YAN, Kedah: Koperasi Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia Berhad (Koop Sahabat) has allocated RM2 million to launch Sahabat Brand, a new umbrella brand established to empower products developed by its member entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to introduce at least 100 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) into selected retail chains and the mainstream market by the end of this year.
Chairman of the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM), Lieutenant General (Rtd) Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal, said the launch of Sahabat Brand reflects the cooperative's commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship development while catalysing community economic growth.
He said public awareness of cooperatives as an effective platform for business development must continue to be enhanced, as the cooperative model enables entrepreneurs to grow collectively while supporting one another.
"Public awareness that cooperatives are one of the key platforms for business development must continue to be strengthened. Through cooperatives, people can work together to reinforce and expand their businesses.
"At the same time, the cooperative model not only fosters stronger relationships among members but also creates a collective strength that enhances business competitiveness," he said.
The initiative is expected to improve the marketability of micro-enterprise products while expanding their access to larger markets.
"Our target is to bring products developed by Sahabat entrepreneurs to the global market, creating greater value and strengthening the economy, particularly for SMEs and locally made products.
"Products marketed under Sahabat Brand will undergo a rigorous selection process based on quality, food safety and packaging standards before being distributed through Koop Sahabat's business ecosystem and the Kedai Sahabat retail network.
"This approach aims to enhance consumer confidence in locally produced products while establishing a consistent and trusted brand identity," he added.
He was speaking during the launch of Sahabat Brand in conjunction with the KS Jelapang Padi Run 2026 held at Pantai Murni.
Sahabat Brand was established as a centralised distribution and commercialisation platform to help micro-entrepreneurs among Koop Sahabat members market their products more extensively and competitively.
Under the initiative, products that meet the required quality and packaging standards will be marketed through Koop Sahabat's business ecosystem and the Kedai Sahabat retail network. Profits generated from sales will be returned to more than 466,000 members through dividend distributions and various community welfare programmes.
During its initial phase, Sahabat Brand will focus on processed food products, traditional cooking ingredients and value-added products with strong growth potential in the domestic market.
At the same time, the Jelapang Padi Run 2026, a community fun run that attracted approximately 3,200 participants, was organised to promote a healthy lifestyle, strengthen relationships among cooperative members and foster closer engagement between the cooperative and the local community.
More than just a sporting event, the Jelapang Padi Run also serves as a platform to reinforce the cooperative spirit, promote member entrepreneurship and support community economic development through the various initiatives introduced by Koop Sahabat.
