MP: Recruitment of Kopdes Managers Must Be Transparent
A member of Commission VI of the House of Representatives, Rivqy Abdul Halim, is pushing for the recruitment process of 30,000 managers for the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives to be conducted transparently. According to the National Awakening Party politician, openness in the recruitment process can be achieved through a merit system that prioritises candidates’ qualifications and competencies.
Rivqy hopes the government will ensure that there is no interference in the selection process. “Recruitment must truly prioritise professionalism. There must be no political appointments,” he said in a written statement quoted on Sunday, 19 April 2026.
Considering that village cooperatives are a priority programme of President Prabowo Subianto, Rivqy warns of the importance of thorough preparation in recruiting its human resources. The highly strategic position of manager must be filled by individuals experienced in managing cooperatives.
Without adequate understanding and experience, cooperative managers will be hindered in carrying out their duties. “Kopdes managers must understand cooperative governance. If they don’t understand and lack experience, it will be difficult to run the cooperative well,” he stated.
Rivqy also believes that a manager needs more than technical skills; they must also be able to build good relationships with the local community. Because, he said, such interactions can build public trust to encourage cooperative development.
In addition, Rivqy emphasised the importance of prospective managers having integrity to manage cooperatives honestly and responsibly. He assessed that the managerial position is vulnerable to abuse if the individual is not trustworthy. Thus, such deviations could ultimately lead to the cooperative’s closure.
The government officially opened vacancies to recruit 30,000 prospective Merah Putih Village Cooperative managers on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs and Head of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives Formation Task Force Zulkifli Hasan stated that the recruitment is being carried out by a national selection committee free of charge.
“The nation is calling on its best sons and daughters to be present in villages, sub-districts, and fishing villages. Let us all monitor together so that those selected are truly the best human resources for an advanced Indonesia,” said Zulkifli, quoted from Antara.
The procedures and registration requirements for the recruitment are as follows:
Applicants are graduates of D-3, D-4, and S-1 from all majors
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75
Maximum age of 35 years
Registration runs from 15-24 April 2026
Register via the channel https://phtc.panselnas.go.id
Zulkifli explained that the government will conduct the selection transparently and accountably. The 30,000 applicants who pass the selection will work under the state-owned enterprise PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, with a fixed-term employment contract for two years.