Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals Programme Turns One Year, Benefits 55 Million Recipients - Prabowo

JAKARTA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Indonesia marked its first year anniversary of Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, which had so far benefitted 55 million children and pregnant women nationwide.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the programme, launched on Jan 6, 2025, had achieved the success rate of 99.99 per cent.

However, he said he was not yet satisfied with the achievements, stressing that the government must strive for zero errors.

“Are there shortcomings? Yes. In an effort of this scale, there are bound to be shortcomings.

“We expect zero defects. That is what we must achieve. We are not satisfied. Even a shortfall of zero point zero-something is something we must address. And thank God, we have addressed it and will continue to do so,” he said.

He said this in his remarks at the 2026 Early-Year Briefing — held during Cabinet Retreat in Hambalang, Bogor, on Tuesday — which was shared via a press release issued by the President Communications Office on Wednesday.

Prabowo also asserted that the MBG programme would continue to be closely monitored, with the government taking various preventive measures to ensure its success. 

“A responsible leader, a leader with compassion and concern, must work hard to eliminate hunger and poverty,” he said.

The president said that despite many critics, the programme has proven to be successful and is eagerly anticipated by the public. 

-- BERNAMA