Jakarta – Lenis Kogoya, Special Staff to the Minister of Defense for the Sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia, revealed that children in Papua are now ready to receive the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG). This statement was made after Kogoya conducted a socialization event for MBG in Timika, Papua, involving school principals and the Indigenous Community Development Institutions in the region on Monday, March 10, 2025. “Children in Papua are ready to receive the MBG program, which also greatly benefits parents, as they will not only get nutritious meals but also education on healthy and balanced nutrition,” said Lenis Kogoya in a statement on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
One of the first places Kogoya visited was SD Kebun Sirih, a school located in Mimika District, Papua. The visit aimed to monitor the school’s readiness and provide direct socialization to students. This initiative is seen as part of supporting the MBG program, which is a priority project of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, particularly for Papua. In addition, Kogoya mentioned that the implementation of MBG has the potential to stimulate the local economy in Papua.
One of the key issues highlighted during the MBG socialization was the importance of ensuring food security for children. Kogoya emphasized that the kitchens for the MBG program will be directly managed by the Papuan people. “The kitchens will be built near the locations and managed by the local community. This is a program by them, for them, which will also empower their land,” he explained.
Kogoya also stressed the important role of teachers in providing the correct understanding to children so they can access safe and nutritious food of high quality. Previously, there had been reports of opposition to the MBG program from student groups in Papua. One such protest took place on Monday, February 17, 2025, when students in Wamena, Jayawijaya District, staged a demonstration against MBG. In a 15-second video received by Kompas.com, the students were seen occupying the road in front of the Office of the Governor of Papua Pegunungan Province, chanting “Reject Free Nutritious Meals (MBG).”
In his statement, the leader of the “Reject MBG” movement, Rohex Relembo, stated that they opposed MBG because the budget of Rp 71 trillion would not be beneficial for students in Papua if it was solely allocated for this program. Rohex also pointed out that poverty and illiteracy rates in Papua remain the highest in Indonesia, while the high cost of education and the lack of active teaching by teachers are key issues. “We demand free education across all of Papua,” he concluded.
