Habib Rizieq Supports Government in Combating 'Oligarchic Hegemony' Through Cooperatives
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono attended the Multaqo Pengajian of Teachers and Ulama from West Java, held at the Alam Agrikultural Islamic Boarding School in Megamendung, Bogor, on Thursday (7/5/2026). Through this event, the government is promoting the strengthening of economic independence for the community via the establishment of cooperatives within pesantren environments.
The founder and caretaker of the Alam Agrikultural Pesantren, Habib Rizieq Syihab, has given full support to the initiative to revive the people’s economy system based on cooperatives. Habib Rizieq views cooperatives as the only effective way to combat the hegemony of oligarchs that have long dominated Indonesia’s market.
Habib Rizieq elaborated on the great history of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he made economic breakthroughs in Madinah to break the market dominance of certain parties at that time. Habib Rizieq emphasised that the Prophet built economic independence for the ummah not through violence, but by fostering unity in the mosque and fraternising the Muhajirin and Ansar clans under the principle of sharing.
“That brotherhood became the basis for joint ventures, which we now know as cooperatives,” said Habib Rizieq.
Meanwhile, Minister Ferry stressed the importance of restoring the role of cooperatives as the pillar or main mainstay of the national economy in line with the constitutional mandate and the aspirations of the nation’s founders. Ferry assessed that over the past few decades, Indonesia’s economic system has been overly dominated by market forces and large corporations, which have triggered inequality.
“The President wants cooperatives to return to what was envisioned by the nation’s leaders in the past. The state must be present to regulate the economic system for justice, and cooperatives are its main instrument,” Ferry stated in a written remark in Jakarta on Thursday (7/5/2026).
Ferry also recounted the long history of cooperatives pioneered by Islamic figures such as HOS Cokroaminoto in 1913, which proves that the values of togetherness in cooperatives align with pesantren values. The event was also attended by the founder and caretaker of the Alam Agrikultural Pesantren, Habib Rizieq Syihab, as well as ulama, asatidz, and community figures from various regions in West Java.
Ferry explained that the government is currently accelerating the Red and White Village/Urban Ward Cooperatives (KDKMP) programme in 83,000 villages and urban wards across Indonesia. Ferry detailed that KDKMP is designed to carry out three strategic functions.
“First, to distribute basic needs and production facilities such as fertiliser and seeds directly to villages,” Ferry continued.
Second, to absorb and accommodate village community products, both agricultural and livestock. Third, to serve as a channel for distributing government assistance such as social aid and direct cash transfers to ensure they reach the right targets.
In particular, Ferry encouraged the Alam Agrikultural Pesantren and other Islamic organisations to strengthen Pesantren Cooperatives (Kopontren). Ferry cited the success of Kopontren Sidogiri and Sunan Drajat, which have managed to own factories, wholesale centres, and large syariah financing systems.
Ferry, who also serves as Chairman of the Syariah Economy Society (MES), invited the ummah not only to be customers of syariah banking but to enter the real sector. Ferry urged pesantren to start producing daily necessities independently, from soap, soy sauce, to sauces, which will later be marketed through the village cooperative retail network.
“We want to build a joint ecosystem. We will assist, nurture, and even finance cooperatives through the Revolving Fund Management Agency (LPDB),” said Ferry.