KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced a RM6 million allocation for Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa) to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country.
Of the total, RM2 million would be adjusted from the Rahmah Sale allocation under the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) for Angkasa to intensify cooperative activities, and another RM2 million would be adjusted from the Sejati Madani Programme allocation under the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) for cooperatives in Madani villages.
“We have Madani villages with mosque committees, as well as associations of youth and women.
"I want cooperatives to also be in that group with RM2 million to be channelled by Angkasa,” he said during the officiation of the closing ceremony for the National Cooperatives Congress 2024 today.
RM1 million will be set aside as a new allocation for the Asean Cooperatives programme throughout Malaysia’s 2025 Asean chairmanship as he wanted the cooperative movement to be one of Asean's important agendas next year.
“The participation of cooperatives (in the Asean agenda) is important to strengthen cooperative movement at the international level,” Anwar said, adding that Angkasa president Datuk Seri Abdul Fattah Abdullah is also the current chairman of the Asean Cooperative Organisation.
RM500,000 from the total allocation is for mosque cooperatives in rural areas, while the remaining RM500,000 is for Angkasa to carry out competency-enhancing training for rural cooperatives.
In his speech, the Prime Minister also stressed the importance of all government machinery to help drive the nationwide cooperative movement under the Madani Economy framework, as the efforts should not be solely for the Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Ministry to implement.
Although the revenue of the national cooperatives has increased to RM64 billion, there is still room for improvement so that the Malaysian cooperative movement can be on par with those of other countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Finland.
“My hope is high, and there is no reason why we cannot bring our country and our (Asian) region to greater heights. We have a great foundation,” he said.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, Deputy Minister Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, and Abdul Fattah were present at the event.
Meanwhile, Ewon told the press that the announcement was in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment to see cooperatives in this country become one of the biggest contributors to the economy.
“I am very confident that the allocation can be fully utilised by Angkasa and the cooperative movement in Malaysia.
"The ministry will always monitor and facilitate this effort and try to achieve the Prime Minister's aspirations,” he said.
Similarly, Abdul Fattah expressed gratitude for the allocation announced by the Prime Minister to raise the dignity of cooperatives and make them one of the instruments that the government can use to address the rising cost of living issues.
“When the Prime Minister announced the allocation for the Asean Cooperative programme, this showed that Angkasa is asked to play an important role not only at the national but also at the international level.
“This is a good start because Malaysia also chairs the Cooperative Union for Countries Under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,” he said.
— Bernama
