inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that the Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP) program embodies the culture of mutual cooperation within Indonesian society, aimed at improving people's welfare by strengthening the village economy.

Fadli Zon said cooperatives are part of Indonesian culture, which prioritizes the spirit of mutual assistance and mutual cooperation.

"Capitalism and liberalism don't like cooperatives. They're based on survival of the fittest. So only a few people benefit. On the other hand, cooperatives are about members," he said during a discussion at the Ministry of Culture Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/5/2026).

According to him, the KDMP program embodies this culture because the cooperatives are village-owned and aimed at improving community welfare.

Fadli believes that criticism of the development of KDMP has not fully addressed the program's substance. He cited, for example, the focus on the location of several cooperatives in remote areas only reflects a small portion of the thousands of cooperatives that have been established.

He said village cooperatives are expected to function as distribution centers for various subsidized necessities, such as 3-kilogram LPG cylinders and fertilizer, so that distribution is more targeted.

"Because if farmers, fishermen, and laborers are prosperous, Indonesia will prosper. Because they are the majority," he said.

Furthermore, Fadli believes village cooperatives can strengthen farmers' bargaining position in determining the price of their produce, eliminating their complete dependence on middlemen, corporations, or modern markets.

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