Coalition Demands Free Meal Program Reforms Within 30 Days

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A civil society coalition known as MBG Watch has given Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) 30 days to suspend and reform the government's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, citing concerns over governance, accountability, and corruption risks.

Agus Sarwono, a member of MBG Watch, said the temporary suspension should be used to conduct a comprehensive review of the program's management and oversight.

“We are giving BGN a 30-day break to fix all governance issues,” Agus said after a protest outside the agency's headquarters in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

The coalition warned that it would escalate its actions if no significant improvements are made within the next month.

“If there is no progress within 30 days, we will return with a much larger demonstration,” said a coalition member from Transparency International Indonesia.

As part of Wednesday's protest, MBG Watch symbolically sealed the BGN building and called on the government to halt the program, improve its governance structure, and conduct an independent audit.

Agus argued that the program has faced structural weaknesses since its inception. He noted that the initiative operated for months without a formal regulatory framework following its launch on October 31, 2025.

“We also see a very high risk of corruption and potential conflicts of interest,” he said.

The coalition also urged the government to better target the program's beneficiaries by prioritizing communities most vulnerable to poverty and child stunting.

“The program should focus on areas with high poverty and stunting risks,” Agus said.

The protest comes amid heightened scrutiny of BGN following a corruption investigation involving the agency's former leadership.

President Prabowo Subianto on June 8 appointed Nanik Sudaryati Deyang as the new head of BGN, replacing Dadan Hindayana, who was dismissed after prosecutors named him and two other former agency officials as suspects in a corruption case linked to the management of the MBG program.

The Attorney General's Office has accused the former officials of governance-related irregularities in the implementation of the free meals program during the 2025–2026 period. Investigators said the suspects were charged after sufficient evidence was obtained.

Following her appointment, Nanik pledged to strengthen financial oversight and exercise greater caution in managing the program's budget.

She said BGN Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari, who previously worked at the state audit agency BPKP, would help oversee financial decisions within the agency.

“I will not make any financial decisions without Mrs. Arumsari's approval,” Nanik said after her inauguration at the Presidential Palace.

Nanik also said her administration would focus on improving budget efficiency while maintaining the program's target number of beneficiaries.

“We want to ensure the program remains sustainable without placing additional pressure on the state budget,” she said.

Ervana Trikarinaputri contributed to the writing of this article.

Read: MBG Watch Questions Nanik's Ability to Improve Free Meal Governance

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