Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Nanik S. Deyang stated that they will not halt the operations of 41 Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) kitchens managed by Yasika Aulia Ramdhani, daughter of Sulawesi Selatan DPRD Vice Chairman Yasir Machmud. This decision comes despite viral social media allegations of monopoly in establishing Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG). BGN plans to evaluate the kitchens' performance and tighten rules moving forward.
Allegations that Yasika Aulia Ramdhani, daughter of Sulawesi Selatan DPRD Vice Chairman Yasir Machmud from Gerindra Party, controls 41 MBG kitchens drew public attention after going viral on social media. Nanik S. Deyang, Deputy Head of BGN, affirmed that the operations of these kitchens will not be stopped as they are already running and benefiting children. "Ya, enggak lah, kan sudah jalan, masa dihentikan? Nanti bagaimana anak-anak yang terima manfaat?" Nanik said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (20/11/2025).
BGN will evaluate the performance of these kitchens. "Kita evaluasi, ya. Kalau misalnya dapurnya jalan baik-baik ya kan. Itu peraturan yang lalu, ke depan nanti kita tegakkan lagi," Nanik added. According to her, the SPPG registration process through foundations makes it difficult for BGN to know owners' identities in detail initially. The system should limit one foundation to a maximum of 10 kitchens per province, but submissions under different foundation names likely allowed exceeding this limit.
At the start of the MBG Program, the government encouraged participation from education and social foundations. However, to accelerate target achievement, capable parties were given opportunities to build kitchens. "Kalau dari awal kita melihat Pak Prabowo itu kan maunya sebetulnya yang ikut ini banyak yayasan yang bergerak dalam bidang pendidikan dan sosial... Akhirnya kan, oke, bagaimana untuk mempercepat terbentuknya SPPG itu, ya kita mintalah siapa yang mampu untuk bisa membangun dapur itu," Nanik explained.
BGN Head Dadan Hindayana described Yasika's SPPG construction as a private investment, not using state budget. "Itu kan bukan uang negara, itu investasi. Jadi siapapun yang mampu membangun, dipersilakan," he said on November 19, 2025. The kitchens are spread across 16 locations in Makassar City, 3 in Parepare City, 2 in Gowa Regency, and 10 in Bone Regency with 3 more under completion. Yasika, 20 years old and the eldest daughter of Yasir Machmud and Andi Tenri Engka, serves as director of Yasika Group Foundation.
