Unpreparedness, Celios Economist Asks Government To Postpone Launch Of Red And White Kopdes

JAKARTA - The Red and White Village Cooperative Program (Kopdes) initiated by the government is considered immature in planning. In fact, it has the potential to become a new burden in the national economy.

BELIOS' Director of Economics, Nailul Huda, said that the construction of cooperatives in Indonesia is currently facing stagnation and is far from the national economic expectations. The Red and White Kopdes program launched by the government is only a heavy burden when operations are not ripe.

"Banks are forced to provide loans to village funds that are used as collateral, a form of operational unpreparedness for the Red and White Cooperative," he said in Jakarta, Sunday, July 20.

According to Huda, village development, which is driven by the central government, is not a tangible form of national development that arises from the community. The village funds used are guaranteed to injure the development of the villages aspired to in the Village Law.

"There is the potential for massive misuse of loan funds from the Red and White Cooperative because it opens up new loopholes for corruption. Especially with the status of Danantara and BUMN losses which no longer bear the status of state losses, there is the potential for committing corruption crimes," he said.

In addition, continued Huda, there is the potential for the Red and White Village Cooperative to become predators for other business entities that already exist.

"Village economic actors will be harmed, such as business actors and cooperatives/micro-financial institutions," he said.

Huda said this operational unpreparedness indicated that the government needed to cancel the plan to launch the Red and White Kopdes until preparations were deemed thorough.

"There must be a cancellation of the formation of the Red and White Cooperative until careful preparation," he explained.

In addition, Huda assesses that the government can also take advantage of existing business entities in villages including BUMDes and Private Business Entities for sustainable village development.

Finally, the stimulus of credit facilities for existing and well-performing cooperatives. So that the development of cooperatives does not sacrifice existing cooperatives and business entities," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan said the launch of the Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes) would be carried out on July 21. The reason is so that all regional heads and village officials can attend.

For your information, initially the Red and White Kopdes was scheduled to be launched on July 19, 2025 in Bentangan Village, Wonosari District, Klaten Regency, Central Java. However, because the date was Sunday, it was decided to be postponed to July 21.

Zulhas, as he is familiarly called, said that the presence of provincial officials to village officials was very important in order to receive direct directions from Prabowo Subianto.

"The 19th is Saturday, yes, so we want the President's explanation to be known, followed by all parties so that we don't work twice, right, both governors and regents, mayors, village heads, BPD, and village assistants," he said.

Zulhas after the coordinator meeting (Rakortas) for the launch of the Red and White Kopdes at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, July 15.

Zulhas also confirmed that the change in the launch date of the Red and White Kopdes had been approved by Prabowo.

"Alhamdulillah, Mr. President is ready," said Zulhas.