Zulhas Denies Red and White Kopdes Issue Buying a Wind Fan for Rp1.8 Trillion

Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan has denied news circulating on social media regarding the procurement of 1.8 million fans worth Rp1.8 trillion in the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative (KDKMP) program.

According to him, the information is not true. He emphasized that there was no budget prepared for the procurement of fans.

"It has been explained many times that there is no one comma, one comma, Rp1.8 (trillion)," he told reporters, Tuesday, July 28.

Zulhas, who is familiar with the name, explained that the budget in the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative program was focused on building a building, procuring operational vehicles, and supporting facilities, not for the procurement of fans as widely discussed.

Furthermore, Zulhas said, based on the calculations of the Ministry of Public Works (PU), the construction of one Kopdes Merah Putih building with an area of approximately 600 square meters requires an estimated budget of around Rp. 2.4 billion.

However, the cost can be reduced to an average of Rp1.6 billion through the involvement of the TNI in the construction process.

"So this is it, that is built is 600 meters. It is a lump sum value, some are very expensive, some according to PU it is Rp4 million per meter. That is if Rp4 million times 600, Rp2.4 billion. But with the TNI it can be suppressed it is Rp1.6 (billion). There are those below Rp1.6 billion, but there are also those above Rp1.6 billion. But the average is Rp1.6," he explained.

In addition to building construction, Zulhas said, the budget was also allocated for the procurement of operational vehicles with a value of around Rp. 1.1 billion.

"Well, there are 1, 2, 3, 4 vehicles, it's Rp1.1, approximately sir. That means how much the money is? It's Rp2.7 billion. So it's easy to calculate," he said.

Zulhas said that there was still an allocation of around Rp300 million to complete various supporting facilities, including clinic needs and other equipment.

Zulhas said that the details of the use of the budget were still in the process of verification and validation by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) and the Financial Audit Agency (BPK).

"The remaining Rp300 million. Well, the Rp300 million is for clinics, various things, yes. The shelf, it will be announced separately. It will be verified and validated. Now it is validated by BPKP and BPK. Insyaallah we do this transparently and openly," he said.

Previously, the President Director of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota admitted that he did not know the discussion of the budget for the procurement of fans for the Red and White Village Cooperative which was said to have reached Rp. 1.8 trillion.

Joao asked for an explanation about the budget to be asked to the party who first conveyed it. He said he had not received direct information about the procurement plan.

"Ask the person who said it. I haven't heard," said Joao at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Thursday, July 23.

When asked whether the budget was at Agrinas, Joao again asked reporters to confirm with the party who provided the information.

He also alluded to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa who had previously said he had conveyed the problem to the public.

"Later I will ask the Minister of Finance. Has the Minister of Finance given the money? I haven't felt it yet," he said.