Certain Areas Are Already Very Large

JAKARTA – Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture) Muhadjir Effendy also responded to the issue of cuts free nutritious food (MBG) to Rp7,500 from Rp15,000 per child. It is known that this free nutritious meal is a program from the President and Vice President (Wapres) elect Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Muhadjir initially responded to media crews who asked about this issue after attending the Children’s Expression Festival in the Ancol area, North Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024) yesterday. Muhadjir also said that he had provided input to the President-elect from the perspective of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.

“Relatively, it is still being prepared. Yesterday I also gave input to the President-elect from the perspective of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, we have submitted it. Later it will be seen from various parties, right? So it is still in the process of being refined,” said Muhadjir in his statement, quoted Friday (19/7/2024).

Muhadjir also emphasized that whatever the value, the most important thing is to meet health standards. “But God willing, whatever the value, the important thing is to meet the standards, the standards for health,” he explained.

Furthermore, Muhadjir said that his party had also provided input to President-elect Prabowo Subianto so that existing programs such as additional food for pregnant women and toddlers could be carried out sustainably.

“We only provide input so that it is sustainable with existing programs, the existing programs are supplementary food programs for pregnant women and supplementary food for toddlers. So later on, children to teenagers will get nutritious food,” he explained.

On that occasion, Muhadjir also reiterated that the selling price of food ingredients in each region is different. So it needs to be adjusted to the level of expensiveness of each region. “Each region is different. I think later it will be adjusted to the level of expensiveness of each region.”

“I think for certain areas Rp7,500 is already very large. But for certain areas it may be small. Because later it will definitely be seen from the side of the level of expensiveness of each area,” he concluded.

Previously, the potential for changes in the budget allocation for free nutritious meals was previously revealed by Verdhana Sekuritas Economist Heriyanto Irawan at the Mandiri Market Outlook 2024 event. Heriyanto also claimed to have been invited to a discussion with the Prabowo-Gibran economic team regarding the free lunch budget.

(kri)