TEGAL – In the midst of noisy public discourse regarding fiscal sustainability and the future of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN), a critical narrative has recently emerged to the surface. Many parties have raised concerns, even speculation, that the state treasury is in danger of being “broken” due to the large budget allocated to finance the government’s flagship program: Free Nutritious Meals (MBG).
However, are these concerns justified? Or is there a strategy for managing state finances that is not fully understood by the public?
In an educational and transparent public presentation, the puzzle regarding the direction of fiscal policy and the management of trillions of rupiah in funds was dissected slowly. President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership style, which is considered “different” in executing the budget, is the main key behind the answer to public skepticism. This explanation breaks the erroneous assumption that the republic’s finances have been completely drained just because of one public welfare program.
Breaking the Myth of “State Treasury is Broken”
So far, a false public perception has developed which indicates that the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program will burden state finances to such an extent that other important budget items will be sacrificed. There are concerns that education budgets will be cut, rural infrastructure development will stop, and agricultural sector subsidies will be reduced.
“It’s as if the Republic is running out of money because of MBG. Wrong!” the speaker emphasized in the video clip when providing clarification in front of an enthusiastic audience.
In fact, this assumption arises from a lack of in-depth understanding of how budget restructuring and reorientation is carried out under the current government. State finances are not experiencing a dangerous deficit as a result of MBG, but are undergoing a massive restructuring process through an instrument known as budget efficiency.
The True Meaning of “Efficiency” in the New Government Dictionary To understand where the large funds for strategic programs come from, the public needs to first understand what is meant by budget efficiency in the vision of President Prabowo’s government. So far, the word “efficiency” is often misunderstood as an act of extreme budget cuts, rigid savings, or simply keeping state money in the treasury without spending it.
“So, let me explain a little. What is meant by efficiency is not how money is saved, no. But what is not important is then put in the President’s pocket,” explained the speaker, providing an easy-to-digest visualization.
The phrase “put into the President’s pocket” here is a metaphor or visualization of fiscal policy in which budgets which were originally spread across various ministries and institutions for non-substantive or less urgent activities, are withdrawn and centralized under the control of the head of state’s priority policies. These funds are collected into a “saving post” to then be redistributed in a targeted manner to sectors that have a direct impact on the people.
Some real-world examples of “non-essential” or wasteful budget items that were cut significantly include:
Organizing Seminars in Luxury Hotels: Reducing the intensity of coordination meetings or ceremonial seminars that require large accommodation costs without concrete policy output.
Non-Essential Comparative Studies Abroad: Limiting bureaucratic work visits abroad which are often seen as making little real contribution to solving domestic problems.
Ineffective Routine Meetings: Cut meeting operational costs which can be optimized through digital technology or more streamlined coordination.
Through cuts to secondary spending items, the government has succeeded in collecting fantastic amounts of funds.
Fantastic Figures: Efficiency Funds IDR 308 Trillion in 2025
This policy of tightening bureaucratic belts is not just political rhetoric. The success of this strategy is reflected in the total nominal budget saved. For the 2025 fiscal year, the amount of funds that have been “cemented” or collected from the results of cutting unimportant posts has reached an extraordinary figure: IDR 308 trillion.
This figure of IDR 308 trillion is the absolute answer to the question “Where has the state money gone?” or “Where does the money come from to fund people’s programs?”. These funds do not come from reckless new debts or the result of cutting off people’s basic rights, but purely from the results of internal “cleaning up” of leaks and waste in the bureaucratic budget.
With this tactical fund resulting from efficiency of IDR 308 trillion, the government has very loose fiscal space to answer various basic problems in the agricultural, infrastructure, education and social welfare sectors instantly and without complicated bureaucracy.
“Pok-Pak-Pok” Fiscal Policy Simulation: Quick Execution for the People
In the video clip, an interesting visualization depicts how the President uses the IDR 308 trillion efficiency fund to directly resolve ministerial problems and regional complaints. Using the analogy of a knocking sound or a quick decision—”Pok! Pok! Pok!”—the government shows that when efficiency is achieved, the state’s money seems to have no end for things that are truly beneficial to the people.
The following is a simulation of how the Rp. 308 trillion in funds will be redistributed to various crucial sectors:
1. Agricultural Sector and Food Security (Fertilizer Subsidy)
The Minister of Agriculture reported that there were serious problems related to the lack of fertilizer supplies for farmers in previous years, which had the potential to threaten the target of food self-sufficiency.
Budget Requirements: IDR 40 Trillion to fulfill and satisfy national fertilizer needs.
Execution: Taken directly from funds of IDR 308 trillion. “Pok!” A budget of IDR 40 trillion was immediately allocated.
