House Member Questions Health Assessment for Cooperative Candidates After Deaths

An Indonesian legislator is raising concerns about the health assessment procedures for candidates participating in a cooperative training program. Tubagus Hasanuddin, a member of Commission I of the House of Representatives, highlighted the issue following the deaths of four candidates during basic military-style training for the Merah Putih Village Cooperative and Merah Putih Fishermen Cooperative.

Hasanuddin stated that if health assessments were conducted comprehensively, incidents like cardiac arrest should have been identified beforehand. He is calling for a rigorous evaluation of the health screening process to ensure that participants' health conditions are assessed more objectively and in-depth. The legislator also suggested removing the physical military training component, arguing it is irrelevant for managerial positions within the cooperatives.

"If participants are being prepared for managerial roles in the cooperatives, the main focus should be on cooperative management training, organizational capacity building, and relevant technical training," Hasanuddin said. The four deceased candidates were identified as Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, and Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan.

Reports indicate Anisa died from heat stroke during training in Balikpapan, while Yonanda passed away from cardiac arrest during training in South Sumatra. Rifki, who trained in East Jakarta, complained of shortness of breath before his death. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense expressed condolences and stated that all participants underwent health checks, and Rifki was deemed fit to join the program based on initial selection results. The ministry, along with the national selection committee and training organizers, will conduct an evaluation.