Minister seeks KPK's support for supervision of village cooperatives

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi called on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to supervise and prevent all forms of misappropriation in implementing the Red and White Village Cooperative program.

"We have urged KPK officials in the team to provide input and suggestions and mitigate potential violations of law in this program," he remarked at KPK's office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Setiadi noted that since the Red and White Village Cooperative program will utilize a large budget, the KPK must support its supervision.

"We seek the KPK's assistance to provide education, anti-corruption education for the village cooperatives' managers, as well as to carry out supervision and risk mitigation," he remarked.

The minister is optimistic that the Red and White Village Cooperative would be a credible program through cooperation with several parties, including the KPK.

He emphasized that the program's main objective is to increase progress for villages, community welfare, and break the chain of poverty.

The program is also expected to eliminate loan sharks and middlemen in villages, as well as build and create a more just and sustainable economic system.

The Indonesian government is targeting to establish 80 thousand Red and White Village Cooperatives, which are expected to start operations by October 28, 2025.

President Prabowo Subianto has issued Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2025 on the Acceleration of the Red and White Village Cooperatives' Formation to expedite the establishment of the 80 thousand cooperatives across the country.

The cooperatives are envisioned as hubs of economic and social services for village communities, which would provide savings, loans, and clinic services, among other things.