Controversy Surrounds BGN Procurement for MBG Project, From Motorbikes to EO Services

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s National Nutrition Body (BGN) has come under public scrutiny over its procurement of goods and services, which many consider wasteful. The spending has also been seen as contradicting the core vision of the free nutritious meal program (MBG).

Some of the highlighted procurements include the use of event organizer services, electric motorcycles, tableware, laptops, and tablets. Here are the explanations:

1. Procurement of Electric Motorcycles

BGN purchased tens of thousands of electric motorcycles. BGN Head Dadan Hindayana stated that the procurement of these motorcycles was part of the budget planning for 2025. He mentioned that the motorcycles were intended to support the operations of the MBG project, especially for the heads of the nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG), better known as the MBG kitchens.

"The motorcycles have not been distributed yet. Once all of them are complete, they will be recorded as State-Owned Goods (BMN) before being distributed," Dadan said in a written statement on April 7, 2026.

He denied information claiming there were 70,000 motorcycles. According to Dadan, the procurement only reached more than 20,000 units. "The actual number is 21,801 out of 25,000 units ordered in 2025," said the IPB University Professor.

2. EO Service Procurement

Referring to the realization data of BGN's procurement of goods and services published by the Government Procurement Policy Agency or LKPP, it was noted that there were 31 packages of EO service procurements used by BGN in the first year of implementing the MBG project.

Dadan Hindayana stated that the use of EO services was part of the strategic needs of the institution. This was because, in the first year, BGN was still building the system and operational governance.

"BGN did not yet have fully ready internal resources to handle all the needs of large-scale activities independently," Dadan said in a written statement on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The majority of these EO service procurement packages were carried out for activities at BGN's headquarters. Meanwhile, others were conducted for human resources capacity-building agendas. The total budget for these service procurements amounted to Rp113.9 billion.

One of the activities conducted by BGN by hiring EO services was the Fun Run for World Anti-Corruption Day in 2025. The corporation appointed as the EO for this event was called 'Kredo Aum' with a contract value of Rp1.3 billion.

3. Tableware, Laptops, and Socks Procurement

Another highlighted procurement was the purchase of items such as tableware, laptops, and socks. On social media, it was mentioned that the budget for this procurement reached Rp4 trillion.

Dadan Hindayana did not deny the procurement but refuted the claim that the procurement budget for these items reached a nominal value of Rp4 trillion.

"For example, 32,000 units of laptops and tableware worth Rp4 trillion. That's totally untrue," Dadan said in a written statement on Monday, April 13, 2026.

He explained that BGN's procurement of laptops was only around 5,000 units throughout 2025. As for tableware, the procurement was only done in 315 SPPGs with a budget ceiling of Rp215 billion funded by the State Budget based on the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) of the relevant ministers.

The same goes for the procurement of socks. BGN never directly procured them. The socks are part of the equipment for the Indonesian Development Enabler Graduates (SPPI) conducted by the Defense University through a self-managed implementation mechanism type II.

"It needs to be understood that the procurement was not done directly by BGN but by Unhan in the context of implementing SPPI education," he said.

4. Shoe Polish and Shoe Brushes

Similar to the procurement of socks, Dadan Hindayana stated that the procurement of shoe polish and shoe brushes was part of the needs for SPPI education and training in 2025. The SPPI education costs come from BGN's budget, but the implementation is self-managed type II by Unhan. "So the procurement is done at the Defense University," Dadan said when contacted on Friday, April 17, 2026.

Based on the realization data from LKPP procurement, there are a number of contract packages for the procurement of shoe polish and brushes carried out by several providers through the government procurement mechanism. In the data, at least 12 contract packages were signed by the BGN.

The total value of these procurement contracts amounted to Rp1.57 billion, involving several provider companies, one of which is PT Gajah Mitra Paragon. This corporation obtained two procurement contracts, one for shoe polish and one for shoe brush.

Dadan detailed that the total procurement value of around Rp1.52 billion is for shoe polish worth Rp1.25 billion and shoe brushes around Rp272 million.

According to him, the procurement was intended for 30,299 SPPIs.

Eka Yudha Saputra and Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to the writing of this article.

Read: BGN Plans Nationwide Network of Nutrition Service Offices

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