Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 The Chairman of House of Representatives Commission\nV, Lasarus, has affirmed that the DPR never issued a statement\nsupporting the closure of Alfamart and Indomaret across Indonesia. He\ndescribed reports claiming the DPR backed such closures as hoaxes and\ntendentious.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish to convey, and it can be verified through the recording of\nthe meeting between House Commission V and the Minister for Villages and\nDisadvantaged Regions Development, that there was no statement from us\nrequesting the closure of Alfamart and Indomaret. We will attach the\nmeeting conclusions as official documentary evidence of the meeting\u2019s\ndecisions,\u201d Lasarus told reporters in Jakarta on Monday, 23 February\n2026.<\/p>\n
His statement was in response to information circulating on Instagram\nby irresponsible parties. The Instagram post displayed a photograph of\nHouse Speaker Puan Maharani, creating the impression that she had issued\na statement in which the DPR gave its support for the closure of\nAlfamart and Indomaret.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Instagram post featured Ibu Puan Maharani, the House Speaker\nwhom I greatly admire and respect. I, Lasarus S.Sos. M.Si, hereby\ndeclare that the person who made the statement regarding the spread of\nAlfamart and Indomaret was myself, not Ibu Puan Maharani,\u201d Lasarus\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Lasarus stressed that those spreading the hoax via Instagram had\nulterior motives and were acting irresponsibly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce again, I wish to convey that the Instagram post circulating\nwith a photograph of House Speaker Ibu Puan Maharani bearing the caption\n\u2018DPR SUPPORTS VILLAGE MINISTER IN CLOSING ALFAMART-INDOMARET FOR THE\nSAKE OF VILLAGE COOPERATIVES\u2019 is a HOAX and tendentious,\u201d Lasarus stated\nfirmly.<\/p>\n
Lasarus explained that his original remarks were based on complaints\nfrom the public, particularly small grocery shop owners who had been\nforced to close because they could not compete with conglomerates\nexpanding their businesses into the most remote villages and hamlets\nacross Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On that basis, Lasarus proposed that Alfamart and Indomaret outlets\nshould be limited to the district and sub-district levels. The aim would\nbe to sustain the village economy and provide opportunities for basic\ngoods traders in villages and hamlets, as well as BUMDes (Village-Owned\nEnterprises) and village cooperatives to thrive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI proposed that Alfamart and Indomaret should only operate down to\nthe district and sub-district levels, with the thinking that the supply\nchain for basic necessities in villages and hamlets should be left to\nbasic goods traders, BUMDes, and village cooperatives. The recording can\nbe viewed openly on the DPR\u2019s official news page,\u201d Lasarus affirmed.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lasarus-house-commission-v-never-requested-alfamart-and-indomaret-closures-1771894896", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }