Closed The Day After Inauguration, Cooperatives In Tuban Become A Chaotic Mirror Of Governance Balau

Illustration of red and white cooperatives (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VI DPR RI, Rivqy Abdul Halim highlighted the case of closing the Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP) in Pucangan Village, Tuban, the day after it was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto. According to him, this incident should be an evaluation so that the government will review the governance mechanism and foster cooperatives as the backbone of the people's economy.

According to Rivqy, the closure of the newly launched Kopdes also provides a clear picture that the main challenge of the national cooperative program is not only the number of units formed, but rather the quality of management and operational sustainability at the grassroots level.

"The Red and White Cooperative is indeed one of the government's flagship programs in encouraging rural economic transformation. However, the incident in Tuban opens up the bitter fact that between statistical data and reality in the field there is still a big gap," Rivqy told reporters, Tuesday, July 29.

The closure was carried out by cooperative partners, namely PT Perekonomian Pondok Pesantren Sunan Drajat (PPSD), due to a misunderstanding between PT PPSD and the Chairman of the Red and White Cooperative (KDMP) and the Head of Pucangan Village, who did not recognize the support from PPSD.

Related to this, Rivqy considers PT PPSD's withdrawal as the main partner who feels not recognized at the inauguration shows the weak coordination and communication between stakeholders.

"Therefore, a top-down approach that is only oriented to a political agenda without local participation should be avoided so that cooperatives can truly become sustainable economic forces," Rivqy appealed.

This member of the Commission in the DPR in charge of cooperative affairs also reminded the importance of human resource training programs (HR) and a transparent financial reporting system. Rivqy said this was so that cooperative governance would be more professional.

"The operation must become an economic ecosystem for the people that builds people's trust and active community participation," said the legislator from the East Java IV electoral district.

Rivqy also assessed that the case of closing the Kopdes in Tuban should be an important lesson that without careful planning and good governance, cooperatives are not only vulnerable to failure, but can also damage people's expectations of an inclusive and independent populist economy.

"Commission VI of the DPR RI will continue to encourage government policies in the development of cooperatives to be revised and strengthened so that similar programs really have an impact at the village and community level," said Rivqy.

Rivqy also encouraged the government to immediately draw up technical instructions and guidelines for implementing the transparent and inclusive Red and White Cooperative program. According to him, every party, both the central government, regional, private partners, and the local community, must have a clear role and responsibility in the management of cooperatives.

"periodic evaluations must also be carried out by independent institutions to ensure cooperatives are truly operational and provide real benefits," he concluded.