5 hours ago
19
April 23, 2025 | 08:03 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pledged that authorities will investigate allegations of misappropriation involving the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program funds at a partner kitchen in Kalibata, South Jakarta. His statement followed reports that a Kalibata-based kitchen operator filed a police report accusing the MBG foundation of embezzling Rp975 million.
"It will be handled. We will safeguard every cent of public money," the President said at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 22. He emphasized that the allegations would be thoroughly reviewed.
The South Jakarta Metropolitan Police recently questioned Ira Mesra, owner of a partner kitchen for the MBG project under the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Kalibata. Her questioning followed a police report filed about a week earlier.
According to Tempo's observations, the examination began at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 18, and lasted until around 7:25 p.m. Ira offered limited comment due to fatigue. "I have submitted all the evidence to investigators," she said after the session at the South Jakarta Police headquarters.
Investigators asked Ira 28 questions, while her attorney, Danna Harly Putra, answered 21. "The questions mainly focused on the timeline and discrepancies between the contract and the actual implementation," Harly told reporters.
On April 10, 2025, Ira, through her legal counsel, filed a police report against the MBG program partner, Yayasan Media Berkat Nusantara (MBN), for failing to make any payments since the kitchen began operations in February 2025. She claimed to have incurred Rp975 million in losses due to unpaid MBG meal portions.
"We filed the report under Articles 372 and 378 of the Criminal Code, regarding fraud and embezzlement," Harly said. Tempo has attempted to contact MBN representatives, but they have not responded as of publication.
Separately, Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), said the dispute between Ira and MBN was an internal matter. He said he had only recently learned that the kitchen and the foundation were two separate entities, as typically, BGN partners with a single entity that owns the facility and runs the foundation. "It turns out the foundation subcontracted the MBG project to Ira," he explained.
Editor's Choice: Cianjur Declares 'Extraordinary Occurrence' After Mass Food Poisoning Linked to Free Meals
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Prabowo on Meeting Malaysian Deputy PM: Reminiscing Old Friendship to Gaza Talks
10 jam lalu
President Prabowo met Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Jakarta Presidential Palace.
Cianjur Declares 'Extraordinary Occurrence' After Mass Food Poisoning Linked to Free Meals
13 jam lalu
A mass food poisoning incident has left several students traumatized and unwilling to consume the government's free meals.
Prabowo Receives Malaysian Deputy PM's Visit at Merdeka Palace
14 jam lalu
Deputy PM of Malaysia visits the Presidential Palace to meet with President Prabowo at 3.00 PM.
Free Nutritious Meal Project for Family and Friends
16 jam lalu
The Prabowo family and their cronies have been running the free nutritious meals project. It is a populist program rife with corruption.
Dozens of Students in Cianjur Suffer Food Poisoning from Free Nutritious Meal Program
18 jam lalu
Dozens of students from PGRI Junior High School in Cianjur are suffering from alleged food poisoning originating from Free Nutritious Meal program.
Housing Deputy Minister: World Bank to Fund Uninhabitable Home Renovations in Indonesia
19 jam lalu
World Bank and several donor agencies will assist in funding the renovation program for uninhabitable houses in Indonesia.
Indonesia Responds to Turkiye's Disagreement with the Plan to Evacuate Gazans to Indonesia
22 jam lalu
The Turkish and Saudi Arabian governments disagree with President Prabowo's plan to evacuate Gaza citizens who are victims of Israel's attack to Indonesia.
National Nutrition Agency Changes Free Meal's Kitchen Partner Payment Scheme to Upfront Payment
23 jam lalu
The National Nutrition Agency has changed the reimbursement scheme in the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) to upfront payments.
Indonesia's Prabowo Pays Tribute to Pope Francis's Legacy
1 hari lalu
Prabowo conveyed his condolences upon receiving news of Pope Francis's death today.
Nutrition Agency Shifts Funding Scheme for Free Nutritious Meal Program
1 hari lalu
The government will discontinue the reimbursement system and instead implement a down payment scheme in the Free Nutritious Meal program.
