President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, emphasized the importance of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives in improving the welfare of the people. He addressed the need for strict monitoring to prevent any form of abuse during the official launch of the program in Bentangan Village, Klaten. President Prabowo highlighted the negative experiences of the past, particularly during the New Order era, where cooperatives were humorously referred to as ‘Ketua Untung Duluan’ or ‘Chairman Profits First’. He emphasized the new cooperative system’s focus on technology and transparency, ensuring real-time monitoring and auditing of all financial flows. The President urged village heads to actively supervise the cooperative chairpersons to maintain the initiative’s community-centered purpose. Using a traditional metaphor, he called for unity in the cooperative movement, emphasizing the strength that comes from working together. President Prabowo expressed his belief that these cooperatives would revitalize Indonesia’s rural economy and shift the centralization of resources to benefit regencies, districts, and villages. The goal is to redirect funds from cities to villages, promoting economic growth at the local level.
Prabowo Affirms: Merah Putih Cooperatives Belong to the People
