PUSA: The growth of cooperative movements in the Sarawak is very encouraging and gives a bright future for cooperative movements in the country. According to the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (SKM) up to June of last year, a total of 1,002 cooperatives were registered in Sarawak, accounting for about 7.4 per cent of the total cooperatives in Malaysia at 13,648.
This was stated by Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Dato Sri Rohani Abdul Karim when she officiated at the ‘Lestari Modal Insan Koperasi’ programme with the theme of ‘Kerjasama Asas Amalan Koperasi’ which was held at Kampung Kalok Multipurpose Hall yesterday.
“Cooperative movement in the country has more than 320,000 members with share capital and fees exceeding RM130 million and assets amounting to RM558.7 million which can generate revenue above RM140 million,” she added.
According to Rohani, the community, especially the entrepreneurs of any product in the state, are encouraged to actively cooperate with cooperatives which are deemed to be a kind of business that will not face bankruptcy. Rohani who is also the Batang Lupar Member of Parliament, however, pointed out that the cooperative movement in the state has the strength in terms of membership and economic areas that can be mobilised through various business activities.
“I believe in the cooperation given by all parties concerned, the cooperative movement in the state will continue to grow as an economic entity capable of meeting the needs of the people’s socio-economic development “In addition, cooperatives will also be able to help manage the companies that are more organised,” she said. However, the principle of cooperation needs to be learned and learned first and that can be referred to the Malaysian Cooperative College (MKM).
“It is important to preserve a cooperative established to survive for generations,” added Rohani. She further urged ‘kelulut’ entrepreneurs in the Batang Lupar area to establish a cooperative and consider it as a fairly good plan if managed properly.
She described the organising of this programme by the Sarawak Zone MKM as a high commitment to the development of human capital and cooperative knowledge in Bumi Kenyalang.
Similar programmes were also held at Pusa, Serian, Lundu, Sibu, Sarikei and Limbang that were filled with talks on several topics including ‘Restored Cooperative Human Capital and Promotion of Cooperative Training Programme 2018’, ‘Cooperative Business Opportunity’ and ‘Breed Farming: Quality and Potential Retention ‘.
Also present were Sarawak Zone MKM Director Siti Maimunah Jerni, Betong Resident Friday Belik and Pusa District Officer Bujang Budin. More than 100 participants in took part in the programme.
