TAMBUNAN: All entrepreneurs in this district, particularly those involved in community-based tourism and agriculture, are urged to form cooperatives to strengthen their capital, expand their market reach, and enhance economic benefits for local residents.
Dato’ Victor P. Paut, the Deputy Chairman of Sawit Kinabalu and Borneo Samudera, stated that a cooperative approach can unite the strengths of small entrepreneurs and the community, allowing them to have a more robust position to grow their economic activities.
He said cooperatives not only serve as a platform to pool members’ capital but also provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to access various forms of support and government assistance aimed at empowering the cooperative movement.
“I advise all entrepreneurs, especially those involved in community tourism and agriculture in the Tambunan area, to establish cooperatives.
“With this initiative, their capital will increase, and the benefits to the surrounding community will be significant.
“Moreover, they can further enhance cooperation among themselves to develop the local economy,” he said after officiating the 2026 Independence Carnival at Taman Marawagas Mukim Monsog this afternoon.
Victor, who is also the Coordinator of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) for Tambunan, said that both the federal and state governments consistently focus on the development of cooperatives as a mechanism to strengthen the economy of the community, particularly for small entrepreneurs and rural communities.
He added that one of the advantages of cooperatives is that members can pool their capital collectively while also having the opportunity to receive guidance, training, advisory services, and financing or development assistance provided by relevant agencies based on the field and eligibility of the cooperative.
“When operating individually, each entrepreneur’s capabilities may be limited; however, when they unite within a cooperative, their capital strength, workforce, expertise, and market networks can be significantly enhanced.
“At the same time, an active cooperative with effective management can more easily plan joint projects and take advantage of government assistance opportunities available,” he stated.
Further commenting, Victor said that cooperatives can aid in enhancing members’ skills through training programs, entrepreneurship development, and business management initiatives implemented by government agencies and related bodies.
He emphasized that governance and financial management aspects must be prioritized to ensure that the established cooperatives can genuinely survive and thrive in the long term.
“We want the cooperatives formed to be more than just a name; they should be genuinely active, have a business plan, and provide returns to both members and the community.
With good management, the assistance and opportunities provided by the government can be leveraged to expand the cooperative’s business,” he remarked.
He added that Tambunan has significant potential in the agriculture and community-based tourism sectors that can be further explored with more organized community involvement.
He said that collaboration through cooperatives can also create a complementary local economic ecosystem, ensuring that more economic value remains and circulates within the local community.
“The key is the spirit of cooperation. We want entrepreneurs and the community to view this economic development as a collective effort. If we unite through cooperatives, we can achieve more, and the benefits of development can be felt by a larger number of residents,” he added.
