Ewon holds official visit, briefing at SKM, IKMA

12 January 2023

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KUALA LUMPUR: Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick paid an official visit and attended a briefing by the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (SKM) at the SKM Tower and the Co-operative Institute of Malaysia (IKMA) here today.

Also present were the Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Saraswathy Kandasami, the ministry's Secretary-General Dato' Sri Suriani Ahmad and the ministry's Deputy Secretary-General (Development) Datuk Zamri Salleh.

SKM Executive Chairman Rusli Jaafar delivered the briefing while IKMa Director-General Datuk Mohd Ali Mansor delivered the IKMA briefing.

Ewon was also briefed on the SKM (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Implementation of the People's Cooperative 2.0 Malaysia Berhad (BR2.0).

Meanwhile, Rusli said, as of 31 Dec last year, the number of cooperatives registered under SKM nationwide is 15,315 with a membership of 7.05 million.

“Share capital or fees amount to RM16.99 billion, RM159.90 billion for total assets of and turnover of RM38.49 billion," he said.

He also said that throughout 2022, SKM received an allocation of RM76.32 million for managing and development expenses.

“Of that amount, RM3 million was allocated for development expenses - RM2 million for the Business Development Programme through Cooperatives and RM1 million for the Supply Chain Empowerment for Co-operatives Programme (SCOPE)," he said, adding that SKM has 96 offices nationwide.

Regarding the distribution of cooperatives by state, Rusli said, three states have more than 1,500 cooperatives, namely Selangor (2,000), Sabah (1,706), Perak (1,694) and Sarawak (1,159).

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said five main programmes by IKMa will be implemented this year, including the Cooperative Leadership Development Programme (PIMPIN), Cooperative Business Fundamental Programme (COOPBif), Targeted Cooperative Consulting Services Programme and Youth and Community Programme.