Malaysian Cooperative Institute out to educate, train Brunei cooperative community

MIRI (July 13): The Malaysian Cooperative Institute (IKMa) will work with the cooperatives in Brunei in providing training and education to the neighbouring country.

IKMa board of directors chairman Onn Abu Bakar said discussions over the matter were held during his visit to Brunei’s Ministry of Finance in February this year.

“We had discussions with the Brunei government and they were willing to cooperate with us,” he told reporters when met after officiating at the launch of IKMa Miri branch office on Thursday.

Among those present were Miri MP Chiew Choon Man, IKMa director-general Datuk Mohd Ali Mansor, and IKMa Miri chief Syarifah Rohaya Wan Idris.

Onn, who is Batu Pahat MP, said IKMa’s Miri, the institute’s 10th branch, was already in operation early last year, also covering Bintulu, Limbang, and Lawas.

Onn said with more than 300 cooperatives in northern Sarawak, the Miri branch would be tasked with organising and holding training and other educational courses to further empower cooperative members in the region.

“One of our programmes, the ‘Million Ringgit Cooperative League’ is a training and education programme that aims to help members understand their wishes and direction as well as increase their income through business activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chiew regarded the Miri community as ‘lucky’ for having an established IKMa branch.

“This means Mirians now have the opportunity to be more actively involved in cooperatives,” he said.