increase of 6,138, and only 1,700 have been completed," said Zulkifli.
Zulkifli said that this record is the basis for restructuring the implementation of the MBG project. One of the restructuring efforts targets the leadership structure within the BGN, the manager of the MBG program.
President Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated Nanik Deyang as the Head of the BGN, and Trenggono and Agustina Arumsari as the Deputy Heads of the BGN on Monday afternoon, June 8, 2026.
Nanik, who previously served as Deputy Head of the BGN, replaced Dadan Hindayana. Meanwhile, Trenggono and Agustina replaced Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung. The former officials they replaced are now suspects in a corruption case within the BGN and have been detained by the Attorney General's Office.
Zulkifli Hasan does not deny that the President's flagship project, MBG, is still plagued by problems. "At some point, the President finally heard and has made a decision, yes, to be replaced with a new management, as we term it," said Zulkifli.
Therefore, Zulkifli said that improving or restructuring the management of MBG requires time. "This is what will be resolved, so it will take about a month to rearrange this," said Zulkifli.
Furthermore, Zulkifli Hasan led a limited coordinating ministerial-level meeting regarding the implementation of the MBG. Present at the agenda were the Red and White Cabinet members, including Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, and Head of the BGN Nanik Sudaryati Deyang.
In addition, also present were Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti, Head of the Government Communication Bureau Muhammad Qodari, and Chief of Presidential Staff Dudung Abdurachman.
Read: Coalition Demands Free Meal Program Reforms Within 30 Days
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