Makassar, May 11 -- The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) national program offers a wide range of benefits to advance Indonesia, according to Ashabul Kahfi, a legislator from Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR).

During a public dialogue in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, on Saturday (May 10), he pointed out that the primary objectives of the MBG program are to improve nutritional intake and combat childhood stunting.

"A study by the World Bank in 2024 shows that the provision of nutritious meals helps increase children's school attendance and participation while reducing malnutrition or stunting cases," he noted in a statement cited here on Sunday.

He then added that the program--which targets schoolchildren, toddlers, breastf...