The public has experienced various programs implemented during the first year of the new administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka under the Merah Putih Cabinet. These include the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, economic stimulus packages, village cooperatives, paid internship programs, and several other initiatives aimed at improving public welfare.
According to Alfath Bagus Panuntun El Nur Indonesia, a lecturer from the Department of Politics and Government at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s first-year performance has fallen short of public expectations.
He noted that the government remains preoccupied with internal consolidation during its initial year in office.
“The government’s large structure and competing interests make its performance appear to serve internal groups rather than the broader public,” said the expert on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.
He argued that the formation of new ministries and institutions does not necessarily guarantee effectiveness.
On the contrary, he sees it as potentially slowing down coordination and performance while creating overlapping authorities.
“The most important thing in all of this is ensuring the selection of the right person in the right position,” he emphasized.
Commenting on the variety of programs implemented, he assessed that most efforts remain limited to delivery aspects, without sufficient assurance of quality or accurate targeting.
He added that many groups outside the primary target communities have also benefited from the programs’ benefits, rather than the intended recipients.
The MBG program also drew criticism from the political science lecturer due to accompanying humanitarian issues.
The expert acknowledged that, although the MBG program carries a noble goal of addressing malnutrition, its implementation appears misguided.
He suggested that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) should utilize school canteens, supervise their sanitation, and restructure the program to ensure management by competent and professional personnel.
“My stance is clear: I don’t want the MBG program to become a source of exploitation or a way to expand fiscal space for other priority agendas. I also don’t want children to become victims of poor project management leading to food poisoning,” he stated.
He further noted that Indonesian politicians should strive to enhance their political communication strategies to more effectively engage with the public.
In his view, underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions (3T) should be prioritized, alongside leadership restructuring within BGN and a presidential commitment not only to deliver the MBG program but also to ensure its quality.
Delivering his message to the government, the expert emphasized the importance of the cabinet enhancing both individual and institutional capacity, as governing such a large nation requires nurturing diversity and building common ground.
“The public’s eyes are now constantly fixed on the government,” he asserted.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photograph: InfoPublik