Chairperson Of The Indonesian House Of Representatives, Puan Maharani, Emphasizes Cooperatives Must Follow The Times, Supports Revision Of The Law And Red And White Cooperatives

Puan Maharani hopes that the red and white village cooperative will involve the younger generation. (IST)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, emphasized the importance of cooperatives following the times and embracing the younger generation. She conveyed this at the National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) of the Indonesian Cooperative Council (Dokopin) at the Sultan Hotel, Central Jakarta, Monday, May 26.

Puan Maharani expressed her support for the Revision of the Cooperative Law which is currently being discussed by the DPR. She hopes that this new regulation will strengthen the role of cooperatives in encouraging the economic growth of the people.

"The new law must be able to encourage cooperatives to grow and develop, in accordance with the spirit of mutual cooperation and Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution," said DPR Speaker Puan Maharani.

According to him, cooperatives are a tool of economic struggle that guarantees equal distribution and social justice. He quoted Bung Hatta as calling cooperatives the foundation of the national economy, and Bung Karno who called cooperatives a tool for people's emancipation in the economy.

Puan also mentioned the reality of the number of cooperatives in Indonesia which reached 130 thousand units. However, its contribution to the national GDP is still very small, only about 1 percent.

"This figure shows that cooperatives have not become a support for national economic teachers," he said.

Puan welcomed the Government's program targeting the establishment of 80,000 units of Red and White Village Cooperatives throughout Indonesia under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto. He assessed that this program needs to be supported by all parties, including Dekopin.

However, he reminded, the implementation of the program must be accompanied by the readiness of human resources, business capital, internal supervision, and risk mitigation.

"Dekopin must actively provide training and assistance so that this village cooperative runs optimally and sustainably," he said.

He encouraged Dekopin to participate in building a modern, digital, and close cooperative ecosystem with young people. "There is no business field that cannot be worked on by cooperatives, including food, tourism, to fashion," he said.

Puan Maharani also assessed that Dekopin had a strategic role in shaping the leadership of cooperatives that were professional, strengthening member literacy, and establishing business partnerships. Dekopin was also asked to actively convey the aspirations of the cooperative world to the government and parliament.

"We in the DPR are ready to support through the function of legislation, budget, and supervision," he said.

This Rapimnas also confirmed the management of Dekopin under General Chair Bambang Hariyadi. The inauguration was carried out symbolically by beating the gong and marked by screening of the organization's travel video.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, welcomed the formation of a single Dekopin management which had been ratified by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Ministry of Cooperatives.

"Dekopin is now getting more solid. We hope that the synergy with the government, especially in the Red and White Cooperative program, can be closely established," said Puan.

He also said that the diversity of elements in the management of Dekopin from politicians, professionals, to the TNI/Polri could be a big force if it was used for the welfare of the people.

"All parties with their respective networks must be able to move for the progress of cooperatives and the people's economy," he concluded.