To start, the main issue with the Free Meal Program (MBG) began with its objective. The main objective is to improve the physical and intellectual development of the future generation through a balanced diet. However, today’s reality is that the free meal program has good intentions, and cases of poisoned students are only a deviation from numerous successes.
Good Intention in the Free Meal Program (MBG) is Never Enough
If good intentions are the only reason to keep this program running, and political promises are its foundation, we are in a critical situation that needs to be addressed immediately. The gap between the current vision and the basic vision has become too wide. The government has responded by labelling people who oppose the Free Meal Program (MBG) as having a different political agenda and, therefore, putting pressure on the government. Meanwhile, the number said different things.
Even one poisoned student matters, because nobody wants to be reduced to a number. The fear of the Free Meal Program (MBG) is dangerous and adds an unnecessary burden to an already problematic education system.
The Government Defends the Free Meal Program (MBG), Not the Students
The government tends to defend the Free Meal Program (MBG) at any cost; it has lost sight of the basic reason: the students, the future generation. If the Free Meal Program continues as it does now, the government is putting itself face to face with students in a hostile relationship. It is actually quite ironic.
Second, the Free Meal Program has been run as fast as possible without a proper study. The Indonesian government said the rushed decision was intended to fulfil campaign promises as quickly as possible. This is problematic because the free meal program is no longer about the recent problem that needs to be addressed, but about a political key performance indicator.
There is a saying that a politician’s career ends when he or she finally becomes a public official. Thus, politics should not be the reason to keep such a problematic policy. Even if a politician feels an urgent need to maintain popularity, they need to understand that national interest should not be put at risk for political gain.
The Political Circus
The situation is, hopefully, but sadly, almost identical to how Trump has pushed ethics and taboos in a political context in the U.S., only to keep himself in power. Trump’s success with apostrophes has surely made people concerned about how others follow his lead, especially in relatively new democracies.
Democracy, in short, has become more about drama and public stunts and has lost its essence anyway.
So, in the end, what concerns me most is that a program that matters and could change the whole nation for a long time has now degraded into a political circus. The government cares about the position rather than the future it has put at stake, only because it is evidence that they have worked.
Conclusion and Reflection
Work should not be done only because the government needs to look like it is working and looks good in the media. In fact, working is about building something. You have been given a mandate to shape the country’s future. However, because they want to stay in power and survive continuous political contestation, they sacrifice what matters. Ironically, what they have done right now seems to be making their political values go down, since the recent survey shows that the sitting president has a concerning approval rating.
Building a country is the cumulative work of every government in power to fulfil what it needs to do. Nonetheless, those in power are often more interested in looking right than doing the right thing.
