Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haiji Noor launching the National Cooperative Day at Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU: Cooperatives can play a crucial role in eradicating Sabah's hardcore poverty, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the state with a total of 1,707 cooperatives with more than 350,000 registered members under the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) could play a role in helping the socio-economic development of the state.
"I believe the cooperatives can assist in eliminating hardcore poverty in the state," he said on National Cooperative Day held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here Saturday (July 22).
He said that the cooperative platform is an effective approach not just in stimulating entrepreneurship but also in assisting the B40 group in facing the increasing cost of living.
"It is the government’s commitment to facilitate and not to frustrate to help provide cooperative-friendly policies so that the cooperatives, particularly in this state, are viable and competitive," he added.
In line with the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan’s (SMJ), Hajiji said that the three main thrusts were agriculture, industry and tourism.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor together with Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick visiting one of the cooperative exhibition booths.
He said the state government hopes that cooperatives in Sabah can take advantage of the initiatives and incentives to advance the cooperative sector.
The Chief Minister said that he wanted all cooperative movements in Sabah to continue to empower themselves, increase competitiveness and seize the economic opportunities available.
"Sabah has various types of cooperatives to develop the socio-economy of the community, be it in retail or tourism, and environmentally sustainable activities," he said
He said cooperatives should take advantage of the boom in tourism with its various downstream business opportunities such as accommodation, homestay, transportation, restaurants, parks, and souvenir shops with the reopening of the borders.
He noted that Sabah cooperatives with an income of RM570mil, is the country's second highest with the number of registered cooperatives after Selangor.
"This proves that the cooperatives in Sabah have successfully played their role and contributed significantly as one of the socio-economic growth agents with the potential to end hardcore poverty," he said.
Hajiji also said that four Sabah-based cooperatives - Koperasi Pembangunan Usahasama Masyarakat Maju Sabah Berhad, Koperasi Kakitangan Sawit Kinabalu Sabah Berhad, Koperasi Borneo Malaysia Berhad and Koperasi Usahawan Tawau Berhad - have been listed in the 100 Best Malaysia Cooperative Index last year,
"Well done and congratulations to all the cooperatives in Sabah. I want to see more from the state to be listed in the years to come," he said.
