Yogyakarta – The Gajah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Council Community of Students (BEM KM) is urging the government to totally re-evaluate the free nutritional meal (MBG) program which is a flagship project of President Prabowo Subianto.
This was one of the criticisms articulated by the UGM BEM KM through a theatrical action in which a cow with Prabowo's face was herded by a man wearing a mask of Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Prabowo's cosplay cow was led from the UGM Boulevard to the campus traffic circle plaza. In addition to the theatrical action, the participants also held discussion session to listen to and respond to Prabowo's speech at the 80th General Assembly Session of the United Nations.
During the action, the participants also put up various banners one of which criticised Prabowo MBG program using a play on the initials with the term "Modal Bacot Gede" (Big Empty Talk Capital).
UGM BEM KM Chairperson Tiyo Ardianto said that the Prabowo masked cow was presented as a symbol or form of critical satire of the organisation of the MBG program.
"This is a form of satirical criticism because the cow is not a sign of disparagement, animals are not lower than humans. Cows are a symbolism of nutritional providers, isn't that what is aspired to by the president with the MBG program, but the president's duty is not just to provide nutrition, the president's duty is implement the mandate of the Constitution", said Ardianto on Wednesday September 24.
The UGM BEM KM's criticism of the MBG is first of all triggered by the beneficiaries or school students who have suffered food poisoning in various regions after consuming dishes from the program. The number of victims, said Ardianto, has now reached 6,542 people.
"So that in the context of this poisoning it seems we need to be vigilant, if with all the comprehensive tools of the state the president has still in fact been negligent in carry out supervision", said Ardianto.
Reflecting on the many cases of food poisoning, the BEM KM UGM is urging Prabowo and the government to totally re-evaluate the MBG program. The students are also pushing for an increase in supervision in the program's implementation which they consider too ambitious.
"If the president does not want to totally re-evaluate it, it should be cancelled (the MBG)", he said.
Moreover, continued Ardianto, the consequence of maintaining the president's image through the MBG program is the education budget that has been cut down to the last penny. According to Ardianto, the 2026 state budget (APBN) shows that the MBG budget allocation is now claimed to be part of the 20 percent mandatory-spending from the APBN for education.
Ardianto said that around 44 percent of the total education budget or around 335 trillion rupiah is being allocated for the MBG program. Children are fed, but the future of their education is actually sacrificed and this is a betrayal of the Constitution.
The UGM BEM KM also believes that Prabowo should be ashamed because in fact he is not worthy of appearing before of the world when he violates human rights through the MBG program that threatens children's' safety and ignores their education.
"We are asking for one thing, that the MBG do not use money for education because this is a betrayal of the Constitution", he said.
"But the basic point is about a total re-evaluation, whether it's still feasible, it is still possible with our APBN which in deficit like that to be implemented by the President who [should] know better", continued Ardianto.
During the discussion session, the UGM BEM KM replayed Prabowo's speech at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday September 23, including his statement about Indonesia being ready to recognise Israel if Palestine becomes independent in accordance with the framework of a two-state solution.
According to Ardianto, Prabowo's statement is a betrayal of the history of the Indonesian nation siding with the struggle of the Palestinian people, by stating that a two-state solution as the only way.
"It negates the resistance and all the fighting spirit of the Indonesian people for Palestine. Of course the main thing from the president's position is to translate the attitude of his nation. Our nation strongly desires that there is no colonialism in the world so there is no bargaining over Palestine, which as desired by the people through the Palestinian President must be 100 percent independent". concluded Ardianto. (kum/gil)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "BEM UGM: Evaluasi Total Program MBG, Jangan Pakai Duit Pendidikan".]
