Indonesia's President Replaces Nutrition Agency Head to Boost Program Transparency

Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman has explained that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's recent dismissal of the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) was a strategic move to bolster transparency, accountability, and oversight of the government's Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program. Dudung emphasized that the President's decision was based on extensive listening, scrutiny, analysis, and evaluation of various information sources.

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I am confident that the President has long listened to information, scrutinized, analyzed, and evaluated various sources that have come to him. Therefore, I believe this is the right step for future improvements, ensuring that BGN becomes more transparent and accountable.

"I am confident that the President has long listened to information, scrutinized, analyzed, and evaluated various sources that have come to him. Therefore, I believe this is the right step for future improvements, ensuring that BGN becomes more transparent and accountable," Dudung stated in a written release. He indicated that the presidential action stemmed from a thorough assessment of the MBG program's implementation, a key government initiative aimed at enhancing community nutrition, particularly for schoolchildren.

The removal occurred shortly after the Attorney General's Office conducted a search of the BGN offices on June 3, 2026. Dudung revealed that a personal, unannounced inspection about a month prior uncovered discrepancies in program execution, despite many aspects running smoothly. "The President wants perfection, so that nothing deviates from his program," he added.

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The President wants perfection, so that nothing deviates from his program.

Future enhancements will concentrate not only on food distribution but also on the underlying governance and management systems. Dudung stressed the need to strengthen oversight across the entire program chain, from foundation management to the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit, to eliminate potential irregularities and ensure the quality of services and nutritional intake for beneficiaries. The Presidential Staff Office pledges to maintain objective and uncompromising monitoring of the MBG program to uphold national nutrition targets and public trust in the use of state funds.

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I see more clearly how the management actually needs to be improved.