JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, received an audience with the Chairman of the Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU), M. Fanshurullah Asa, and his delegation at the Ministry of Villages office in Jakarta on Monday (March 2, 2026).

During the meeting, Minister Yandri and Chairman Fanshurullah Asa expressed their shared commitment to ensuring the success of President Prabowo Subianto's community-based economic program, the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (Kopdes).

Minister Yandri stated that the Merah Putih Cooperative serves as a national instrument for economic equality, aligned with President Prabowo's 6th Asta Cita vision: building from the villages and the grassroots to achieve economic parity and poverty eradication.

“These cooperatives are a state tool for economic distribution and poverty alleviation. Because the money circulates within the village, the profits remain in the village,” said Minister Yandri.

He further explained that the Merah Putih Cooperatives would not only absorb local labor but also ensure that the villagers, as cooperative members, enjoy the profits. Additionally, at least 20% of the cooperative's profits will contribute to Village Original Income (PAD).

Consequently, Minister Yandri urged relevant authorities to stop issuing new permits for minimarkets, especially those located in rural areas. He argued that it is not an "apple-to-apple" comparison to pit the developing Merah Putih Cooperatives against minimarkets backed by large-scale investors.

“We look to the KPPU as a fortress to prevent monopolies and other unfair practices. I believe there needs to be fairness to protect the people,” Minister Yandri added.

He emphasized that the presence of 80,000 cooperatives in villages and urban districts would not kill off existing community-owned shops or warungs. Instead, they will collaborate and act as distributors for businesses already owned by the community.

Meanwhile, KPPU Chairman M. Fanshurullah Asa stated that his agency would support government programs, particularly the Merah Putih Cooperative initiative, in accordance with the KPPU's duties and functions.

According to him, the Merah Putih Cooperative is not only mandated by the Law on Cooperatives, Government Regulations, Presidential Instructions, and the President's Asta Cita, but it is also fundamentally rooted in the 1945 Constitution.

“Cooperatives are indeed the pillar of the economy. In essence, we support this because it is a government policy to ensure the Merah Putih Cooperatives can continue to operate effectively and truly manifest, rather than just remaining a concept,” said Fanshurullah Asa.

Accompanying Minister Yandri at the meeting were the Deputy Minister of Villages, Ariza Patria; Secretary-General Taufik Madjid; Inspector General Masyhudi; Director General of PDP Nugroho Setijo Nagoro; Director General of PEID Tabrani; Head of BPSDM Agustomi Masik; and Special Staff to the Minister, M. Khoirul Huda and Yahdil Abdi Harahap.

Photo: Sigit/Kemendes PDT 
Text: Rifqi/Kemendes PDT