Burhanuddin Muhtadi, founder and chief researcher of the institute, noted that the survey involved 1,220 Indonesian citizens from January 15 to 21, with 72.8 percent expressing satisfaction at varying levels of satisfaction with the flagship program.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday, Muhtadi said 12.2 percent of respondents were “very satisfied,” 60.6 percent were “quite satisfied,” 19.9 percent were “less satisfied,” and 4.5 percent said they were “not at all satisfied.”
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews, with a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of approximately 2.9 percent.
“Those who said they were ‘quite satisfied’ could shift their views depending on the performance of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN),” Muhtadi said.
He added that public satisfaction with the MBG program could influence overall confidence in the Prabowo administration, although some respondents maintained positive views of the president despite expressing dissatisfaction with the program.
Muhtadi also noted that a segment of respondents held negative views of both the program and the administration, underscoring the need for the BGN to strengthen its performance to prevent future problems, particularly food poisoning incidents.
“It is crucial for the BGN to improve its performance, as growing dissatisfaction with the MBG program could affect public perceptions of President Prabowo’s leadership,” he said.
Separately on Sunday, President Prabowo said the MBG program has met the nutritional needs of more than 60 million people nationwide since its launch in January last year.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the program’s coverage to 82.3 million schoolchildren, toddlers, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women by the end of 2026.
The president made the remarks before an audience of around 100,000 people at the centenary celebration of the major Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama in Malang, East Java.
Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said in Jakarta on Thursday, February 5, that the program would also cover up to 400,000 elderly citizens and about 36,000 people with disabilities this year.
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Translator: Bagus A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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