Indonesia Appoints Five Senior Officials to Bolster Free Meal Program

Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has appointed five senior officials, a move President Prabowo Subianto directly authorized to bolster the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. The appointments, formalized via presidential decree on Monday, July 20, 2026, bring new leadership to key sectors within the agency.

Agustina Arumsari, BGN Deputy Head and spokesperson, announced the appointments Tuesday, stating the officials were chosen from diverse institutional backgrounds. Among them is Prima Yosephine Berliana Tumiur Hutapea, now Deputy of the System and Governance Sector. Previously the Director of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Hutapea will focus on improving the accuracy of beneficiary data, from planning and setting targets to distribution, recording, and program evaluation.

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Yesterday, we received a presidential decree signed by Mr. President appointing them as senior officials in the BGN.

Zainuri, an auditor formerly with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, takes over as Deputy of the Provision and Distribution Sector. Mariman Darto, previously an Expert Staff in Talent Management, will lead the Promotion and Cooperation Sector. The agency also appointed Ketut Sumedana, former Head of the South Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office, as Deputy of Monitoring and Supervision. Lili Khamiliyah transitions from Head of the General and Financial Bureau to Chief Secretary.

These appointments signal a significant restructuring aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the MBG program, particularly in data management and distribution. The agency has been under scrutiny, with related probes into the program's implementation ongoing in North Sumatra.

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Starting from target planning, target setting, distribution from the center to service facilities, recording beneficiaries by name and address, to monitoring and evaluating the program's achievements.