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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Indonesian DPD Member Calls for MBG Program Review After Mass Poisoning Incident

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A member of Indonesia's Regional Representative Council (DPD) has called for a review of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program following a suspected poisoning incident at an Semarang vocational school that affected over 700 students.
  • The council member suggested increasing the budget for food ingredients per meal from the current Rp8-Rp10 thousand to Rp15-Rp20 thousand to improve quality and prevent future incidents.
  • He also proposed that schools should have the option to accept or decline the MBG program and that the program should target only those genuinely in need to ensure better quality and impact.

A recent suspected food poisoning incident at SMKN 6 Semarang, which sickened over 700 students, has prompted calls for a critical review of Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. Abdul Kholik, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from the Central Java electoral district, expressed concern that while the program's intention is good, its implementation is flawed.

I have repeatedly said this program is good but the method is wrong. The method is, this is a charity program, but the approach is corporate. Because it's corporate, everyone wants to make a profit.

— Abdul KholikDPD RI member Abdul Kholik explains his concerns about the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Kholik pointed to the budget allocated for each meal, currently between Rp8,000 and Rp10,000 for food ingredients, as a potential factor contributing to the poisoning. He argued that this minimal amount may compromise the quality and safety of the food. "I have repeatedly said this program is good but the method is wrong," Kholik stated, suggesting that the program's charitable nature is being approached with a corporate mindset, leading to a focus on profit over well-being.

I think one of the factors why then (there were poisoning cases) was because the figure of Rp10 thousand was very minimal. Maybe that figure needs to be reviewed.

— Abdul KholikAbdul Kholik discusses the budget for the MBG program and its potential link to the poisoning incident.

To address these issues, Kholik proposed increasing the budget for food ingredients to between Rp15,000 and Rp20,000 per meal. Crucially, he also recommended that schools should have the autonomy to decide whether to participate in the MBG program, noting that currently, schools may feel pressured to accept it even if they have reservations. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of ensuring that the program strictly targets students who are genuinely in need. "The program is good, its quality must be good," he asserted, emphasizing that refining the menu standards and targeting the most needy recipients would significantly enhance the program's effectiveness and prevent future incidents.

But at the same time, it is done, to ensure that those who receive MBG are those who truly need it.

— Abdul KholikAbdul Kholik suggests refining the targeting of the MBG program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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