Malanginspirasi.com – The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program has officially commenced in Malang City, drawing direct attention from the Mayor, Wahyu Hidayat. Alongside the Commander of the 5th Naval Main Base of Surabaya (Danlantamal V Surabaya), Rear Admiral TNI Arya Delano, the mayor conducted an on-site inspection at SMPN 19 Malang to observe the distribution of nutritious lunches to students on Monday, May 19, 2025.
The event was also attended by Colonel Pnb Reza R Sastranegara, Commander of Abd Saleh Air Base, Colonel Inf Kohir, Commander of Military Resort 083, Malang City Education Office Head Suwarjana, and several other relevant officials.
Prior to visiting SMPN 19, Mayor Hidayat inspected the MBG kitchen located at the Malang Naval Base. He affirmed that the entire process, from cooking to cleaning and food presentation, met stringent quality standards.
“We directly observed the cooking process with the Danlantamal and Danlanud. The presentation, cleanliness, and the professionalism of the team were highly commendable,” stated Mayor Hidayat.
The MBG program at SMPN 19 Malang has been running since April 28th, 2025, and is reportedly proceeding smoothly.
Mayor Hidayat emphasized the high level of student enthusiasm, citing their access to healthy and balanced meals as a significant boost to their learning.
“Students receive complete meals, including rice, vegetables, fruits, chicken, and milk. The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he added.
Mayor Wahyu also expressed his gratitude to the Malang Naval Base and all parties involved in carrying out the program. He hopes that the MBG initiative can be expanded to all schools in Malang City to enhance educational quality and children’s growth.
“Currently, ten schools are implementing MBG, consisting of five elementary and five junior high schools. Our hope is for this program to extend to every school in Malang City,” explained Wahyu.
Rear Admiral TNI Arya Delano, representing the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), affirmed that the agency is committed to ensuring the program’s seamless operation.
He revealed that the Malang Naval Base kitchen currently produces up to 3,000 meals per day and is aiming to increase production to 4,000 portions.
“Increasing the number of portions requires adjustments in terms of human resources, logistics, and infrastructure support. However, we are fully committed to supporting this national program,” stated Rear Admiral Delano.
Head of SMPN 19 Malang, Any Setijowati, explained that the MBG program at her school targets 948 students in grades 7 and 8. Due to grade 9 students having completed their exams and currently not attending classes, a total of 640 students in grades 7 and 8 receive the free nutritious meals.
According to Any, the selection of the school for the program was based on its geographical proximity to the Malang Naval Base MBG kitchen.
“Our school was chosen due to its close proximity to the MBG kitchen. This facilitates food distribution,” Any said.
She also mentioned that while students are generally enthusiastic, some need time to adapt to military-standard menu items.
“Some children look for chili sauce, but we explain that the menu is adjusted to be safe for their digestion,” she clarified.
Regarding the school canteen, Any assured that the MBG program has not had a negative impact. The MBG meals are delivered around 11:00 AM, allowing students to purchase snacks during the first break.
“The Malang Naval Base consistently delivers on time. And we continue to support the school canteen,” she added.
Any further encouraged students to bring their own tumblers in order to reduce plastic waste and support environmental awareness efforts.
“We encourage students to bring their own tumblers so that the school remains clean and environmentally friendly,” she concluded.
