Village Cooperative Staff Selection Uses CPNS Test, Zulhas: No Nepotism!

The government has recorded significant enthusiasm in the recruitment of human resources for Village Cooperatives Merah Putih (Kopdes MP) and Urban Village Cooperatives Merah Putih. The number of applicants far exceeded initial expectations since registration opened in April 2026. This programme is the government’s way of strengthening the village economy while improving the distribution of aid and the food supply chain. In its implementation, the government claims transparency and a technology-based selection system. “The recruitment of Kopdes Merah Putih staff is the largest human resource investment ever made for villages in Indonesia, and it will be the spearhead of food for the community,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan at the Food Coordinating Ministry office on Monday (4/5/2026). The role of Kopdes is not only as an economic institution but also as an instrument to break farmers’ dependence on middlemen. This is because the distribution channel is often exploited by middlemen to take large profits. “They will cut the middlemen chain that has been troubling farmers and the public,” he said. The government has opened a total of 35,476 positions, consisting of 30,000 cooperative managers and 5,476 staff for fishing villages. From the total of 639,732 applicants, the majority have successfully met the administrative requirements. The selection is now in the competency test stage using Computer Assisted Test (CAT), held at dozens of locations across Indonesia. This system is claimed to be credible because it is used in civil servant selection. “This test uses BKN’s CAT, a system that has been proven and used in civil servant selection, so there is no need to doubt it,” said Zulhas. The entire process is conducted objectively without intervention from any party. There are no special channels or nepotism in this selection. “So there is no nepotism, no helping hands, no insiders,” he stressed. The government also ensures that there are no fees charged in all selection stages. This was repeatedly stated to anticipate fraudulent practices. “All selection stages do not charge any fees. There are no special channels and no party that can guarantee passing,” said Zulhas. He urged the public to only access official information through the designated portal. “Official information is only through the portal phtc.panselnas.go.id. Anything else is definitely not from the government,” he concluded.