Growing confidence in cooperative sector: Yahya

KOTA KINABALU: There is more public confidence in the role of the cooperative sector in improving the socio-economic status and well-being of people at urban and rural areas, says Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin.
He said this was evident from the increase of applications to set up cooperatives which also showed the effectiveness of acculturation and awareness programmes conducted by the Malaysian Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM).
"These programmes have opened the mind and changed public perception towards cooperatives, showing their capacity in providing opportunities to reap economic growth on par with private firms," he added when chairing the state-level meeting of the Cooperative Consultative Council (MPKN) here today.
Also present were Sabah SKM director, Umar Sarim Saidin, senior officers of federal and state ministries, cooperative leaders, academicians and private sector representatives.
Yahya, who is also Sabah MPKN chairman said the council desired for cooperatives in the state to be more sustainable and capable of managing business ventures that had potential while strengthening its initiatives in boosting the people's socio-economic status and well-being.
He said the state cooperative movement was fortunate that for the first time in history, the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman had given them a portion of the 2018 state budget.
He noted the development showed the growing recognition received for a sector which had the potential to reduce the cost of living, especially for those under the B40 group. — Bernama