MAKING SURE THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT

CHECKING .....Left-right State Assemblyman for Kiulu Datuk Louis Rampas and Director of the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia Sabah, Umar Sarim checking the goods of the 1 Co-op Malaysia product run by local cooperative enterprises.

By : M. IZHAM HASHIM

COOPERATIVE enterprises should manage their businesses more professionally and responsibly to achieve better success, and show greater commitment to the cooperative effort.

This was the message Minister of Local Government and Housing Development, Datuk Hajiji expounded during at the Parliamentary-level Cooperative Consultative Committee (MPKP) mini carnival in Tuaran, Sunday. The text of his speech was delivered by State Assemblyperson for Kiulu, Datuk Louis Rampas.

He said cooperatives are engines that power socio-economic growth as they offer a strategic platform for various segments of society to do things together, to strengthen cooperation, explore innovations and mobilize resources towards achieving mutually beneficial business enterprises and other economic activities.

In order to support the development of local cooperative enterprises, the government together with the Malaysian Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM) has devised various strategies and policies to guide and promote the sector by providing consultation, training and financial support in order to guide cooperatives towards success.

“Although SKM can offer advice and monitor cooperative businesses, ultimately it is up to the members of the Board of Cooperative themselves to determine the direction of the movement as an autonomous socio-economic body.”

Hajiji stressed, however, that cooperative businesses must fulfill all legal requirements stipulated in the Cooperative Societies Act 1993, Cooperative Regulatory Laws 2010, Cooperative By-Laws as well as the guidelines or announcements issued by the SKM.

He said the National Cooperative Policy has as one of its aims a target growth of 5 percent of the GDP by 2013 and 10 percent by 2020.

“Therefore, all parties involved should come together and work collectively in order to help the movement grow which in turn, would yield increased returns to cooperative members,” he said.

Hajiji said the government has identified five key economic areas for the cooperatives sector. The five high impact areas include agriculture, finance, wholesale and retail businesses, tourism, and healthcare enterprises.

All five high-impact areas were promoted at the various stalls operated by cooperative-owned businesses from different districts .The event generated strong interest from the local community who were keen to learn more about the cooperative program.

Also present were Director of the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia Sabah, Umar Sarim and Tuaran District Police Chief, DSP Zaharuddin Rasip. (Insight Sabah)