Media

Batam – The proposal to limit the expansion of retail chains such as Alfamart and Indomaret in order to provide space for the Koperasi Desa (Kopdes) Merah Putih has drawn critical responses from business circles. The government is being urged to proceed with extreme caution before implementing such a policy.

Chairman of the Batam chapter of the Asosiasi Pengusaha Indonesia (Apindo), Rafki Rasyid, emphasized that modern retail chains have significantly contributed to job creation and the reduction of unemployment rates in various regions.

“Alfamart and Indomaret are not merely retail businesses; they also play a substantial role as job providers. If their expansion is restricted without thorough assessment, the impact will be directly felt by the public, particularly in terms of employment,” Rafki said.

He argued that if restrictions are imposed solely to create space for Kopdes Merah Putih, the government must first ensure that the cooperative is adequately prepared to compete fairly. According to Rafki, competition is precisely what drives cooperatives to become more efficient and improve service quality.

“In business, the presence of private-sector competitors will push Kopdes Merah Putih to perform better. If competition is removed, the incentive to improve performance will also disappear,” he explained.

Rafki also warned against excessive dependence on government facilities and subsidies. Business organizations that are overly supported may become sluggish and less adaptive to market demands, ultimately harming consumers.

Instead of limiting modern retailers, Rafki suggested that the government replicate successful business practices implemented by Alfamart and Indomaret, particularly by shortening supply chains and connecting Kopdes Merah Putih directly to factories or primary producers.

“With capital and networks facilitated by the government, Kopdes Merah Putih should be able to connect directly to manufacturers. A shorter supply chain would enable competitive pricing against modern minimarkets,” he said.

He further stressed the importance of professionalism in managing cooperatives. Managers of Kopdes Merah Putih, he said, must be recruited from experienced retail professionals rather than appointed based on political considerations.

“Management is the key. If a retail business is run by individuals without the necessary competence, the risk of failure is very high. Professionalism must be the main foundation,” he asserted.

Rafki urged the government not to rush into executing restrictions on minimarket expansion before Kopdes Merah Putih is fully prepared to fill the potential market gap.

“In essence, this policy requires very careful consideration. The intention to strengthen the rural economy must not end up weakening services to the public,” Rafki concluded.

Source: rri.co.id