A key lawmaker confirmed Friday, February 27, 2026, that a controversial plan to fund free nutritious school meals from the education budget received unanimous approval from parliamentary committees last year. The confirmation comes amid scrutiny from within the ruling party regarding the funding source for the program.
Said Abdullah, chairman of the DPR RI Budget Committee, echoed statements made by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya regarding the allocation of funds for the free nutritious meal program (MBG). Abdullah stated that all factions agreed to the 2026 state budget plan, including funding for the program.
“I confirm what Pak Teddy, the Cabinet Secretary, said – that the MBG budget was discussed and approved jointly by the government and the DPR since 2025, and for 2026, as outlined in the state budget. All factions unanimously approved the 2025 and 2026 state budgets, which include funding for the MBG,” Abdullah told reporters.
Abdullah stated he and all members of the DPR are accountable for the decision. He affirmed his commitment to the MBG budget, which was approved through the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) for 2026.

.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
“I and all members of the DPR are ethically and constitutionally responsible for approving the MBG budget,” Abdullah said.
“We in the DPR, especially I as Chairman of the DPR Budget Committee, will not back down regarding the MBG budget. Especially during discussions with the government, the DPR saw the importance of the MBG program, which is a priority program of President Prabowo,” he continued.
He expressed confidence in the program’s goal of improving childhood nutrition in Indonesia. Abdullah emphasized that the DPR approved the budget in line with its support for the programs proposed by President Prabowo Subianto.
“This program is intended as an intervention to improve children’s nutrition, and we support that. If we didn’t support it, we wouldn’t have approved it in the state budget,” he stated.
Abdullah corroborated the statement made by Cabinet Secretary Teddy regarding the approval of the MBG budget from education funds by both the DPR and the government. However, Abdullah stressed that the DPR also provided recommendations regarding its management.
“I reiterate that we confirm what Pak Menseskab said – that the MBG budget was approved jointly by the government and the DPR. However, we have provided input regarding the management of the MBG. The management of the MBG needs to be improved so that President Prabowo’s intention to intervene in nutrition can be achieved,” he added.
Seskab Teddy’s Statement
Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya responded to concerns regarding the funding of the MBG program from the national education budget, which has recently drawn criticism from the PDIP. Teddy stated that the decision regarding the size of the education budget in the state budget had been approved by the government together with the DPR.
“So, the name of the education budget is 20 percent of the state budget. This year It’s Rp 769.1 trillion, that’s 20 percent. And that is the education budget. The education budget includes many things, its allocation,” Teddy said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, Friday, February 27, 2026.
Teddy said the State Budget Law had passed an agreement between the government and the DPR, including the stage of reaching an agreement in the DPR Budget Committee. He then pointed out that the Chairman of the DPR Budget Committee also comes from the PDIP faction, namely Said Abdullah.
“And the allocation of funds was agreed upon last year by the government, the DPR, and the DPR Budget Committee, whose chairman is also from the PDIP,” Teddy said.
“And earlier, all of that was, including the MBG, the initial foundation for improving education in the future. That’s roughly it,” he continued.
Teddy also affirmed that the MBG program would not reduce education programs. He dismissed the narrative that the quality of education was not being prioritized by the government.
“I want to clarify the understanding and misguided narrative. About what? Yesterday, there were some parties who said that the Free Nutritious Meal program reduced education programs and budgets. So that schools were neglected, and teachers were not paid attention to. So I want to answer that that narrative is misguided,” Teddy said.
Tonton juga video “Demo Lagi, Buruh Tuntut Kenaikan UMP-Penyelamatan Karyawan PT Pakerin”
Halaman 2 dari 2
(dwr/fas)
