DPRD DIY Demands Suspension and Audit After Five Koperasi Trainees Die
Commission A of the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) has expressed deep condolences over the deaths of five participants in a Village Cooperative Manager training programme under the Indonesian Development Mobiliser Cadres (KDMP) scheme. The five deceased victims were identified as Yolanda Mohamad Taufik, Anisya Mulya Syaroh, Novia Rahman Dhani Siyotang, Mohamad Rifki Renaldi, and Nola Diahsari.
Responding to the tragedy, Commission A Chair Eko Suwanto firmly requested that the entire series of training activities be temporarily halted to allow for a total evaluation and an audit based on occupational safety standards. Sharp criticism was directed at the relevance of the training methods applied. “Cooperative manager training is deemed inappropriate if it adopts an excessive portion of physical exercise or resembles military training or strenuous sports,” he stated on Monday.
He stressed that while discipline is necessary in cooperative governance, the proportion must be adjusted to the physical capacity and academic background of the participants. Cooperative managers are not designed to work or stand guard for 24 hours without rest. “Just as Indonesia’s national volleyball team has training standards specific to volleyball, not other sports, the methods for cooperative management, rock climbing, boxing, or chess are all different. This training must be made relevant,” he asserted.
For future programmes, the training portion for cooperative managers should focus more on discipline, management, and mental models, specifically how to manage cooperatives with honesty and integrity. Drawing on the work patterns of the DIY Regional Government’s Training Agency, Commission A insisted that every training programme must prioritise safety to achieve zero accidents. Strict training standards must cover recruitment, curriculum and methods, education and assessment, input and instructors, financing, and health and nutrition management, including rest periods.
The commission questioned whether the organisers had conducted adequate initial health screenings. Proper standard procedures should require participants to complete a health declaration questionnaire, followed by a physical medical examination by a team of doctors. “Periodic health monitoring during long training sessions is also mandatory to prevent fatalities such as cardiac arrest,” he added.
Regarding the provision of Rp50 million in compensation to the victims’ families, Commission A stated that while the gesture is appreciated, material compensation must not be a reason to halt the evaluation or legal process. As a state governed by the rule of law based on the 1945 Constitution, Commission A urged law enforcement officials to conduct a thorough, open, and transparent investigation. “Five fatalities is a very large number. In proper training standards, not even one person should be injured, let alone die. There must be parties held legally accountable,” he stressed.
The investigation is expected to involve experts and practitioners who understand human resource development standards and training methods. This case should also serve as a direct correction and evaluation for the President to ensure that all government flagship programmes at the regional level prioritise citizen safety.