Thekabarnews.com—Deddy Corbuzier has confessed that he regrets having defended hard the Free Meals (MBG) program. This is one of the flagship programs of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

During a podcast conversation with constitutional law expert Feri Amsari, Deddy made this statement. It aired on his YouTube channel on May 11, 2026.

At first, Deddy said he was fully supportive of the MBG program because he thought the program’s mission was noble and important. This is especially true in improving the nutrition of children and helping families with limited access to healthy food.

“At that time, I really defended the MBG program because I felt personally that it was a very noble program,” Deddy said, as quoted by Kompas.com.

However, he criticized the way officials implemented the program on the ground and said it disappointed him.

Serious operational problems, he said, have overwhelmed the original purpose of MBG. He highlighted several problems like a messy supply chain, budget leakage, poor supervision, and absence of proper pilot projects before scaling up.

“The program is beneficial as it is. But when you look at what is happening in the field—the messy supply chain, budget leaks, and no proper piloting—it becomes a problem,” he explained.

Deddy said the idea of MBG was still beneficial. However, the program could only reach its main goal if it were executed properly.

He also mentioned a viral case of a partner of the nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG) dancing and flaunting a daily incentive of Rp6 million.

Deddy said the incident showed weak control and poor management in the system for implementing the program.

In the same podcast, Deddy and Feri Amsari agreed that many government programs often look appealing on paper. However, they fall apart in implementation.

Feri cited the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) as an example, saying he opposed it not for the concept but for its execution.

Deddy said he feels the same about MBG. The problem isn’t the idea, he said, but a failure to do serious planning and disciplined implementation.

Deddy, in his criticism, emphasized that he still favors the original function of MBG. He hopes the government will reform the management system, improve distribution, and strengthen supervision.

He believes the program can still work if the execution becomes more transparent, structured, and accountable.

The MBG program remains one of the most discussed policies under the Prabowo-Gibran administration. This is especially true because it directly impacts millions of students and low-income families throughout Indonesia.

As public attention grows, Deddy’s critique is another important voice in the national debate. Benevolent intentions are not enough; public policy must also work in practice.

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