New cooperatives must shun old, problematic practices: Prabowo

hartono · Jul 21, 2025

Screenshot—President Prabowo Subianto delivering a speech at the launch of 80 thousand Red and White Village Cooperatives in Klaten, Central Java, on Monday (July 21, 2025). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto on Monday asked newly launched village cooperatives and concerned stakeholders to steer clear of old practices that tarnished the image of Village Unit Cooperatives (KUDs) in the New Order era.

The stakeholders included ministries and institutions, as well as village and sub-district heads, involved in the national program to establish 80 thousand Red and White Village and Sub-district Cooperatives.

While launching the cooperatives in Bentangan village, Wonosari, Klaten District, Central Java, he recalled the pun ketua untung duluan, meaning “chairman profits first,” used to imply the mismanagement that besieged Village Unit Cooperatives (KUDs) and stressed the importance of integrity and accountability in cooperative management.

“There used to be a pun. In the New Order era, KUD was also formed, but it was eventually misused, with KUD standing for ketua untung duluan (the chairman profits first), and this must not happen,” he said.

In his speech, which was livestreamed by his secretariat’s YouTube channel and was followed online from Jakarta, he emphasized that a cooperative model that only benefits certain parties has no place in the current era.

“I remind all administrators to carry out their duties properly. Prove the propaganda that cooperatives cannot succeed is wrong,” he said.

Prabowo also shared his experience in setting up a military cooperative during his tenure in the army.

He said there was a time when cooperative chairmen used their position for personal benefit or funding a lavish lifestyle—with some owning three luxury cars—while neglecting the welfare of members.

However, he said he is confident that such practices no longer continue, especially in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) under the command of TNI Commander Agus Subianto.

“Now I’m sure, under TNI Commander Agus Subianto, no longer the case, right? It doesn’t exist anymore in the TNI, does it? It doesn’t exist anymore? Good. If I check, it does exist, how was it?” he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.

President Prabowo expressed the hope that in the future, cooperatives will emerge as transparent and honest people’s economic institutions that truly benefit communities at the village and sub-district levels.

Translator: Andi Firdaus, Asri Mayang SariEditor: Azis Kurmala Copyright © ANTARA 2025