Remaining Efficiency Funds: IDR 268 Trillion.
2. Food Distribution and Stability Sector (Strengthening BULOG)
To ensure food price stability and the ability to absorb farmers’ harvests optimally, Perum BULOG needs strong financial support to buy grain directly from farmers.
Budget Requirement: IDR 39 Trillion.
Execution: Responding to food security needs, funds were immediately disbursed. “Pok!” A budget of IDR 39 trillion was allocated to BULOG.
Remaining Efficiency Funds: IDR 229 Trillion.
3. Education Infrastructure Sector (School Building Rehabilitation)
Real conditions on the ground show that there are still many school buildings in various parts of Indonesia that have suffered serious damage – from leaking roofs to buildings that are almost collapsing – thereby disrupting the teaching and learning process of the nation’s children.
Budget Requirement: IDR 19 Trillion (for the initial stage of comprehensive repairs).
Execution: The President immediately gave the green light. “Pok!” A budget of IDR 19 trillion was reduced to repair damaged schools.
Remaining Efficiency Funds: IDR 210 Trillion.
4. Agricultural Supporting Infrastructure Sector (Irrigation Improvement)
Water infrastructure in various agricultural production centers has been damaged, resulting in a decrease in the productivity of residents’ rice fields.
Budget Requirement: IDR 12 Trillion.
Execution: Without delay, the budget is approved. “Pok!” A budget of IDR 12 trillion has been allocated for restoration of the irrigation network.
Remaining Efficiency Funds: IDR 198 Trillion.
5. Extreme Poverty Reduction Sector (People’s Schools)
Responding to the heartbreaking phenomenon where children from extreme poor families, such as children of scavengers and neglected residents, cannot access nutritious food and are forced to drop out of school due to economic limitations.
Policy: Construction of People’s Schools in every district throughout Indonesia, specifically intended for children from extreme poor families to receive education and a decent living for free.
Execution: Funding is again emphasized for this program. “Pok!” The budget is allocated proportionally.
Through this simulation, the public is made aware that even though various large budget items have been fulfilled instantly, the funds resulting from this efficiency still leave a very large balance. This proves that with clean management, state finances will actually become very strong and “inexhaustible” for the benefit of the people.
Comparative Facts: Conditions Before vs After Efficiency Policies
To see the success of this new budget management paradigm, the speaker explained a real comparison between past conditions (when the MBG program was not yet running and efficiency was not as strict as it is now) with current conditions:
Sector / Aspect
– Previous Condition (Without MBG / Before Massive Efficiency)
– Current Conditions (With MBG + Optimization of Efficiency Funds)
School Building Condition
– Many schools are damaged and neglected, even though the budget for bureaucratic personnel is high.
– Damaged schools began to be repaired on a massive scale using efficiency funds.
Irrigation Infrastructure
– Many irrigation channels in villages are damaged and escape attention and maintenance.
– Irrigation networks are improved in a structured manner to support farmer productivity.
Fertilizer Availability & Prices
– Farmers often complain about the scarcity of subsidized fertilizer in various regions.
– Fertilizer supplies are met, there is even a fertilizer discount program of up to 20% to make it cheaper and more affordable for farmers.
Access to Education for Poor Families
– Children from extreme poor families drop out of school due to cost of living constraints.
– Established People’s Schools and Garuda Schools in each district as a social safety net.
Village Infrastructure Development
– Many bridges connecting villages are damaged and have not been repaired by the Village Head, Regent or Governor for the classic reason: “there is no budget”.
– Thousands of village bridges were built quickly through the synergy of TNI (Dandim/Babinsa) and Polri personnel directly using central efficiency funds.
Conclusion: Central and Regional Fiscal Mutual Cooperation
The narrative that states that the state treasury will collapse because of the Free Nutritious Meal program has been refuted by existing facts on the ground. What is happening now is not a drain on state coffers, but rather a big leap in terms of budget discipline.
The central government under President Prabowo has proven that the state money which had previously been used up to finance ceremonial and consumptive matters in the bureaucratic environment, has now been restored to building physical facilities and human quality in rural areas. When local governments (village heads, regents or governors) have limited budget space to repair local infrastructure such as bridges and schools, the central government is present to intervene directly using tactical funds resulting from this efficiency.
Through a budget planning strategy that is careful, clean and oriented towards real results, people’s welfare programs such as Free Nutritious Meals can go hand in hand with basic infrastructure development. The finances of the Republic of Indonesia have proven to remain strong, healthy and fully directed towards the greatest prosperity of the Indonesian people.
Source :
Tiktok/sudaryono
