Indonesia Cuts Budget For Free Meal Program Amid Scandals

President Prabowo Subianto’s signature free meal program is retreating. Following a string of food poisoning outbreaks and administrative scandals, the Indonesian government is slashing budgets and restructuring operations to save the initiative from a total collapse of credibility, according to reports from Japan Wire by Kyodo News.

The Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) initiative was designed as a cornerstone of the new administration, promising nutritious meals to students across the archipelago. Instead, the rollout has been defined by systemic mismanagement and health crises. The government is now forced to tighten its grip on the kitchens producing the meals, a move that Japan Wire by Kyodo News says has compelled the administration to reconsider both the funding and the overall scale of the program.

Sudaryono’s battle for program credibility

For Sudaryono, head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), the mission is now damage control. VOI.ID reports that maintaining the credibility of the MBG is currently the most significant challenge of his leadership.

Zero tolerance for non-compliant kitchens

Sudaryono has pledged to close any free meal kitchens found to be non-compliant with government health and safety regulations, ANTARA News reports.

ANTARA Foto recently documented the BGN chief conducting a direct field inspection at a Satuan Pelayanan Pemakanan Bergizi (SPPG) facility in Bogor.

Leadership shuffles and fiscal retreats

IDNFinancials reports that President Prabowo has appointed Naniek Deyang to oversee the Makan Bergizi Gratis program following a high-level resignation.

This leadership change coincides with a financial reckoning. The budget cuts reported by Japan Wire by Kyodo News signal a retreat from the original broad-scale rollout.