Indonesia’s free nutritious meals programme reaches 55 million children and pregnant women in its first year, with President Prabowo vowing zero errors.
JAKARTA: Indonesia has marked the first anniversary of its Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, which has so far reached 55 million children and pregnant women nationwide.
President Prabowo Subianto said the programme, launched in January 2025, had achieved a success rate of 99.99%.
He stressed that the government must strive for zero errors and was not yet satisfied with the achievements.
“Are there shortcomings? Yes. In an effort of this scale, there are bound to be shortcomings,” Prabowo said.
“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.”
He made the remarks at the 2026 Early-Year Briefing during a Cabinet Retreat in Hambalang, Bogor.
Prabowo asserted the MBG programme would continue to be closely monitored with 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 the programme has proven successful and is eagerly anticipated by the public despite many critics.
