Minimarket Closures for Village Cooperatives: PDIP Faction Says No Official Decision Reached
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction has clarified circulating reports claiming that the House of Representatives (DPR) had approved the government’s plan to close modern retail outlets or minimarkets in favour of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes). The proposed minimarket closures emerged from the view that such outlets compete with village cooperatives.
The statement was issued by PDIP faction secretary Dolfie O.F.P in response to reports suggesting the DPR had endorsed a proposal by Minister of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions Development (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto to halt minimarket expansion in favour of village cooperatives. This included a false narrative claiming that DPR Speaker Puan Maharani had also approved the plan.
“There has been no official statement from the DPR Speaker regarding the cessation or restriction of minimarket expansion in villages, as has been circulating in public discourse,” Dolfie said in a written statement on Monday (23/2/2026).
Dolfie explained that the circulating reports stemmed from discussions during a working meeting between DPR Commission V and Minister Yandri Susanto some time ago. Commission V was said to have only provided a verbal response to the issues raised by the minister.
The meeting in question actually took place in November 2025, during which the Villages Minister stated that the proliferation of minimarkets needed to be halted to ensure the smooth operation of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives. Dolfie emphasised that even if commission members had responded, this did not constitute a formal decision of the Commission V working meeting.
“The substance of what has been circulating is part of the discussion dynamics within DPR Commission V, in the context of carrying out its oversight function and absorbing public aspirations,” he said.
“Moreover, this has not yet become a decision of the Commission V working meeting with the Ministry of Villages,” he added.
Dolfie said the PDIP faction always prioritises in-depth review of strategic policies concerning business interests, government programmes, and the livelihoods of the people, including the matter of closing minimarkets in favour of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives.
“The PDIP faction is of the view that every strategic policy affecting business operators, village cooperatives, and the wider public must be accompanied by comprehensive, data-based analysis,” he said.
The PDIP faction also stressed that such policies must be thoroughly discussed in the relevant commission in accordance with established mechanisms.
“And must comprehensively consider regulatory, economic, social, and business sustainability aspects,” Dolfie concluded.