JAKARTA – The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) is asked to terminate the dual leadership of Indonesia Cooperative Council (lit. Dewan Koperasi Indonesia/Dekopin) nearing the 75th National Cooperative Day on July 12, 2022. This information is revealed in the discussion related to Dualism of Dekopin during the Pandemic held yesterday (16/5).
Irsyad Muchtar, Director of Cooperative Research Institute (CRI), mentioned that Dekopin’s leadership currently still adopts the dual leadership model, in which the control is split between Nurdin Halid and Sri Untari Bisowarno, each claiming to be the legal Head of Dekopin. “Closing in on the National Cooperative Day, Teten Masduki should be able to break off this relentless dualism of Dekopin,” he stated.
According to Muchtar, the dual leadership in Dekopin may become another stain in the reputation of cooperative agencies in Indonesia. On top of SME development, strengthening the cooperative agency through Dekopin should be paid more severe attention by the Ministry of Cooperatives as the primary regulator.
Edy Sasmito, former Head of Cooperatives Journalist Forum (lit. Forum Wartawan Koperasi/Forwakop), demands the government to act tenaciously in order to setlle this issue. “It will not bode well for cooperatives in Indonesia should this conflict be ignored until the end,” he mentioned.
In support of the statement, Mulia Ginting, another former Head of Forwakop (2006-2008/2008-2010), mentioned that nearing the National Cooperative Day in July 2022, the government should lift off the dualism in Dekopin for the sake of the progress of cooperatives in Indonesia.
It is known that the National Summit (lit. Musyawarah Nasional/Munas) of Dekopin in Makassar held back on November 11-14, 2019, was the one event that resulted in the dual leadership in Dekopin, divided between Nurdin Halid and Sri Untari Bisowarno. (LK/ZH)