Indonesia's Free Meal Program Faces Criticism, Advisor Defends Reach

Hasan Nasbi, a special advisor to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, addressed the 'Nutritious Free Meal' (MBG) program, acknowledging its imperfections while highlighting its broad reach.

Nasbi stated that the program has successfully reached tens of millions of Indonesians. He admitted that the implementation was not flawless, citing issues with food quality, instances of food poisoning, unprofessional presentation, and delayed serving times. "We acknowledge that there are shortcomings, we do not deny that in fact, there is food that is bad, there is food that causes poisoning, there is unprofessional presentation, there is cooking at night and served at 10 o'clock, so we acknowledge things like that," he said.

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We acknowledge that there are shortcomings, we do not deny that in fact, there is food that is bad, there is food that causes poisoning, there is unprofessional presentation, there is cooking at night and served at 10 o'clock, so we acknowledge things like that.

However, Nasbi argued that with "62 million people, simple logic suggests more have had good experiences than bad experiences." He also discussed the broader concepts of simulacra and algorithms in the context of Indonesian statecraft, particularly within a democratic system. He emphasized the government's commitment to clear communication to prevent misperceptions.

The discussion took place during a podcast interview, where Nasbi shared insights on his role, the MBG program, and governance challenges. The full conversation was set to be broadcast on CNN Indonesia's platforms.

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But, this is already 62 million people. 62 million people if simple logic, more have had good experiences than bad experiences.