Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has acknowledged a critical oversight regarding the procurement of electric motorcycles by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). This security breach occurred despite the Ministry of Finance having previously rejected the agency’s budget request for the purchase.
Speaking at the APBN KiTa press conference on Tuesday (May 5), Purbaya explained that the unauthorized spending was caused by a loophole in the Directorate General of Budget’s software. “The software used by the Directorate General of Budget is currently being upgraded to prevent future security lapses. We had previously rejected BGN’s request to purchase these motorcycles, yet the system failed to flag it,” Purbaya stated.
He noted that the system’s inability to detect the irregular request allowed the expenditure to slip through the cracks. “There was a gap that allowed specific items to bypass our safeguards. We are now refining the software to ensure that such occurrences are minimized as much as possible,” he added.
To prevent similar incidents, the Ministry of Finance is tightening oversight through the Directorate General of Budget. Purbaya emphasized the necessity of ensuring that all government expenditures are rational and strictly aligned with operational requirements. He also pointed out that upgrading the verification system is essential for maintaining accuracy and transparency in future budget allocations.
“The Director General of Budget will leverage improved software to scrutinize expenditures more effectively and identify any anomalies. We are currently fixing the vulnerabilities in the SPPG software to ensure tighter control moving forward,” Purbaya noted.
Despite these administrative hurdles, Purbaya affirmed that the government remains fully committed to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. He stressed that operational efficiency remains a top priority to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.
“The MBG program continues to move forward, and we are dedicated to ensuring that all spending is conducted as efficiently as possible,” he said.
As of March 31, 2026, the realized budget for the MBG program has reached IDR 55.34 trillion, representing approximately 16.5 percent of the total IDR 335 trillion budget ceiling. The program has successfully reached 61.8 million beneficiaries, supported by the establishment of 26,362 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) across various regions.
Summary
Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa admitted that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) managed to procure electric motorcycles despite having their budget request previously rejected. This unauthorized expenditure occurred due to a technical vulnerability in the Directorate General of Budget’s software, which failed to flag the irregular request. Consequently, the Ministry is currently upgrading its verification system to close these loopholes and ensure all government spending remains rational and compliant.
Despite this administrative lapse, the government remains fully committed to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, which has reached 61.8 million beneficiaries as of March 2026. The program has utilized IDR 55.34 trillion of its total IDR 335 trillion budget ceiling to support the operation of 26,362 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units. The Ministry continues to prioritize operational efficiency and transparency to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.