Visiting Bung Hatta's Grave, Dekopin Commits to Cooperative Modernisation Through Young Generation Succession
JAKARTA – Ahead of the 79th National Cooperative Day (Harkopnas), the central leadership of the Indonesian Cooperative Council (Dekopin) made a pilgrimage to the grave of the Proclaimer and father of Indonesian cooperatives, Mohammad Hatta (Bung Hatta), at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in South Jakarta. The reflective event was led directly by Dekopin’s leadership as a mark of deep respect for his legacy of a people-based national economy.
The pilgrimage was not merely an annual ritual, but an important moment for the Indonesian cooperative movement to retrace its struggle and strengthen its national commitment. At Bung Hatta’s grave, the Dekopin family offered prayers together and reflected once more on the noble ideals of a mutual-assistance-based economy that serves as a pillar of social justice for all Indonesians.
On the occasion, Dekopin Secretary-General Gilang Widya Pramana offered strategic views on the future of cooperatives in the digital era. The man popularly known as Juragan 99 stressed that the key to the sustainability of a people-based economy today lies in the hands of Generation Z. As a concrete step, Dekopin has launched a programme to find Gen Z Dekopin Brand Ambassadors to scout for talented young representatives across Indonesia.
“Bung Hatta founded cooperatives with a highly advanced vision of togetherness. Our task now is to translate that vision into the language and lifestyle of today’s young people. Gen Z is highly creative, adaptable to technology, and has a strong sense of social concern. Through this Brand Ambassador selection, we want to find a young icon capable of bringing cooperatives into the digital ecosystem and inspiring their own generation,” said Gilang.
The Secretary-General further affirmed that Dekopin is fully committed to rejuvenating the image of cooperatives so they are no longer seen as outdated financial institutions or merely the business of older generations. Cooperatives today must transform into a primary business platform for young entrepreneurs through technological innovation.
The pilgrimage was also attended by finalists of the Dekopin Gen Z Brand Ambassador programme, including Ridwan Sahroni. The finalist, active on social media via the Instagram account @readonesahroni_31, expressed his pride and commitment after paying respects directly at Bung Hatta’s grave.
“Standing here, at Bung Hatta’s grave, made me realise that the mutual-assistance values within cooperatives are highly relevant to Gen Z’s collaborative spirit today. As Brand Ambassador finalists, our task is not merely to be the organisation’s face, but to be a bridge of information. We are ready to package the noble values of cooperatives into creative content that is relevant, digital and inclusive, so that young people realise cooperatives are the economic pillar of their future,” said Ridwan during the pilgrimage.
Through this year’s Harkopnas momentum, Dekopin invited all elements of the nation, particularly the younger generation, to look back at cooperatives not only as a pillar of the past economy, but as a foundation for shared prosperity in the future.
The climax of the 79th National Cooperative Day commemoration will be held on 12 July 2026 at Indonesia Arena, Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), Jakarta. The historic occasion is expected to be attended by President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono, and Chairman of the Indonesian Cooperative Council (Dekopin) Bambang Haryadi, as a sign of joint commitment to strengthening cooperatives’ role as a pillar of the national economy.