PETALING JAYA: The implementation of the “Memasyarakatkan Koperasi” (MASKOP) programme is seen as one way to popularise cooperatives among the community to address the rising cost of living, said Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick (pix).
He said the ministry aimed to have more cooperatives established, especially among the B40, people with disabilities, urban poor, rural and interior communities as well as Orang Asli or Orang Asal, to improve the people’s socio-economy.
“In addition, the participation of professionals, youth and civil servants is also crucial considering that this group can act as contributors of ideas and opinions in ensuring the cooperative movement grows dynamically and remains relevant to the country’s socio-economic development.
“I am very confident, with the participation of every single community, it would lead to a brighter future for the cooperative movement,” he said at the launch of the MASKOP programme with Co-Opbank Pertama here today.
Ewon said that, as for civil servant cooperatives, Koperasi Pegawai-Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman Berhad, which conducts credit activities, Ar Rahnu, petrol stations, grocery stores and so on, is one of the more successful ones with a membership of 3,914 people.
“In 2022, this cooperative generated an income of RM49.2 million and was listed among Malaysia’s Top 100 Cooperatives index,” he said.
Ewon also said that participation in cooperatives is expected to continue to increase as the government raises awareness regarding the importance of the sector through various programmes.
“Among the efforts being carried out by the government are through the MASKOP programme in collaboration with several bodies, such as Cooperative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa), Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia (SKM) and, the latest, with Co-Opbank Pertama (CBP) today.
“I am very confident that having such a programme, the numbers will increase, but I must admit that there are also cooperatives, which have been inactive for a long time, that have been revived and re-activated,” he said.
He said the report on the overall increase and performance of this year’s MASKOP programme would be made after Dec 31 and presented as early as next February. -Bernama
