Lasarus: Commission V of the DPR has never asked Alfamart and Indomaret to be closed

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/ayumi kubo

JAKARTA - The Chairman of Commission V of the DPR, Lasarus, confirmed that the DPR had never issued a statement of support to close Alfamart and Indomaret throughout Indonesia. According to him, the news that the DPR supports the closure of Alfamart and Indomaret is a hoax and tendentious.

"I convey and can be witnessed through the recording of the meeting between Commission V of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the Minister of Villages and Regional Development, there is no statement from us asking Alfamart and Indomaret to be closed, we will attach the conclusion of the meeting as proof of the official document of the meeting decision," said Lasarus to reporters, Monday, February 23.

Lasarus' statement was in response to information circulating through the Instagram social media by certain irresponsible parties. In the Instagram, the photo of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, was displayed as if he was making a statement that the DPR provided support regarding the closure of Alfamart and Indomaret.

"In the Instagram, it shows Ibu Puan Maharani, the Chair of the DPR RI, who I really admire and respect, with this I, Lasarus S. Sos. M. Si, declare that the person who made the statement regarding the spread of Alfamart and Indomaret is me, not Ibu Puan Maharani," said Lasarus.

Lasarus emphasized that the spreader of hoax news through the Instagram social media had certain intentions and was not responsible.

"Once again I want to convey that Instagram circulating by displaying the photo of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Puan Maharani, with the writing "DPR SUPPORT VILLAGE MINISTER TO CLOSE ALFAMART-INDOMARET FOR VILLAGE COOPERATIVES" is a HOAX and tendentious news," said Lasarus.

Lasarus explained that the statement made was based on complaints from the public, especially grocery store traders who were forced to close because they were losing out to conglomerates that were expanding their businesses to the corners of villages and even villages throughout Indonesia.

On this basis, Lasarus conveyed his thoughts, that Alfamart and Indomaret outlets are limited to the regency and district. This is aimed at enabling the economic wheel in the village and giving opportunities to grocery traders in Villages and Villages as well as Bumdes or Village Cooperatives to run.

"I convey the thought that Alfamart and Indomaret are enough for districts and sub-districts, with the thought that the supply chain of the basic needs of the people of villages and villages will give opportunities to traders of basic necessities in Villages and Villages as well as Bumdes or Village Cooperatives only. Evidence of the recording can be viewed publicly on the official DPR news page," said Lasarus.

Previously, the Minister of Villages and Regional Development (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto said that if the Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes) was already running, then the spread of minimarket business must be stopped.

"I agree with this honorable forum, Mr. Chairman, that if the Kopdes is running, Alfamart and Indomaret should stop," said Yandri, during a meeting with Commission V of the DPR at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Yandri emphasized that the government must side with the village community. He emphasized that minimarkets were already rampant, and could even be a threat to the Red and White Kopdes.

"Why do we build Kopdes, but Alfamart and Indomaret or the like are rampant? Yes, that means yes, it's not apple to apple, if they are very big and very monopolized so far, yes, of course it will be a threat to Kopdes," he said.

The same was also conveyed by Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono. According to him, the management of Alfamart and Indomaret is no longer adding new outlets in rural areas. The appeal was made as part of efforts to strengthen the position of the Red and White Kopdes to become a center of economic activity for rural communities.

The government wants cooperatives to take a leading role in distributing daily necessities at the local level.

"So I met with the one who has modern retail on the other side, I said stop making modern retail in the village, let the village cooperative sell their retail goods," said Ferry, Friday, February 20.