Commission VI Reveals Reasons for Postponing Merah Putih Village Cooperative Meeting
JAKARTA – Deputy Chair of Commission VI of the House of Representatives Nurdin Halid stated that the Commission wished to hear comprehensively from the Ministry of Cooperatives and PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara regarding the progress of the Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperative (Kopdes Merah Putih) programme.
This was the primary reason for postponing the meeting on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, to allow discussion to be conducted comprehensively with parties authorised to make decisions.
“This meeting is very important and strategic regarding accountability. Everyone is watching this. We have also conducted field visits and seen the progress of outlet development and the formation of village cooperatives,” Nurdin told reporters on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
Based on field inspections conducted by Commission VI, there were several matters requiring clarification from the Ministry of Cooperatives and PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara as the programme’s implementing parties.
“There are villages with populations of only around 150 or 200 people but outlets have been placed there. This cannot possibly be effective and productive. Things like this need to be synchronised with the Ministry of Cooperatives,” said Nurdin.
The Commission also received information that outlet management during the first two years would be conducted by PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara.
Nurdin stated that this scheme requires further review as it was considered not entirely aligned with the expectations of village communities.
“Commission VI strongly supports the President’s programme. But in its implementation, it must not deviate from the President’s and village communities’ expectations,” Nurdin said.
It was previously reported that Commission VI of the House of Representatives had scheduled a working meeting and hearing session with the Ministry of Cooperatives and PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
The meeting was to discuss progress in outlet development for the Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperative and the issue of importing 105,000 vehicles from India which is said to support the programme.
However, the meeting was postponed after PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara Chief Executive Officer Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota was unable to attend.
Joao’s attendance was represented by PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara Procurement Director Elphis Rudy.
Meanwhile, Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono was noted as attending the meeting directly.
Elphis explained that Joao was unable to attend due to illness.
He stated that Joao’s health condition had deteriorated since the previous evening while attending an internal meeting.
“The Chief Executive Officer of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara is currently unwell. Last night during our meeting, he was already wearing a jacket and sweating profusely, and after returning home, he developed a high fever,” said Elphis.