President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of the 80,081 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives in improving the welfare of the people during the official launch of the program in Bentangan Village, Klaten. He highlighted the need for strict monitoring to prevent any form of abuse, referring to the past mistakes in the New Order era where cooperatives were jokingly called ‘Ketua Untung Duluan’ or ‘Chairman Profits First.’ The President assured that the new cooperative system is founded on technology and transparency, allowing for real-time monitoring and auditing of financial flows.
He stressed that with the advancement of technology, strict oversight is possible. Through digital platforms, all financial transactions within the cooperatives will be closely monitored. President Prabowo emphasized that the cooperatives belong to the people, urging village heads to actively supervise and ensure the initiative serves the community as intended. He used a metaphor of unity, comparing a single broomstick to a bundle of broomsticks, to illustrate the concept of a cooperative uniting individuals to form a strong economic force.
President Prabowo expressed his belief that the Merah Putih Cooperatives will rejuvenate Indonesia’s rural economy and decentralize the allocation of resources. He sees this movement as the beginning of a significant shift, redirecting funds from cities back to the provinces and villages to stimulate economic activity at the local level. The President called for collective oversight to ensure the success of the cooperatives and prevent any form of exploitation within the community.
