From a Place of Prostration to a Place for Sambal: A Mosque in Karanganom Klaten Now Turned into an MBG Kitchen
The building locals knew as a mosque near the Karanganom Village Hall in Klaten has now been repurposed into an operational kitchen for the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) running the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. It's located within a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) area and used to be a spot for congregational prayers, but since 2025, worship activities there have stopped.
Karanganom Village Head, Abdul Aziz, said that the land and building belong to the pesantren foundation, not village assets. The village had advised against repurposing the building, but the final say is with the owner. Now, residents have to find somewhere else to pray.
This change of function has grabbed public attention, especially regarding the status of a building once used as a place of worship. Questions are popping up whether it was a waqf (endowed property) or just a foundation asset that happened to be used for prayers. The case is now under a spotlight as the MBG program expands across the Klaten area.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/09/