Koperasi Desa Merah Putih confronts operational and governance issues in East Java

A Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (KDMP) building in the high‑land village of Ngrejeng, Tuban, attracted public attention after a video showed the unfinished structure standing far from any settlement. The remote, former quarry site, located just below the Rengit hilltop, has not yet begun operations.

In nearby Pacitan, several KDMP officials have stepped down from positions such as treasurer, secretary and chairman, signalling deeper problems with the programme’s implementation. KDMP regional head Oetomo Sapto Amien urged greater involvement of elected cooperative managers, noting that PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara and the central government must grant real authority to local leaders rather than treating them as mere administrative add‑ons. Meetings between Dekopinwil, PT Agrinas and government representatives are ongoing to address these concerns.