Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – A recent survey by research institute Indostrategi has found that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program ranks lowest among President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's seven flagship initiatives, marking its first year in office.
Health check program leads in public approval
Indostrategi Research Director Ali Noer Zaman said that out of the seven priority programs, the Free Health Check (CKG) initiative received the highest score with 3.42 points, categorized as "approaching good."
"The Free Health Check program topped the list, showing strong public appreciation for a program that is seen as urgently needed," Ali said in a press statement on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Following CKG, the People's School program ranked second with 3.13 points, the Garuda School program came third with 3.00 points, and the National Food Barn initiative placed fourth with 2.94 points.
The Red and White Village Cooperative came fifth with 2.77 points, followed by the Three Million Homes for Low-Income Families program in sixth with 2.69 points.
Free meal program scores the lowest
At the bottom of the ranking, the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program received a score of 2.68, the lowest among all of Prabowo-Gibran's priority projects.
Ali attributed the low score to a series of food poisoning incidents linked to the program in several schools, which have received widespread media coverage. He added that comparisons with similar programs abroad may have also heightened public expectations regarding its implementation and results.
"Public comparisons have raised expectations for outcomes that, in reality, are still in the early stages of institutional and management development," Ali said. "Fundamentally, the MBG program is a good initiative aimed at improving the nutritional quality of Indonesian children."
The Indostrategi One-Year Prabowo-Gibran Report was conducted between September and October 8, 2025, involving 424 expert respondents from various disciplines across 34 provinces.
The study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches (mixed methods) and was supported by secondary data from reputable media sources.