OVER TO YOU: Naroden presenting a mock cheque to a representative from Koperasi Wanita Sarawak Berhad. Also seen is Ishak (second left).
KUCHING: Inactive cooperatives in the state are asked to consider making a comeback as there are more forms of assistance such as funding and skills training to take advantage of now.
Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais said some of the smaller, family-run cooperatives might have just given up after not seeing any profits.
“Maybe there was no funding or assistance before, but now there is plenty in terms of training, grants and loans,” he said, adding that 10 per cent of the 824 cooperatives in the state have fallen inactive.
Naroden pointed out that the Sarawak Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM) sets aside RM5 million in grant money for members, some of which was given out to various cooperatives during the Sarawak Co-operative Fiesta 2013 yesterday.
The two-day fiesta, held at Bangunan Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah at Jalan P Ramlee here, began with 15 cooperatives, seven agencies under the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry and the NGO Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Pendidikan Nur Murni selling consumer goods, handicraft, services.
The objective of the programme is to give cooperatives and entrepreneurs a space to promote and market their goods. It also gives room for individual entrepreneurs to network.
The second leg of the fiesta will be held at Summer Mall Kota Samarahan from Dec 21 to 22.
In his speech earlier, Naroden said that cooperatives play an important role in increasing the socio-economic income of the community, and work as instruments of harmony and unity amongst the people.
“Cooperatives mean working together in a team. If the members don’t cooperate, the cooperative would have failed in uniting its members,” he said.
The 824 cooperatives in the state have a membership of around 300,000 and run businesses in various fields.
Among those present were SKM director Ishak Samdin, representing SKM executive chairman Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus and Baitumal general manager Datu Abang Mohamad Shiblie Abang Mohamad Nailie.