Budget Efficiency: DPR Proposes Red And White Cooperatives To Replace The Role Of The TNI/Polri In The SPHP Distribution

Illustration of bulog rice (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR RI, Alex Indra Lukman asked the Government to take advantage of the existence of the Red and White Cooperative (KMP), especially in the distribution of rice for the supply stabilization program and food prices (SPHP) which has been rolled out through Perum Bulog since 2023.

That way, according to Alex, the Government no longer needs to provide additional tasks to the TNI/Polri institutions in the success of the distribution of SPHP rice.

Mr. President yesterday inaugurated 80,000 Red and White Cooperatives. Meanwhile, Mr. Director of Bulog said that only hundreds of cooperatives were involved in this SPHP rice program. So what are they doing with 80,000? Yes, tell me about this SPHP route," said Alex Indra Lukman, Monday, August 25.

Alex assessed that the involvement of the TNI/Polri in the distribution of government reserve rice (CBP) in Perum Bulog's warehouse through the SPHP program could quickly withstand the turmoil in rice prices in the market. However, according to him, the involvement of the TNI/Polri also caused additional overhead costs to appear at the institution, because they had to mobilize SPHP rice from Bulog warehouses to distribution pockets.

"Therefore, in the future, the National Police will no longer need to be involved in technical matters like this. There is already a KMP that has been inaugurated. That means it can be operational," said the chairman of the DPR Commission IV Rice and Corn Absorption Committee.

Alex also believes that by utilizing the existence of KMPs that have spread across the country, the rice price fluctuation will be resolved quickly. Moreover, the rice stock in Bulog's warehouse is quite large, namely 4 million tons or 4 billion kilograms.

"This must be a creation, there must be extra effort like that. There is a Red and White Cooperative that is ready to be empowered," said the legislator from the West Sumatra II electoral district.

Alex also invited other ministries/agencies and institutions not to 'double job' or work overlapping, so as to save the budget. Moreover, President Prabowo's government is also aggressively carrying out efficiency.

"Come on, these other institutions have sacrificed in such a way. The country may lose while doing public services. Those who can't lose are the private sector," he concluded.

As is known, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the institutional launch of 80,081 Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP/KKMP), on Monday, July 21. President Prabowo emphasized that cooperatives are a tool for the struggle of the small people to become economically strong.

The Head of State also emphasized that the launch of 80,081 cooperatives was not a small step, but a strategic national movement to cut economic dominance by big parties that had been hampering the progress of the people.

President Prabowo also said that these cooperatives would be supported by real infrastructure such as storage warehouses, cold storage, basic food outlets, pharmacies, and logistics vehicles. In addition, there will also be super micro loan facilities to facilitate the distribution of goods and the village's economic turnover.