KUANTAN: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) appreciates the efforts of the National Education Service Cooperative Berhad (KOPENAS) in successfully implementing the Cooperative Digitalisation Action Plan (DigiKOP) 2030 by creating cooperative digital platforms and applications.
The Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said this is in line with the policy developed by the ministry, namely the Malaysian Cooperative Policy (DAKOM) 2030.
“This Cooperative Digitalisation Action Plan aims to enhance the cooperative’s ability to conduct technology-based business.”
“I appreciate the initiative of KOPENAS collaborating with their strategic partner, VX Technica, to introduce a digital cooperative platform through the School Transformation E-Platforms (STEP) application and the KOPENAS digital application.
“KOPENAS has collaborated with 684 schools across Peninsular Malaysia to help modernise inventory management, transaction, and reporting systems more efficiently and securely through the STEP platform.” In addition, the KOPENAS application provides a platform for sharing cooperative information with its members.
“I hope that KOPENAS’s efforts will serve as an inspiration and motivation to other cooperatives across the country to also become implementers of the ministry’s policies and action plans,” he said.
He said this when launching the 40th anniversary celebration of the National Education Service Cooperative Berhad here today.
Also present were the Secretary-General of KUSKOP, Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee Daud; the Secretary of the Cooperative Development, Hawkers, and Small Traders Division of KUSKOP, Azizul Alias; the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Operations and Regulation of the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM), Siti Azlin Ahmad Dauta; and the Chairman of the National Education Services Cooperative Berhad, Jumat Mat Lani.
Ewon said that as the ministry responsible for the development of entrepreneurship and cooperatives, his ministry will continue to implement various initiatives for the development of the cooperative movement, including amending the existing Cooperative Act, which has not been updated for over 30 years.
“In this regard, the ministry will continue to hold engagement sessions with various parties, including cooperatives, to gather views before the proposed amendment to the act is submitted to Parliament for the draughting and gazetting process.”
“I invite KOPENAS to participate in the focus group discussion regarding the amendment of the Cooperative Act.” Based on the 40 years of experience and the many achievements and successes that this cooperative has attained, it can help us build a better cooperative act that meets the challenges and needs of the current cooperative movement,” he said.
He hopes that the new Cooperative Act will help improve and further empower the cooperative movement in the country.
