PDIP Supports Education Budget Allocation for Free School Meals Program
The Chairman of the DPR RI Budget Agency (Banggar), Said Abdullah, has responded to a statement from the Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya regarding the polemic surrounding funding for the Nutritious Free Meal (MBG) program drawn from the national education budget, which has recently been highlighted by the PDIP party. Said affirmed Seskab Teddy’s statement that all factions unanimously approved the 2026 State Budget (ABPN), including funding for the MBG program.
“I confirm what was conveyed by Mr. Teddy, the Cabinet Secretary, that the MBG budget was discussed and approved jointly between the government and the DPR since 2025, and 2026, as stipulated in the State Budget. All factions unanimously approved the 2025 and 2026 State Budgets, which include funding for MBG,” Said told reporters on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Said stated that he and all members of the DPR are responsible for this decision. He will not back down regarding the MBG budget which has received approval through the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) 2026.
“I and all members of the DPR are ethically and constitutionally responsible for the approval of the MBG budget,” Said stated. “We in the DPR, especially I as Chairman of the DPR Banggar, will not back down regarding the MBG budget. In discussions with the government, the DPR saw the importance of the MBG program as a priority program of President Prabowo.”
He believes the program’s goal is to improve the nutrition of children in Indonesia. Said emphasized that his side approved the State Budget in line with support for the program 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 said.
Said confirmed the statement made by Seskab Teddy regarding the MBG budget from education having been approved by the DPR and the government. Although, Said emphasized that his side also provided notes regarding its management.
“I reiterate, we confirm what was said by Mr. Seskab that the MBG budget was approved jointly between the government and the DPR. However, we provide notes that the management of MBG is important. The management of MBG needs to be improved so that the nutritional intervention intended by President Prabowo can be achieved,” he added.
Seskab Teddy’s Statement
Previously, Seskab Teddy Indra Wijaya responded to the polemic surrounding funding for the MBG program from the national education budget, which has recently been highlighted by the PDIP party. 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. Well, this year it is Rp 769.1 trillion, that’s 20 percent. And that is the education budget. The education budget is what? A lot. Its contents, its allocation,” said Teddy at the Presidential Palace complex, 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 Banggar. He then alluded to the Chairman of the DPR Banggar also coming from the PDIP faction, namely Said Abdullah.
“And the contents, its allocation have been agreed upon together last year by the government, the DPR, and the DPR Budget Agency, where the Chairman of Banggar is also from PDIP, roughly like that,” said Teddy.
“And earlier, all of that is, including MBG, is 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 aim for to clarify the understanding and misguided narrative. About what? So yesterday there were parties, a few parties, who said that the Free Nutritious Meal program reduced education programs, and budgets. So that schools are neglected, and teachers are not paid attention to. So I want to answer that that narrative is wrong,” said Teddy.
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(dwr/fas)