KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives Deputy Minister Datuk R. Ramanan informed the Dewan Negara that 1,596 out of 13,304 micro-cluster co-operatives are inactive.
He said the ministry (Kuskop), via the Malaysian Co-operative Commission, is committed to enhancing the capability of micro-cluster co-operatives by implementing various initiatives and programmes.
"Among others, we have provided specialised record management guidance and advisory services to micro-co-operatives through the Cooperative Account Empowerment Programme (PKASA), involving 4,051 co-operatives with a RM1.4 million allocation since 2021.
"We have also implemented the Accounting and Auditing Assistance Programme (Pakar), which includes support for account preparation and auditing for 500 micro-co-operatives with a budget of RM1.06 million since 2020," Ramanan said during a question-and-answer session today.
He was responding to Senator Datuk Lim Pay Hen's query on Kuskop's review of inactive micro-co-operatives and its initiatives to help revive the struggling ones.
As for the co-operative recovery programme, especially for those with potential for development and existing assets, Ramanan said the government has allocated RM3.551 million to 65 co-operatives under the Co-operative Strengthening Programme (PPK) between 2020 and 2022.
"This also includes business matching and collaborative networks, including the introduction of products and services through partnerships with other co-operatives or companies," he said.
Ramanan added that Kuskop provides financing facilities including Micro Co-operative Financing (MicCoopFi-1) and Startup Financing (SuFi-1), which offer up to RM100,000 in funding to enhance the potential and growth of these co-operatives.
— Bernama
