February 10, 2026 | 04:58 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung claimed that the free nutritious meal program (MBG) has had positive impacts on social and economic conditions in the city. This claim followed the signing of a synergy agreement between the Jakarta Provincial Government and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
Pramono stated that the collaboration follows President Prabowo Subianto's priority program outlined in Asta Cita. According to him, the partnership with BGN is a strategic step to ensure the MBG program runs effectively and reaches the intended recipients, particularly children and youth in Jakarta.
"What is being done through the free nutritious meal program has an extraordinary and significant impact on Jakarta," said Pramono, who was joined by BGN Head Dadan Hindayana at Jakarta City Hall on Monday, February 9, 2026.
Pramono claimed that Jakarta's economic indicators show a positive trend. Based on Central Statistics Agency data, Jakarta's year-on-year economic growth recorded 5.21 percent, higher than the national economic growth of 5.11 percent.
He mentioned that improved nutrition directly affects the decrease in stunting rates and poverty levels, and an increase in job opportunities. "The stunting rate has decreased, poverty levels have also declined, and job opportunities have increased. On the other hand, the education conditions of school children in Jakarta are relatively very good," he added.
Criticism of the MBG Program
Amid the government's positive claims, the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) reported that 1,242 people suffered from food poisoning due to the free nutritious meals in January 2026. Cumulatively, JPPI stated that the total number of food poisoning cases linked to MBG from 2025 to early 2026 reached 21,254.
This data was presented by JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji in response to the recurrence of food poisoning cases from MBG in various regions at the beginning of the year. Ubaid considered these incidents a serious warning for the government regarding the implementation of the program.
JPPI also requested that the free nutritious meal program be temporarily halted during Ramadan. JPPI calculated that the government could save at least Rp36 trillion if the MBG program were suspended during the fasting month.
Ubaid mentioned that this figure was obtained by summing the estimated daily cost of MBG, which amounts to Rp1.2 trillion. "If the cost of MBG is Rp1.2 trillion per day, then suspending the program for 30 days will save the state Rp36 trillion," he told Tempo on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
According to JPPI, observing the distribution of MBG during last year’s Ramadan and various holiday seasons, the food quality provided to students and beneficiaries was far below standard. This includes packaged food, hard rice, withered vegetables, and other unfit items.
Dinda Sabrina contributed to the report
Read: Survey: 72.8% of Indonesians Satisfied with Free Meal Program
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Survey Shows High Support for Prabowo, DPR Least Trusted
6 jam lalu
The Indonesian Political Indicators survey institute released the results of its latest survey on satisfaction with President Prabowo's performance.
Survey: 72.8% of Indonesians Satisfied with Free Meal Program
1 hari lalu
Generation Z has the highest satisfaction rate with the free nutritious meal program (MBG).
36,000 People with Disabilities in Indonesia Set to Receive Free Nutritious Meals
3 hari lalu
MBG for people with disabilities will be provided twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.
BGN: Kudus Student Poisoning Caused by E. coli Bacteria
3 hari lalu
As reported previously, 131 students at SMA Negeri 2 Kudus suffered poisoning after consuming the free nutritious meals (MBG).
The Balanced Budget Fiscal Illusion
4 hari lalu
The government is planning a balanced State Budget. This could trigger huge new debts.
Indonesia's Purbaya Mulls Reallocating Unspent Free Nutritious Meal Budget
4 hari lalu
This year, the government earmarked Rp335 trillion for the free nutritious meal program.
BGN Backs Prabowo's Claim: MBG Creates 1 Million Jobs
5 hari lalu
BGN confirmed Prabowo's statement that a total of 1.1 million people are currently employed within the MBG program.
Minister Says Indonesia's Free Meal Program Serves 60 Million People
7 hari lalu
The government aims to increase the number of recipients of the Free Nutritious Meal program to 82.9 million people by 2026.
Prabowo Claims Free Meal Program Created 1 Million Jobs
7 hari lalu
Prabowo Subianto claims that the free nutritious meal program (MBG) has had an impact on job availability during its one-year implementation.
White House Experts Are Studying Indonesia's MBG Program, Says Prabowo
7 hari lalu
Prabowo claims the success of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) project has attracted the attention of many other countries. As a result, many other countries are also interested in studying the implementation of MBG.
