President Prabowo Subianto’s Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program is facing heightened scrutiny as investigations reveal fragmented budget management and a sharp rise in influencer spending. A collaborative report by BBC News Indonesia, the Klub Jurnalis Investigasi (KJI), and the Koalisi Media Alternatif (KoMa) warns that the initiative’s multi-agency structure—spanning the Ministry of Cooperatives, the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, the Ministry of Defense, and the National Civil Service Agency—complicates financial oversight and raises potential systemic corruption risks.
Rapid Expansion of Influencer and Training Budgets
Government procurement data from Inaproc shows a significant surge in promotional spending. While the Ministry of Cooperatives spent less than Rp700 million annually on influencer services between 2022 and 2024, that figure jumped to Rp1.99 billion in 2026. This nearly tenfold increase from the Rp198.5 million allocated in 2025 is attributed to the need for broader public outreach as the KDMP initiative rolls out nationwide.
Training programs also represent a substantial portion of the project’s costs. A Rp9.63 billion internship initiative currently supports 514 participants across West Java, Central Java, East Java, and South Sulawesi. These internships, lasting eight to ten days, are hosted at established cooperatives that also serve as kitchens for the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono stated on July 13, 2026, that these participants will provide operational expertise to KDMP managers across the country.
Did You Know?
The Ministry of Cooperatives realized Rp159.6 billion in total procurement spending across 1,133 individual packages during 2025, a figure that underscores the scale of the financial activity currently under investigation for potential governance gaps.
Governance Concerns and Overlapping Allocations
The investigation highlights a lack of transparency regarding procurement worth trillions of rupiah, with particular concern directed at how budgets are distributed across different ministries. Accountability challenges are compounded by overlapping responsibilities, specifically regarding capacity-building programs.
While the Ministry of Cooperatives funds internship programs, the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions maintains a separate budget for “training of trainers.” Records indicate that Rp1.17 billion was allocated for these sessions in Central Java. For 2026, this specific capacity-building budget expanded to Rp5.98 billion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary concern regarding the KDMP program’s budget?
The primary concern is that the program’s budget is spread across multiple government institutions, including the Ministry of Cooperatives and the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, which complicates oversight and accountability, potentially exposing the project to corruption risks.
How much has influencer spending increased for the program?
Influencer spending rose from less than Rp700 million annually between 2022 and 2024 to Rp198.5 million in 2025, reaching Rp1.99 billion in 2026.
What is the purpose of the internship program hosted at local cooperatives?
The Rp9.63 billion internship program is designed to provide 514 participants with operational experience in running cooperatives. Graduates are expected to replicate these results in their respective KDMPs and conduct training for other managers nationwide.
How will the government address these overlapping procurement responsibilities moving forward?
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