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January 15, 2025 | 08:06 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chair of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has urged the public, observers, and even government officials to refrain from hasty criticism of the recently implemented Free Nutritious Meal program.
“Don't be too quick to criticize; wait and see it first. People sometimes pretend to know everything. If they were in office, they would also be a thief. So, let's just wait and see,” Luhut said while speaking at the 2025 Early Year Spirit Forum in South Jakarta on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Luhut asked the public to wait three to four months for the government program to run. “After that, please criticize, because we are not perfect gods,” he said. “But criticism should also be constructive, not disruptive.”
Luhut highlighted the long-term economic benefits of the Free Nutritious Meal program. He explained that previously, the average annual economic circulation within a village was only around Rp1.1 billion. With the implementation of President Prabowo’s key program, he believes this figure could increase significantly, reaching Rp 8 to 9 billion per year.
“This is a huge number. The economy will circulate within the village. It will contribute to equality, reduce stunting rates, and alleviate poverty,” he remarked.
In addition, Luhut pointed out the immediate positive impact of the program. “You can see the faces of children who rarely eat chicken or eggs and are now enjoying the meals,” he said
The Free Nutritious Meal program, a flagship initiative of President Prabowo Subianto, was officially launched on Monday, January 6, 2025, in 26 provinces. This program has a budget of Rp71 trillion allocated for the next six months.
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