Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has said his flagship free nutritious meals programme will soon serve more daily meals than global fast-food giant McDonald’s, as he sought to showcase the scale of the initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Speaking in Switzerland on Thursday evening local time, Mr Prabowo said the programme was already producing around 59.8 million meals per day, distributed to children, mothers and elderly people living alone across the country.
He compared the figure with McDonald’s, which he said serves about 68 million meals daily worldwide, adding that Indonesia’s programme would surpass that number within a month.
“In less than two years, we aim to reach 82.9 million meals per day,” Mr Prabowo said, noting that McDonald’s took more than five decades after opening its first kitchen in 1940 to reach a similar scale.
The free meals scheme, known as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), was launched in January 2025 and has become a central pillar of Mr Prabowo’s social policy agenda.
Economic confidence message
In his Davos address, Mr Prabowo also argued that Indonesia’s economy remained resilient despite global pressures from war, political uncertainty and weakening trust between nations and institutions.
Citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessments, he described Indonesia as a “bright spot” in the global economy, pointing to average annual growth above 5% over the past decade, inflation around 2%, and a budget deficit kept below 3% of GDP.
“Security and stability are prerequisites for development and humanitarian progress,” he said, adding that Indonesia’s performance reflected “measured and consistent” policymaking.
Domestic criticism and controversy
Despite the international presentation, the programme has faced mounting criticism at home.
One major point of contention is the government’s decision to appoint core staff of the programme’s public kitchens, including heads of units, nutritionists and accountants, as civil servants on fixed-term government contracts (PPPK) starting February 2026.
Lawmakers have questioned the fairness of the move, particularly when compared with the long-standing struggles of honorary teachers seeking similar status.
“It’s unjust,” said Edy Wuryanto, a member of parliament’s health commission. “Drivers delivering meal packages are earning more than teachers who have educated children for years. Their education was hard-earned, yet the state treats them differently.”
Food safety concerns
The programme has also been hit by repeated food safety incidents.
In Kulon Progo district in Yogyakarta, local authorities reported 104 suspected food poisoning cases linked to free school meals on Thursday (23/01/2026). Ten people were hospitalised and 94 received outpatient treatment, according to the regional education office. All patients are now reported to be in stable condition.
Officials said investigations were ongoing.
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| PHOTO: KOMPAS.COM/DANI JULIUS |
Online backlash
President Prabowo’s comparison with McDonald’s also drew sceptical reactions online, with critics questioning the use of public funds for the programme.
Some social media users argued the scheme relied on state debt rather than private investment, while others said government resources would be better spent on free education or improving school infrastructure.
Others pointed to the food poisoning cases as evidence of weaknesses in implementation.
The government has insisted the programme will continue to be expanded while improving oversight and quality control.
For now, MBG remains both one of the most ambitious, and most controversial, social programmes in Indonesia’s recent history.
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