Kemenkop UKM Explains Factors For The Cause Of The Draft Law On Cooperatives Not Ratified

Deputy for SMEs at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) Hanung Harimba Rachman (Photo: Kemenkop UKM)

JAKARTA - Deputy for SMEs for the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) Hanung Harimba Rachman admitted that discussions on the Cooperative Bill (RUU) have not been included in the agenda of discussing the DPR RI.

"Yesterday this was not included in the discussion at the DPR RI," said Hanung when met by VOI at the Smesco Building, Jakarta, Monday, March 25.

Hanung said that during a working meeting with Commission VI of the DPR RI in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Kemenkop UKM was asked to communicate with the Working Committee (Panja) of the DPR RI for discussion of this matter.

"So, he said the minister, right, we were asked to communicate with the chairman of the DPR RI committee to take place immediately. That, really, was a directive from there," he said.

He added that the DPR RI really wanted the regulation to be one of the legal products that they wanted to produce for the future.

"The DPR RI hopes this is a part that they can generate in their period. This is one of the laws they want to generate for this 5 year period," he said.

Even so, Hanung said, there is one advantage of the model for the revision of the Cooperative Bill, namely that further discussions can be carried out in the future.

"There is one advantage in the current model, this can be continued the following year and the discussion is that for example there are only 9 articles now. Later, it can be continued in the next period, that's the current model. But, the urgency is discussed again because the members, right, only all of them," he said.

Furthermore, Hanung is also optimistic that the Cooperative Bill will be completed this year.

"So, we hope, yes, this year (can be completed) because the Cooperative Law is important. One of the most important parts is the regulation of savings and loan cooperatives. That is the most important part," he added.

As previously reported, Suroto Cooperative Observers assessed that the government to ratify the regulation was just a false promise.

"The government's promise which has repeatedly targeted the immediate ratification of the Cooperative Law is only an empty message," Suroto told VOI, Wednesday, February 28.

Based on his records, since Teten Masduki served as Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM), the government has promised 11 times to target the ratification of the regulation. However, it always fails and repeats itself.

In addition, Suroto said, Minister Teten Masduki was not serious in managing cooperative policies.

"If it is serious, actually important articles, such as the development of cooperative-specific Deposit Insurance Corporations, tax distingsion and so on, can actually be done through the ratification of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, the Omnibus Law on Strengthening and Development of the Financial Sector (PPSK) and the Omnibus Law on Tax Harmonization," he said.

According to him, it feels strange that there are articles that regulate cooperatives and are added, for example, about coaching. However, articles that are important to remove discrimination against cooperatives so far have not been carried out.