
Co-ops record RM68 billion revenue
Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025
By: Gerry Lewis Text Size: Ewon also said his Ministry would continue existing initiatives while introducing new programmes such as 'Jejak Koperasi' and conducting stakeholder engagement on the proposed legal amendments. Tenom: More than 16,000 active cooperatives nationwide have recorded an annual revenue of RM68 billion, reaffirming their role as one of the key drivers of the people's economy. Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the achievement reflects the growth of the cooperative sector into a strong and high-impact economic system, particularly in empowering grassroots communities.
Advertisement 'The cooperative sector is no longer a small entity, but a significant economic force for the people. 'We will continue to be proactive through various efforts, including ongoing amendments to the Co-operative Societies Act 1993 to ensure the law remains relevant, progressive and facilitative.' He said this after officiating the Tenom District-level Mini Cooperative Carnival held at the Open Hall of Kampung Paguokon, Monday. Ewon also said his Ministry would continue existing initiatives while introducing new programmes such as 'Jejak Koperasi' and conducting stakeholder engagement on the proposed legal amendments. According to him, cooperative membership across Malaysia has now surpassed 7.2 million, with total assets exceeding RM173 billion that positioning cooperatives among the key contributors to national economic growth. 'These efforts and achievements reflect the government's commitment to transforming the cooperative ecosystem into one that is holistic, sustainable and conducive, to ensure the continued relevance and competitiveness of the cooperative movement in Malaysia,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Ant's WorldFirst secures Bank Negara approval for business licence
KUALA LUMPUR: Ant International has obtained approval from Bank Negara Malaysia to carry out business under a Class A Money Services Business licence. The licence will empower Ant International's WorldFirst—an all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury account service for global businesses—to operate in Malaysia, adding to its 60+ global licences worldwide. The licence will enable WorldFirst to expand its product offerings and roll out new services in Malaysia, facilitating international payments, especially in receiving foreign currency payments globally, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage their cross-border transactions more efficiently. It further strengthens WorldFirst's capabilities in supporting businesses expanding both into and out of the Malaysian market. Malaysia's digital economy is now a key growth driver, with e-commerce Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) projected to reach US$16 billion (RM68 billion) by 2025 and US$25 billion by 2030. The rapid digitalisation is fuelling demand for innovative financial services across Southeast Asia, with Malaysia emerging as a regional leader. WorldFirst finds Malaysian merchants more actively seeking multi-currency solutions and adopting more diverse payment methods than regional peers. They prioritise these key factors: faster transaction settlement, competitive FX rates with hedging solutions and diversified financial product offerings. Recognising the specific demands of Malaysian merchants, WorldFirst aims to deliver tailored solutions featuring global coverage, secure transactions and operational efficiency—essential foundations for Malaysian SMEs' success in today's digital economy. Central to this offering is the World Account, WorldFirst's flagship product that combines global payments, collections, FX conversion, and treasury management in one single account. Sellers can effortlessly collect from 130+ marketplaces (including Amazon, Walmart, etc.), while buyers can gain easy payment solutions for international sourcing. WorldFirst said it has also established localised operations in Malaysia to provide tailored support for SMEs pursuing global expansion. This move aligns with its parent company Ant International's strategic investment in the country, including the launch of a Digital Business Centre focused on harnessing local tech talent to drive global innovation. 'The licence marks a significant milestone in WorldFirst's commitment to Southeast Asia. More importantly, it enables us to better serve Southeast Asian SMEs with secure, compliant cross-border financial services while contributing to the region's digital ecosystem,' said Ant International vice-president and WorldFirst CEO Clara Shi. In 2025, WorldFirst leverages its experience serving over 1.2 million SMEs worldwide through products like the newly launched World Card with Mastercard. Currently available in other markets, the World Card provides the ease, security, and international reach SMEs need to scale globally while managing spending efficiently.


Daily Express
5 hours ago
- Daily Express
Too soon to say if students should finish school at 16 to join workforce earlier: PM
Published on: Thursday, August 07, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 07, 2025 By: Muhammad Yusry, Malay Mail Text Size: Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (right) speaking during the Ministry of Finance's Budget Engagement Session at the ministry's headquarters in Putrajaya August 7, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said it is too early to decide whether students should complete secondary school by the age of 16 to enable them to enter the workforce by 21. He said the matter still requires thorough discussion before any decision can be made. Advertisement 'We'll discuss that. It's too early,' he told reporters briefly after attending the Budget Engagement Session at the Finance Ministry's headquarters here. On Monday, former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli suggested in the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia should consider allowing students to complete secondary school by 16, enabling them to enter the workforce by 21. He said the policy shift was worth considering as the country moves towards becoming an ageing nation, stressing the need for a younger workforce to begin contributing to the economy earlier. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ramanan refutes 'irresponsible' claim that Mitra failed due to leadership issues
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R Ramanan has denied claims that the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) failed because of a lack of leadership continuity. Ramanan, the former chairman of Mitra, said such accusations should not be made without understanding the facts of how the body's programmes were implemented. He said that when he chaired the Mitra Special Task Force Committee last year, a RM100 million allocation was used. "This is hilarious because the claims come from an irresponsible party. How can you say Mitra failed?" he told reporters after handing over offer letters to small Indian-owned companies here today. "Every time a programme was opened, the names of the recipients were announced. Not only were funds disbursed well, but all information was also shared. "I am sure the media also knows about it, so how can there be a claim that Mitra failed?" Ramanan said. The comments follow claims made on Tuesday by current Mitra chairman P Prabakaran, who said issues with leadership continuity were behind the perception that the organisation had failed to make a significant impact. Prabakaran added that the agency was also considered a "catch-all" organisation and was unfairly burdened with responsibilities beyond its mandate. Ramanan said he was disappointed that some people made rash statements about Mitra and linked them to the country's leadership. "You are blaming the prime minister for your failure. That is your failure. As politicians, we must think before we speak. Not once, not ten times, but a hundred times. "So I am issuing a warning, do not link the Prime Minister's Office and the prime minister's name to your failure. Not everything can be implemented immediately. "Some things take time, but the important thing is that it is implemented transparently and with integrity. If that is guaranteed, then there is no issue," he said.