Surabaya DPRD Proposes Involvement of Merah Putih Cooperatives in Affordable Market Programmes

The Deputy Chairman of Surabaya City DPRD, Bahtiyar Rifai, is pushing for the strengthening of the role of Merah Putih Cooperatives as the frontline in distributing essential needs at the sub-district level. One strategic step proposed is the involvement of cooperatives in every affordable market programme routinely held by the Surabaya City Government (Pemkot). Bahtiyar stated that the presence of Merah Putih Cooperatives in Surabaya has reached almost all sub-districts. This presents a significant potential in expanding the public’s access to basic necessities at affordable prices. “The Pemkot Surabaya has been very active in organising affordable markets in various areas so far. Going forward, it would be excellent if Merah Putih Cooperatives were also involved so that the benefits can be wider and more targeted,” said Bahtiyar in a written statement on Monday (13/4/2026). Bahtiyar assessed that involving cooperatives not only strengthens the distribution of staple goods, such as rice, oil, and meat, but also serves as a concrete step in empowering community-based economic activities. “The spirit is to help the community while strengthening market reach. Cooperatives can act as a bridge between government programmes and the needs of residents at the grassroots level,” stated Bahtiyar. However, Bahtiyar acknowledged that to date, several Merah Putih Cooperatives in Surabaya are not yet operating optimally. Some of them are hampered by limited budgets, low member participation, and a lack of clear management direction. “This situation needs to be a shared concern. There needs to be guidance and collaboration so that cooperatives can truly be active and empowered,” emphasised the legislator from the Gerindra Faction. Furthermore, Bahtiyar encouraged the active role of regional apparatus, especially relevant departments, in strengthening the cooperative ecosystem. One of them is through communication forums or joint deliberations between the government and cooperative managers before implementing affordable markets. “The Cooperative and Trade Department can invite cooperative managers to sit together, so that the distribution of programmes like affordable markets can go through cooperatives in each sub-district,” he explained. With this collaborative approach, Bahtiyar is optimistic that Merah Putih Cooperatives will not only serve as a complement but can transform into the driving force of people’s economy in Surabaya. “If this runs well, the impact will not only be on the distribution of staples but also on strengthening community economy sustainably,” he concluded.