A accountant for the Nutritive Meal Provision Service in Bantul, Yogyakarta, lost his job and triggered a temporary kitchen shutdown after filming a social media video mocking school poisoning victims. Gerardus Permanaditya, an accountant for the local kitchen unit in Muntuk, Dlingo, recorded himself eating chicken katsu and joking that he had lost 70 percent of his memory, drawing widespread public backlash for ridiculing students affected by a recent mass food poisoning incident in Karo, North Sumatra.
Vice President Gibran Condemns Online Bullying of Minors
The online video quickly drew direct criticism from national leadership. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka condemned the stunt in an official Instagram statement on September 20, 2026, categorizing the behavior as targeted bullying against minors. Gibran emphasized that public officials and program workers must maintain a safe, welcoming environment rather than mocking vulnerable participants in the Program MBG.
National Nutrition Agency Intervenes and Terminates Accountant
Following the public outcry, the National Nutrition Agency Regional Office for Yogyakarta intervened. Wirandita Gagat Widyatmoko, the regional coordinator for BGN DIY, announced on September 21, 2026, that the agency had terminated the accountant’s employment. Gagat stated that workers handling the nutrition program must demonstrate strict professional ethics, empathy, and sensitivity, noting that technical capability alone does not meet the standards required for public service.
Mandatory Kitchen Closure Halts Bantul Operations
The dismissal of the unit’s accountant forced the immediate suspension of operations at the Muntuk facility. Hermawan Setiaji, Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare for the Bantul Regency Secretariat, confirmed on September 22, 2026, that the kitchen remains closed while local administrators search for a replacement.
Regency Guidelines Enforce Strict Staffing Requirements
According to regency operating guidelines, service units cannot function without a full complement of core personnel, which includes a unit head, an administrative officer, and a designated accountant. Because the fired employee held the financial role, the facility entered a mandatory cooling-down period. Officials stated the kitchen will resume meal preparation and distribution only after a new accountant is hired and onboarded.