September 14, 2026 | 10:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX Deputy Chair Charles Honoris has urged the government to temporarily suspend the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program amid a continued rise in food poisoning cases linked to President Prabowo Subianto's flagship program.
“In my view, to produce something good, the government must be willing to take various steps, including not being reluctant to impose a temporary moratorium to make the program even better in the future,” Charles said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Monday, September 14, 2026.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said evaluations conducted while the program continued had failed to effectively reduce the number of food poisoning cases.
According to Health Ministry data cited by Charles, MBG-related food poisoning has affected more than 53,000 people in 584 incidents across 254 regencies and cities in 33 provinces.
He said the figures showed that food poisoning incidents had continued to occur, averaging around 5,000 cases per month this year. Cases only declined in March when school holidays temporarily halted MBG distribution.
“But in recent months, the figures have remained relatively stable at around 4,000 to 5,000 cases per month,” he said.
Calls for Major Changes to MBG
Charles said food poisoning incidents would continue to recur unless the program's system was fundamentally changed.
He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the MBG implementation scheme, including shifting from centralized kitchens to school-based canteens.
He said the government's ongoing school revitalization program could be used to address schools that currently lack canteen facilities.
“There is no reason for schools not to have canteens anymore,” Charles said.
Charles also criticized the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for what he described as an inadequate response to food poisoning victims.
He urged the agency to establish a clear compensation mechanism, saying the impact of food poisoning was felt not only by students but also placed an additional burden on their parents.
“The government should have a mechanism to provide compensation and reimbursement to people who become victims of food poisoning,” Charles said.
BGN Tightens Food Safety Oversight
In previous statements, BGN Chief Sudaryono reaffirmed the agency's commitment to tightening governance and oversight of the MBG program to prevent food poisoning incidents.
Preventive measures include improving standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the field, limiting the consumption window for prepared food to a maximum of four hours after cooking, and imposing strict sanctions, including the removal of heads of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), when negligence is proven.
On compensation, Sudaryono said there was currently no institutional mechanism for compensating victims of MBG-related food poisoning. However, he welcomed the proposal to provide compensation to those affected.
He said the agency's priority so far had been ensuring that victims received medical treatment following food poisoning.
“In every food poisoning case, there are additional costs that are not covered. For example, if a victim is treated at a private hospital that is not covered by BPJS, BGN covers the cost,” Sudaryono, a Gerindra Party politician, said during a Commission IX working meeting with BGN on September 3, 2026.
DPR Proposes 13 Crimes to Be Covered by Asset Forfeiture Bill
14 hari lalu
Lawmakers has proposed 13 criminal offenses to be covered by the Asset Forfeiture Bill, including corruption, drug crimes, and human trafficking.
Lawmaker Urges Probe Into Crescent-and-Star Flag Display in Aceh
29 hari lalu
An Indonesian lawmaker urges a probe after a GAM flag was displayed at a Banda Aceh mosque during Aceh's 21st peace anniversary.
Indonesian Lawmaker Backs Prabowo's Offer to Mediate Korean Talks
40 hari lalu
An Indonesian lawmaker backs President Prabowo Subianto's readiness to mediate dialogue between South Korea and North Korea.
OpenAI AI Escape Drives US Congress Calls for Mandatory Safety Testing
53 hari lalu
OpenAI said two of its experimental artificial intelligence models autonomously escaped a controlled testing environment and accessed the servers.
Lawmaker Backs Prabowo's LGBTQ Non-Military Threat Classification
7 Juli 2026
A Gerindra Party official said Prabowo has shown firmness as head of state in addressing what he described as the spread of LGBTQ culture.
How Can Indonesia Avoid Higher Hajj Costs in 2027?
6 Juli 2026
Indonesian lawmaker plans to discuss ways to avoid the rise in Hajj pilgrimage costs for 2027 with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Lawmaker Suggests BI Governor Resign Over Rupiah Fall
18 Mei 2026
PAN politician urges Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo to step down from his position as the rupiah continues to weaken, reaching record lows.
Indonesian Parliament Presses BI Governor as Rupiah Hits New Low
18 Mei 2026
Primus Yustisio of the National Mandate Party (PAN) even suggested that Governor Perry step down from his position.
Non-Parliament Parties Seek Way into the House
4 Mei 2026
Non-parliamentary parties are proposing the elimination of the threshold for entering the House of Representatives.
How Does Indonesia's Domestic Workers Law Set Wages?
22 April 2026
DPR says the law guarantees domestic workers' rights, including religious holiday allowance (THR), health insurance, and employment social security.
