Angkasa urges active cooperatives to qualify as MyKasih merchant partners in Malaysia

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Angkasa urges active MyKasih cooperatives

Highlights

Angkasa proposes that all 1,400 active cooperatives qualify as MyKasih merchant partners, compared with only 277 cooperatives currently registered.
Angkasa will discuss regulatory relaxations with the government, especially for rural cooperatives, so that more can join the MyKasih programme.
The government has allocated RM15 million to Angkasa for 1,000 Jualan Rahmah programmes this year and RM500,000 specifically to empower mosque qariah cooperatives.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Target for expanding MyKasih merchant partners

The Edge Malaysia reported that Angkasa has proposed that all active registered cooperatives, including mosque cooperatives, meet the eligibility criteria to become MyKasih business merchant partners. Its president, Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah, said there are currently 3,600 registered cooperatives nationwide, including 730 mosque cooperatives and Koperasi Kabin Qariah.

Of that total, 1,400 are active cooperatives, but only 277 have so far registered as strategic partners for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah initiative, or Sara. He said Angkasa wants at least all 1,400 active cooperatives to meet the requirements so that they can also offer the service to consumers and generate more lucrative income.

Abdul Fattah said Angkasa will also hold discussions with the government to seek relaxations for certain requirements, particularly for cooperatives in rural areas, so they can join the programme as MyKasih merchant partners. According to him, the requirements include holding a controlled goods licence and being registered with the Inland Revenue Board.

Government allocation and impact on the community economy

He said the government has allocated a total of RM15 million to Angkasa this year to implement 1,000 Jualan Rahmah programmes. He said this advantage should be leveraged by all cooperatives by ensuring that the entities established meet the prescribed requirements.

Abdul Fattah also said that the development of mosque qariah cooperatives is among the key efforts to strengthen the community economy through the spirit of cooperation, solidarity and social responsibility. According to him, mosques are not only places of worship but also have the strength to serve as community hubs that can be utilised to develop economic activities for the well-being of members and local residents.

He also noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during the National Cooperative Congress, allocated RM500,000 specifically to empower mosque qariah cooperatives nationwide. The allocation, he said, reflects the importance of the cooperative movement in opening up economic opportunities for the community.

The RM6.6 billion microfinancing allocation in Budget 2027 that we previously reported focuses on expanding access to capital for small enterprises and vulnerable groups. The funds are channelled through Sejahtera Madani grants and schemes such as Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Tekun and Bank Simpanan Nasional microfinancing to help entrepreneurs increase capacity through a combination of capital, equipment and training.

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