JOHOR BARU: Cooperatives in the agriculture sector are encouraged to expand their businesses to help safeguard the country’s food security.
Cooperative Societies Commission of Malaysia deputy executive chairman Amran Abd Kadir said the government had provided ample allocation and funding to help cooperatives expand.
"We encourage those in the agriculture sector to get involved in the production of rice and other food to support efforts to increase the country’s food supply.
"Cooperatives in other sectors are encouraged to look into agriculture while those already in this sector could consider expanding (their operations).
"If possible, we want cooperatives to be the main contributor to food production in Malaysia," he told a press conference after the Johor Cooperatives Awards ceremony here on Thursday (Oct 19).
Also present was state youth, sports, entrepreneur development, cooperatives and human resources committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
Amran said the RM100mil financing fund for cooperatives announced by the government under Budget 2024 also showed the importance of cooperatives in bringing the country forward.
"In Budget 2023, the government provided RM100mil financing funds to cooperatives in the agriculture sector.
"In the recently announced Budget 2024, a similar fund was also provided for cooperatives in all sectors.
"This shows that the government can see the importance of cooperatives in developing the country’s economy and as a measure to manage the rising cost of living.
"I hope cooperatives will make good use of these opportunities and that those interested in setting up cooperatives will do so," he said.
Mohd Hairi said the state government would continue to help cooperatives grow their businesses.
"The state government has approved an allocation of RM6.6mil between 2016 and this year for various initiatives in support of cooperatives.
"This includes the RM1.5mil Bantuan Prihatin Koperasi last year to help them recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This year, the state government also approved a RM1.8mil allocation to cooperative movements in Johor," he said, adding that there were 1,462 cooperatives in Johor with some 463,067 members.
