January 7, 2026 | 09:54 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto targets the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) project to be equal across all Indonesian villages by 2026. He made this statement while attending a harvest festival and the announcement of rice self-sufficiency in Karawang Regency, West Java.
"God willing, by 2026, all villages in Indonesia will receive MBG," he said on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
He stated the target distribution of MBG to all villages would be realized by the end of this year. Prabowo mentioned that the provision of free meals would target students, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Prabowo's promise to distribute MBG packages to all villages this year stems from the demand of citizens who have not yet felt the impact of his government's priority programs. Prabowo often receives feedback that villages have not received MBG. "When I arrived, many people shouted that their villages have not received MBG," he said.
The Gerindra Party Chair apologized because some areas have not received MBG. Nevertheless, he claimed that since the project started a year ago, 55 million beneficiaries have received free meals.
He stated the MBG project proves the state's concern for the population's nutritional intake. "I believe the Indonesian nation has proven to take care of its people to the best of its ability," he said.
Previously, Prabowo claimed the success rate of the MBG program reached 99 percent based on evaluations. "Even with the remaining 0.00 something, for us, it's something that needs to be addressed, and thank God we have addressed it, and we continue to address it," said Prabowo, cited from the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat's website, Tuesday, January 6, 2025.
MBG Watch member Galau D. Muhammad stated that these claims do not align with field issues. These include cases of mass poisoning and a program governance considered disorganized and non-transparent.
Galau stated the government has not yet published a comprehensive evaluation of the MBG implementation. Information provided to the public, he added, revolves around beneficiary quantities and success narratives without objective indicators.
"All we receive is glorification of success. The indicators used to claim the effectiveness of this program have never been explained transparently," said Galau when contacted on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
He believes that during the first year of MBG implementation, constructive criticisms from civil society have been treated as attacks. According to Galau, the government often uses emotional language and positions critics as denigrators instead of responding to the substance of the issues.
"Systemic problems are shifted into personal issues. This is not an ideal political situation to discuss national public policies funded by the state budget," he said.
Dinda Shabrina contributed to the report.
Read: Watchdog Rebuts Prabowo on Free Nutritious Meal Success Claims
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Minister Orders Probe Into Terror Against Government Critic
50 menit lalu
The State Secretary Minister emphasized the importance of expressing criticism toward government policies through established communication channels.
BNPB: Sumatra Post-Flood Mud Reaches Record 3 Meters
5 jam lalu
BNPB reports that mud sedimentation from Sumatra floods has reached three meters. President Prabowo has authorized local governments to sell it.
Watchdog Rebuts Prabowo on Free Nutritious Meal Success Claims
6 jam lalu
JPPI records show that the number of children poisoned by the free nutritious meal program has exceeded 20,000.
Prabowo Declares Indonesia's Food Self-Sufficiency
6 jam lalu
Observers have highlighted Indonesia's intention to achieve food self-sufficiency, but this will burden the people with high food prices.
Indonesia Welcomes Its First Panda Cub Born at Taman Safari
12 jam lalu
The birth of a giant panda cub from the pair of Cai To (male) and Hu Chun (female) was named by President Prabowo Subianto as Satrio Wiratama.
Prabowo Reprimands Cabinet at Hambalang Retreat
1 hari lalu
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo explained that the warning came because Prabowo wants his cabinet members to work much faster.
Prabowo Claims 99% Success Rate for Free Nutritious Meal Program
1 hari lalu
Prabowo Subianto claimed the success rate of the free nutritious meal (MBG) program has reached 99 percent, according to evaluation results.
Prabowo Warns of Import Dependency Risks
1 hari lalu
President Prabowo Subianto reminds the public about the dangers of import dependency amid ongoing global conflicts.
BNPB Explains Rp150 Million Bore Well Cost in Sumatra
1 hari lalu
BNPB clarifies the Rp150 million cost for bore wells in Sumatra disaster zones that has sparked controversy for being considered too expensive.
Prabowo Compares Current Rice Self-Sufficiency to Soeharto-Era Milestones
1 hari lalu
Prabowo claimed that Indonesia's rice self-sufficiency was achieved in just one year, ahead of his original four-year target
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/4548967/original/094336900_1692782124-tanaphong-toochinda-FEhFnQdLYyM-unsplash.jpg)
