NU Leader Calls for More Integrity in Free Nutritious Meal Program

Nahdlatul Ulama leader Abdul Hakim Mahfudz has backed an evaluation of Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program after hundreds of students at Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, were treated in hospital following a suspected food-poisoning incident.

Mahfudz, widely known as Gus Kikin, said the program needed to be managed with greater integrity. He linked prevention to personal responsibility, saying those involved must take responsibility for their work and follow the rules governing each activity.

“

Integrity means that each of us must be responsible for our activities and for the rules that apply to them.

He described the Sidoarjo case as one of several incidents involving the meal program. At the same time, he said improvements in its management should continue while successful practices at nutrition service units were preserved and applied at Islamic boarding schools.

“

Because this kitchen has been supplying these children for almost a year and a problem has only occurred now, we certainly need to investigate what actually happened.

Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Syafii also called for an investigation to establish what caused the suspected poisoning. He said the kitchen had supplied meals to the students for almost a year, making it necessary to examine why a problem had emerged only now.

Syafii made the remarks while visiting students still being treated at R.T. Notopuro Regional Hospital in Sidoarjo. Eight patients were receiving care during the visit. Five had been cleared to go home, while three remained in treatment. Hospital officials said the students had complained of stomach discomfort and nausea, but their conditions were not severe.

“

The children did complain of stomach problems and nausea, but it was not too serious.