Launch of 80,081 Red-and-White Cooperatives Receives Positive Public Response

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurates the launching of 80,081 Red-and-White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDMP/KKMP) at an event held at Bentangan Red-and-White Village Cooperative in Bentangan village, Wonosari district, Klaten regency, Monday (07/21). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

Local communities showed strong support for the launch of 80,081 Red-and-White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDMP/KKMP).

President Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated the launch on Monday (07/21) at Bentangan Red-and-White Village Cooperatives in Bentangan village, Wonosari district, Klaten regency, Central Java province.

The communities enthusiastically welcomed this launch, especially housewives and local MSMEs, expressing hope that the cooperatives can serve as a solution to issues of basic needs pricing and distribution in villages.

“I hope prices can go down, so people with low income can afford them,” said Aseh, a resident of Jetis Boto hamlet.

Yunika, a Mendangan hamlet resident, echoed a similar statement, expressing hope that the cooperatives can help reduce prices and eliminate unfair trade practices. “I hope vendors will not cheat customers anymore, and prices can be more affordable, so the people who work as merchants can get cheaper prices, considering the shorter supply chain,” she said.

Yunika pointed out that prior to the cooperatives’ launch, she had to buy basic needs from a warung (a small retail shop) with fluctuating prices.

“We still have difficulty purchasing 3-kg LPG. Sometimes we find one that costs Rp25,000 (per cylinder) or Rp30,000. The normal price is usually Rp18,000,” she said, adding that the same issue occurs with other goods, such as cooking oil, whose price has hiked to Rp18,000.

The Red-and-White Cooperatives allow the local communities to breathe a sigh of relief. According to Yunika, the cooperatives serve not only as a place that sells affordable goods but also as the village economy’s driving force.

In the meantime, Head of Bentangan Red-and-White Village Cooperative Bambang Gunarsa stated that the cooperative he currently leads emerged from the national program initiated by President Prabowo, adding that it partners directly with multiple state-owned enterprises to provide basic necessities.

“We will be able to, insha Allah, fulfill the daily needs of the villagers through this cooperative,” he said.

Bambang pointed out that the cooperative provides six types of services, including a clinic, a pharmacy, a loan, staple food, LPG, fertilizers, and postal services from state-owned post company PT Pos, adding that they are sold at the maximum retail price (MRP).

“For instance, our LPG is sold at the MRP. The same goes for fertilizers. By adhering to the MRP, insha Allah, we can compete with shops around the cooperatives,” he said while expressing hope that the cooperative can bring benefits to many people.

“We hope that the Red-and-White Cooperative can make villagers prosper, including its management and members,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/MMB)