Eka Permadhi, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition that is part of MBG Watch has called the corruption case involving the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) an urgent warning for the government to immediately halt and completely overhaul the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program.
The Coalition believes that removing the BGN leadership is insufficient to resolve the problem. This case reflects weak governance, oversight and accountability within the program, which has the potential to give rise to systemic corruption.
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) chairperson Muhammad Isnur, a member of MBG Watch, stated that law enforcement against the BGN leadership is important but structural issues remain. "This corruption case is the first action taken against a National Strategic Project, but governance issues have not been addressed", he said on Friday June 5.
MBG Watch also highlighted the potential for conflicts of interest in the replacement of BGN leadership. Several officials reportedly still hold positions in other institutions or companies potentially creating conflicts of interest.
According to MBG Watch, the failure to prevent conflicts of interest from the outset is one of the root causes of the problem. Without a comprehensive evaluation, the replacement of the leadership is seen as just repeating old patterns.
The Coalition also criticised the lack of policy breakthroughs in the implementation of the MBG. Since its inception, the program has been viewed as having received more of a reactive response than a data-driven strategic policy.
"The public needs concrete solutions, not short-term, reactive responses", they asserted.
Aside from this, MBG Watch believes that the program's implementation on the ground remains chaotic. From planning to implementation to oversight, it is deemed not to have run optimally.
Several previous studies have also warned of the high risk of corruption in this program. Transparency International Indonesia (TII) for example, noted weak partner selection, minimal independent oversight and a weak legal framework.
Centre of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) researcher Jaya Darmawan believes that the MBG program has the potential to burden the state's fiscal position. The program is expected to increase the state budget deficit and open up opportunities for rent-seeking practices.
Aside from this, the risk of unequal distribution and potential food security issues have also been highlighted. Dependence on imported raw materials is considered to weaken local producers.
MBG Watch also highlighted the need to revise Presidential Regulation Number 115/2025, which provides a legal framework for the program. Such revisions are considered crucial to strengthen governance, transparency and program effectiveness.
The Coalition has even filed a judicial review of the MBG budget allocation in the 2026 State Budget (APBN) with the Constitutional Court. This move was taken due to perceived fiscal and procedural issues in the budgeting.
At the grassroots level, criticism has also come from community groups. Several community groups and parents have highlighted the direct impacts of the program, including cases of food poisoning.
MBG Watch believes the government has tended to ignore these warnings. The removal of the BGN leadership is seen as an admission of failure that has already been publicly voiced.
The coalition emphasised that replacing leadership figures will not be enough without systemic improvements. The government is urged to implement a program moratorium, conduct a thorough audit and investigate problematic policy chains.
"What is needed is not just a change of leadership, but fundamental changes in program governance and implementation", the Coalition asserted.
The full MGB Watch statement in Bahasa can be read here: https://ylbhi.or.id/informasi/siaran-pers/korupsi-di-puncak-bgn-alarm-darurat-untuk-menghentikan-dan-merombak-total-program-mbg/
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "MBG Watch, Korupsi di Puncak BGN: Alarm Darurat untuk Menghentikan dan Merombak Total Program MBG".]