Yusril Asks Ombudsman to Oversee 'Red and White' Village Cooperatives, Ready to Receive Public Complaints

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has requested the Indonesian Ombudsman to participate in overseeing the implementation of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) and Red and White Fishermen Cooperatives (KNMP) programme. According to him, the institution can also receive and follow up on public reports concerning alleged maladministration in the execution of the government programme.

He emphasised that all apparatus with supervisory functions, including the Ombudsman, can exercise their authority to ensure the programme runs according to regulations. “The Ombudsman can then follow up according to its authority,” Yusril told journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday (23/6).

Yusril explained that oversight can be carried out directly or based on reports submitted by the public. If there are allegations of maladministration in the implementation of the Red and White Village Cooperatives, the Ombudsman can conduct a review and provide recommendations to the relevant agencies or the government.

“This oversight can be carried out based on public reports. The Ombudsman can review incoming reports and submit recommendations to the institution concerned or to the government,” he said.

He stated that the government welcomes the Ombudsman actively carrying out its oversight function for the programme, which was initiated to strengthen the economy of villages and fishing communities. “We are certainly pleased if the Ombudsman performs these tasks,” Yusril remarked.

Nevertheless, Yusril acknowledged that overseeing the KDMP and KNMP programme is not an easy task. The broad scope of the programme, coupled with the Ombudsman’s limited budget and human resources, presents its own challenges in the oversight process.

“Carrying out this oversight is not easy, but I hope that despite budget limitations, the Ombudsman will continue to perform its supervisory and monitoring functions,” he said.

According to Yusril, the Ombudsman’s involvement in overseeing the programme is important to ensure good governance and to provide space for the public to voice complaints if they encounter problems in its implementation.