Hashim Said Prabowo Has Had The Idea Of A Free Eating Program Since 2006

Hashim said Prabowo had had the idea of MBG since 2006 (ANTARA/HO-Presidential Media Team Prabowo Subianto)

Hashim Djojohadikusumo said that the Free Nutrition Food (MBG), which is currently being run by the government, has been initiated by Prabowo Subianto since 2006.

"The Free Nutrition Eating Program (MBG), it was Pak Prabowo's promise. It was Pak Prabowo's idea 18 years ago. That was the idea of being born in 2006," said Hashim during an event to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Jakarta last month, as quoted from the official broadcast of Presidential Media Team Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, Sunday.

In a video recording shared by the Presidential Media Team, Prabowo during the 2014 presidential election campaign consistently carries his desire to realize the Free Nutrition Food program for children.

"I want to lead Indonesia's changes. We guarantee that children, they have to eat enough, have to have enough food, have to go to school enough," said a snippet of Prabowo's speech during the 2014 presidential election campaign.

The Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) started simultaneously throughout Indonesia on January 6, 2025. On the first day of the MBG, there were 190 SPPGs operating to supply nutritious food for schools and posyandu in 26 provinces.

SPPG is a nutritional fulfillment service unit tasked with managing a soup kitchen that cooks and distributes free nutritious food for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in the surrounding area. In operating the kitchen, SPPG is led by a head of SPPG assisted by a nutritionist and an accountant.

The number of SPPGs and free nutritious food recipients continues to increase every time. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced that as of January 17, 2025, there were 238 SPPGs operating to meet Free Nutrition Food (MBG) in 31 provinces. From that number, the number of MBG beneficiaries also became 650,000 people.

The President is targeting the number of MBG recipients for the period January to April 2025 of 3 million children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Then, 6 million people in the period April 'August 2025, 15' 17 million people from August to September 2025. By the end of 2025, the President targets Free Nutrition Food to be enjoyed by 82.9 million people.