SUBANG JAYA: Malaysia's cooperative sector plays a vital role in key areas such as agriculture, finance, digital innovation, and education, says Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
He said that the sector's contributions reflected the principles of the Madani framework, which promotes sustainability, compassion, and inclusivity.
Malaysia, he said, never regarded cooperatives as peripheral actors but recognised them as central to shaping both the national and regional economic landscapes.
"The Asean Action Plan for Cooperatives is a crucial framework that paves the way for strengthening the cooperative movement across Southeast Asia.
"For Malaysia, it holds particular significance as it closely aligns with the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint, which outlines a collective vision for regional economic integration," Ramanan said during the closing ceremony of the Asean Cooperative Dialogue here today.
He stressed the importance of collaboration to address key challenges and to build a regional framework that offered structured support, institutional recognition, and broader market access for cooperatives within Asean.
Also present was Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa) president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah.
Ramanan, who is also Sungai Buloh member of parliament, said that aligning cooperative strategies with AEC objectives would ensure Malaysia's cooperatives contributed to inclusive economic growth, supported local entrepreneurship, and reduced socio-economic inequalities.
"This alignment allows Malaysia to position its cooperative sector as a cornerstone of the nation's economic future, while contributing to Asean's efforts in fostering a more resilient and prosperous region.
"Cooperatives are not merely economic units; they are living communities of entrepreneurs, youth, women, and workers committed to shared prosperity and social equity.
"Malaysia stands ready to work hand-in-hand with all Asean member states, the Asean Cooperative Organisation (ACO), and global cooperative institutions to make this vision a reality," he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Fattah urged Asean member states to formally recognise the ACO as the official umbrella body for cooperatives in the region.
His call followed the adoption of four key resolutions during the two-day event, which included the ACO Annual General Meeting, Sectoral General Meetings, the Asean Cooperative Forum, and a high-level Asean Cooperative Dialogue.
The four resolutions are: to designate the ACO as the official secretariat leading the cooperative movement in Asean, to establish a dedicated ministry or national authority for cooperatives at the country level, to recognise the cooperative movement as a key driver of human-centric economic growth in Asean and to establish the Asean Cooperative Leadership Institute. - NST
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