Bantul SPPG Employee Allegedly Mocks MBG Karo Poisoning Victim, BGN DIY: Empathy Should Come First

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has taken note of a viral video allegedly made by an employee of the Nutrition Program Service Unit (SPPG) in Bantul.

In the video, a man linked by netizens to SPPG Muntuk, Dlingo, Bantul, appears to mock victims of the Food Safety incident related to the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) in Karo, North Sumatra.

The clip shows the man eating a piece of chicken katsu.

After tasting it, he utters a phrase that many have connected to the condition of one of the MBG poisoning victims in Karo.

"I'm eating yesterday's chicken katsu—is it still good or not? My memory is seventy percent gone," he said.

This statement was interpreted by netizens as a jab at Febiona Purba, a student at SMK Bersama Berastagi in Karo.

Febiona was previously reported to have suffered health disturbances, trauma, and memory loss after being afflicted by the mass poisoning from the MBG program.

The video sparked public criticism for lacking empathy towards victims enduring health problems.

BGN DIY regrets alleged remarks by SPPG employee

Regional Coordinator of BGN DIY, Wirandita Gagat Widyatmoko, expressed disappointment if the remarks in the video indeed came from an SPPG staff member.

He emphasized that every issue related to food safety impacting beneficiaries should be treated seriously and with compassion.

“We are concerned and regret if an SPPG member has made statements showing no empathy towards affected communities. In situations like this, what must come first is humanity, empathy, sensitivity, and mutual respect,” Gagat said.

He added that incidents occurring in any area should serve as both an alert and a lesson for all SPPG personnel nationwide.

Gagat stressed that incidents affecting beneficiaries should never be made light of, ridiculed, or commented on in ways that could hurt those undergoing difficult circumstances.

Calls for staff not to preempt investigations

Besides highlighting empathy, Gagat reminded his staff to refrain from jumping ahead of ongoing investigations by authorities.

According to him, every incident must be managed based on facts.

The use of terms like "alleged," "indication," or "preliminary information" should be carefully observed until verification and proof are fully completed.

“We must distinguish between giving clarifications, opinions, and assessments about an event. We should avoid making insensitive remarks or exacerbating problems just to comment,” he explained.

BGN DIY issues warning to all ranks

Following the video going viral, Gagat issued warnings to all BGN personnel in DIY.

This warning was directed at all levels from Regional Coordinators, Subdistrict Coordinators, SPPG heads, Nutrition Supervisors, Finance Supervisors, to all field SPPG staff.

They were urged to uphold ethics in communication, especially when using social media.

According to Gagat, any statements made in public arenas can affect public trust in the MBG Program as a whole.

BGN continues efforts to strengthen institutional governance and ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of SPPG implementation.

“We invite all personnel to show mutual respect. When any of our fellow citizens, beneficiaries, or communities are suspected to be affected by an incident, our first response should be empathy, not judgment. Let every occurrence become a lesson to improve service and enhance prevention,” Gagat further elaborated.

BGN focuses on food safety and service quality

Gagat added that BGN respects ongoing investigations and proof processes concerning any incidents.

He noted the institution’s current focus is ensuring food safety, improving service quality, and preventing similar events from recurring.

These efforts are carried out through consistent SOP application across all levels.

Gagat reiterated that BGN’s duties go beyond food quality provided to the public.

He said that communication and treatment of beneficiaries are also critical components of service.

“We work for the community. Therefore, let's protect not only the quality of the food we provide but also the manner in which we treat and communicate with the public. Sensitivity to circumstances, empathy for those impacted, and mutual respect must become part of our work culture,” he concluded.

Parts of this article were originally published on TribunJogja.com under the title "No Empathy! Bantul SPPG Employee Allegedly Mocks MBG Karo Victims, BGN DIY Issues Stern Warning".