Sarawak Alumni Police Association plans to establish cooperative

KUCHING: The Sarawak Alumni Police Association (SAPA) is planning to set up a cooperative to generate sustainable income for the benefit of its members in the future.

SAPA president Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai said discussions and meetings have taken place with relevant parties to explore the possibility of setting up a laundry shop as the cooperative’s initial venture.

“Instead of relying on funds and donations, it’s crucial for us to be able to generate our own income.”
SAPA has proposed to establish an Islamic finance facility to assist members facing difficulties in obtaining loans from traditional banking institutions.

This is aimed at preventing members from resorting to loans with high-interest rates from unlicensed moneylenders, he explained.

Furthermore, Abdul Wahab revealed that SAPA will soon establish a service centre to provide assistance to its members and promote the roles and functions of the association.

He was speaking at the 8th SAPA General Meeting at Bangunan Baitul Makmur II on Thursday (Jan 25), officiated by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker, Datuk Idris Buang, who is also the Muara Tuang assemblyman. Idris, an ex-policeman himself, pledged RM100,000 to support the association.

Abdul Wahab highlighted that SAPA was established 10 years ago under the guidance of Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the Deputy Home Minister at that time.

Wan Junaidi, being an ex-police officer, expressed concern about the welfare of former policemen in Sarawak following internal conflicts within the Malaysian Ex-Police Association (PBPM) in Peninsular Malaysia.

“He wanted us to set up a new association and take over the assets of the PBPM Sarawak to avoid being affected by various issues happening in Peninsular Malaysia. That’s how SAPA was established in 2013,” Abdul Wahab explained.

The aim was to ensure fair decisions for everyone in the association and to fulfil its intended mission of assisting former policemen.