Vice President Gibran pushes free nutritious meals to Indonesia's remote 3T areas

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka led a multi‑province working visit to Ende (NTT), Gorontalo and several regions in Papua, accompanied by five university students. During the trip he inspected the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, urged that the programme be prioritised in the country's most disadvantaged "3T" (tertinggal, terdepan, terluar) zones, and called for faster permitting of new MBG kitchens. Gibran said, “MBG akan lebih tepat sasaran jika difokuskan di area 3T,” and warned that the programme must be free from corruption, adding that “setiap rupiahnya harus benar‑benar termanfaatkan dan bebas dari praktik korupsi.”

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) issued Circular No. 12/2026 halting MBG distribution during school holidays, citing operational adjustments. The move sparked criticism from the Himpunan Mitra Dapur Generasi Emas, whose secretary Yusup Supriadi warned, “Jika tuntutan ini tidak dijalankan, maka HMDK Gemas se‑Indonesia akan menyampaikan melalui aksi damai di Istana Merdeka.” In response, the government announced a total audit of all MBG kitchens, a new incentive system tied to performance, and a commitment to improve food safety and transparency.

Student participants reported that on‑site observations highlighted issues such as cold meals and poorly lit classrooms, prompting Gibran to request immediate improvements. The combined efforts aim to enhance the programme’s reach, ensure accountability, and sustain support from beneficiaries, local officials and civil‑society groups.