Prabowo Instructs Full Support for Village and Fishermen's Cooperatives After 3.5-Hour Meeting

President Prabowo Subianto held a meeting with all coordinating ministers, ministers, and agency heads at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta lasting 3.5 hours. Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that Prabowo issued instructions regarding the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP).

“We started the meeting at 12.30 WIB. So, we met for 3.5 hours. Many things were discussed, regarding our area, the President ensured that the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, Merah Putih Sub-district Cooperatives, and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Cooperatives must be supported by all ministries/agencies, as well as by the TNI and Polri,” Zulhas said after the meeting at the Palace on Thursday.

Furthermore, Zulhas reiterated the function of the village and fishermen’s cooperatives as off-takers. He stressed that all subsidised goods and government aid will be distributed through the KDKMP.

“Secondly, as an off-taker. Government infrastructure, namely all subsidised goods, government aid, will all be distributed through the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives or Merah Putih Sub-district Cooperatives,” he said.

Members of the Merah Putih Cabinet had been arriving at the Palace since 12.30 WIB. Among them were Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin), Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), and Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan.

Also present were Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, Head of BP Taskin Budiman Sudjatmiko, and Head of Bappisus Aris Marsudiyanto.

Head of Bappisus Aris Marsudiyanto revealed the reason Prabowo summoned many cabinet members for the limited meeting. Aris said Prabowo wanted to evaluate strategic programmes, such as the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and KDKMP.

“In principle, at any time, the President launches strategic programmes. And of course, there are many obstacles, technical disruptions, so they are always evaluated. That is why he, at any time, evaluates the MBG or BGN, the Merah Putih Cooperatives, Fishermen’s Villages, and so on,” Aris said.

“In principle, how these strategic programmes of the President can reach and be directly felt by all Indonesian people. Equitable development, like that. And this, of course, at any time, this evaluation involves various related ministries and agencies,” he added.