He made the remarks at an event marking the Golkar Party's 61st anniversary in Jakarta on Friday, responding to doubts expressed by several experts and academicians about the program's feasibility.
"Some professors, intelligent people, once said that the MBG will fail. The truth is that this program has catered to the needs of 49 million people on a daily basis as of today," Prabowo said.
He noted that the figure is roughly seven times Singapore's population, adding that the program has reached communities across the country, including remote areas.
Prabowo described the nationwide distribution of free meals as the result of a large-scale and effective logistics operation, calling it one of the most significant logistical achievements worldwide in recent years.
He compared the MBG program with an initiative in Brazil, saying the South American nation needed 11 years to reach 40 million recipients, while Indonesia has served 49 million in under 12 months.
Prabowo said the program reflects the government's political commitment to improve living standards by expanding access to nutritious food, especially for children.
"It should be noted that politics is essentially about how we improve the living standards of underprivileged citizens," he said.
Launched on January 6, the program is aimed at improving public nutrition, strengthening food security and supporting local economies. The government targets the initiative to benefit 82.9 million people by March 2026.
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Translator: Fathur/Mentari, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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