KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Entrepreneurs and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP), under the leadership of Datuk Ewon Benedick, is committed to harnessing youth leadership skills through cooperative movements.
Recognising the crucial role that youth play in shaping the future leadership of the world, Ewon opined that the cooperative movement provides an ideal platform for young individuals to develop their leadership skills, cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit, and harness their potential.
“This is because, cooperatives sector is able to foster an environment that encourages collaboration, inclusivity, and participatory decision-making, all of which are essential qualities of effective leaders.
“It is built on the principles of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, and solidarity,” he said.
Ewon said this when delivering the keynote address in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit 4.0 here tonight.
He said youth involvement in the cooperative sector may empower cooperatives and add diversity to their membership base.
“Their fresh perspectives, digital proficiency, and cultural diversity enrich the cooperative movement, infusing it with new ideas and approaches,” he said.
He said their active involvement in cooperatives ensures the movement remains relevant, inclusive, and forward-looking.
“Youth involvement will surely contribute to the sustainability of cooperatives. They bring with them a deep sense of social and environmental responsibility, advocating for ethical practices, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.
“Through their engagement, youth foster innovation and introduce technologies that help cooperatives adapt to a rapidly changing world,” he added.
On technology, Ewon said youth might bridge the gap between traditional players in cooperatives and the digital era.
“They (youth) are adept at utilizing technology and social media platforms to enhance the visibility, outreach, and efficiency of cooperatives.
“For instance, undeniably our country is still in the recovery phase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 made us realize how important the digital ecosystem is to prevent the next business collapse of the national economy,” he said.
According to Ewon, by embracing digital transformation, cooperatives can leverage youth’s digital expertise to streamline their operations, improve their services, and connect with a broader audience.
Therefore, he said KUSKOP through the collaboration of SKM, IKMa and ANGKASA has launched The Cooperative Digitalization Action Plan 2030 for the cooperative movement.
This plan will outline the initiatives that will be implemented to improve the cooperative’s ability to run technology-based businesses,” he said.
“KUSKOP is confident that with the plan it is able to bring change and transform the cooperative movement towards digitization.
“It is essential to recognize the role of cooperatives in creating a more inclusive society. Cooperatives empower individuals, especially the youth, by providing them with opportunities to be active participants in their economic and social development.
“By fostering a sense of ownership, cooperation, and solidarity, cooperatives have the power to transform lives and communities especially for the youth in facing economic uncertainties and challenges.
“It is anticipated the success stories shared during this summit will showcase the incredible impact that cooperatives can have on the lives of their members,” he said.
Ewon said the total number of cooperatives in Malaysia as of December 2022 was 15,315 with more than 7.3 million members.
