Setting up a cooperative

Setting up a cooperative

In June 2002, the employees of STIE Bisnis Indonesia agreed to
set up a cooperative under the name Almatama. Having completed
all the required documents, we registered the establishment with
the Cooperative Office at Jl. MT Haryono, South Jakarta.

However, the head of the Cooperative Office said that to
legalize the cooperative the documents had to be signed by the
Jakarta governor, because Jakarta is an autonomous region.

After about six months, the head of the Cooperative Office was
replaced. We were stuck in limbo and after two years our
cooperative had not been legalized.

Finally, we took the documents to the Office of the State
Minister for Cooperatives and we were asked to prepare a new
statute and bylaw to be legalized by a notary public. In
addition, we were required to make a business plan and deposit a
certain amount of money in a bank.

To cut the story short, as of May 2005, despite all the
requirements having been completed, our cooperative permit has
not been issued. Their argument has always been: "There is a new
head of the office coming in, etc."

We need an explanation regarding this matter, and about how
much we have to pay to set up a cooperative that is run by
employees of an educational institution.

MUHAMMAD SUHUD
Jakarta