The Constitutional Court (MK) is targeting a decision on the lawsuit regarding the Free Nutritional Meals Program (MBG) being included in education funds in July 2026, and has asked the government and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) to limit the number of expert witnesses presented at next week's hearing.
The statement was delivered by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo in the judicial review hearing of Law Number 17 of 2025 concerning the 2026 State Budget for applicants number 40/PUU-XXIV/2026, number 52/PUU-XXIV/2026 and number 55/PUU-XXIV/2026 in the Plenary Meeting Room, Building I of the Constitutional Court.
It all started with a request from the government/president to request more than three experts to testify at the next hearing scheduled for next week, However, Chief Justice Suhartoyo denied the request, requesting that the number of government experts be matched with the number of experts from the Indonesian House of Representatives namely three experts each for the three cases in question.
"From the president's (power of attorney) (an expert was presented)," Suhartoyo asked the government's legal representative.
"Your Honor, there are two experts in every case," said Zulmansyah, Director of Litigation and Non-Litigation, Ministry of Law, representing the government's legal counsel.
Hearing that the number of witnesses was more than three, Suhartoyo immediately interrupted, and reminded them that the trial time did not allow for the examination of four witnesses.
"No, it's time, sir," Suhartoyo reminded him, which was then agreed to by the government's legal representative.
Suhartoyo said the constitutional judges would strive to resolve the case by the end of this month, so as not to lose sight of the issues raised by the applicants.
