KOTA BELUD: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tambulion received a van worth RM140,000 for its cooperative from the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) through the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop).
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick hoped the vehicle would benefit the school’s cooperative’s services including increasing its income.
“In 2023, SKM approved RM270,000 in business development assistance to three cooperatives in Kadamaian.
“Today, we witnessed the handover of a van to SMK Tambulion Cooperative through Cooperative Economic Leaders Sector Assistance (Prospek) worth RM140,000 to enable the cooperative to carry out transportation activities,” he said at the Handover of the Assistance to Schools in Kadamaian and the Cooperative Van Assistance in conjunction with the school’s Silver Jubilee at its Stalion hall here, Monday.
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Ewon also announced a RM50,000 donation from the Minister’s Special Allocation to upgrade school hall facilities including electrical wiring, procurement of “mobile air-conditioner” and other equipment.
He added that his Ministry through SKM had implemented various programmes last year and received a great response.
“Through the programmes the community is now aware of the importance of cooperatives and making the platform not just for business and the development of knowledge but expanded as the unification and economic development of the community,” he said.
According to him, there are 1,707 registered cooperatives in Sabah with some 350,368 members.
“Accumulated shares and fees are as much as RM232 million, followed by accumulated assets worth RM915.25 million. The accumulated total revenue achieved was about RM569.71 million.
“Out of the total number of cooperatives, there are 230 active school cooperatives with the total turnover of RM20.15 million,” he said.
Ewon hoped that school cooperatives would continue to contribute to the country’s economic income and Kuskop would ensure continuous efforts are implemented strategically to ensure that the cooperative sector remains competitive and sustainable.
He also urged the Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG) to encourage students to be more active in school cooperatives because in addition to earning returns, it is also a platform for learning integrity and entrepreneurial skills that can help students’ development.
“This includes learning entrepreneurial culture and strategies such as capital acquisition, strategic business opportunities and how to make a profit.
“School cooperatives also need to carry out a transformation by no longer just selling stationery but instead creating various other business activities that will further stimulate the economic growth of members,” he said.
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