Jakarta, Sept. 4 -- The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) emphasised it never forced the distribution of Free Nutritious Food (MBG) packages to school closed due to haze in regions affected by forest and land fires.

"We never force the school to open for the sake of the MBG programme. Never," BGN Head Sudaryono said after a hearing at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept 3).

He conveyed the assurance to respond to reports about parents or children forced to retrieve MBG packages at schools despite being closed due to haze.

"The school closure was announced after the cooking process at the MBG kitchen had already begun. The ingredients had been prepared for that day and it should be cooked that day. It happened only on tha...