Jakarta, March 22 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, positioning it as a tool to curb corruption by redirecting state funds toward public welfare.

"I will make all-out efforts to defend the program. I prefer to use state funds to feed people rather than see them lost to corruption," he said in an interview, according to a statement received in Jakarta.

Prabowo described the MBG program as a reflection of the government's concern for citizens, particularly children, pointing to Indonesia's persistent problem of stunting, or chronic malnutrition that hampers physical growth.

He cited a visit to a village where he met an 11-year-old child who ...