Government Opens Evaluation of 'Red-and-White' Village Cooperatives Amid Siting Criticism

The government has opened the door to evaluating the locations of the ‘Kopdes Merah Putih’ (Red-and-White Village Cooperatives) programme, which has recently drawn widespread criticism on social media. Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stressed that all public input will be followed up through a verification process before the government decides on corrective steps, including the possibility of finding more suitable sites.

Public attention was sparked after several viral videos showed Kopdes Merah Putih buildings in locations deemed less than strategic. In various posts, the cooperative buildings were seen on hillsides, facing paddy fields, adjacent to other cooperatives, and even near a cemetery.

Responding to this, Ferry assessed that the criticism voiced by the public through social media is a form of public oversight that should be heeded, not ignored. ‘It is normal now in the social media era. They actually mean well, and they are reminding us that something needs to be evaluated. And we will certainly take that input into consideration,’ Ferry stated at the Presidential Palace complex in Central Jakarta, as quoted on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.

However, he cautioned the public against drawing conclusions based on a few viral cases. He noted that the highlighted locations represent only a tiny fraction of the thousands of Kopdes Merah Putih buildings being constructed across various regions. ‘But we also have to see, for example, how many buildings are like that? Just because it went viral, we will look for a solution,’ Ferry explained.

Ferry explained that from the outset, the location of the Kopdes Merah Putih was determined through deliberation between the village government and the local community. Therefore, if after verification a location is indeed deemed unsuitable or unstrategic, the government will re-engage with the community to determine the best solution. ‘We will think about it, we will find a solution if it is considered unsuitable,’ he said.

He added that the government has not yet made a decision regarding the possible relocation of the disputed buildings. All incoming reports will first be verified and validated by involving relevant ministries, agencies, regional governments, and village administrations.