MELAKA, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa) is ready to assist government retirees, particularly retired armed forces personnel, in establishing cooperatives as a platform to create economic opportunities and boost their income.
Its president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah said the support and assistance would cover various aspects, including training, education, financial advice, and access to new market opportunities through domestic and international networks.
He said that among the areas seen as having potential for former military personnel were businesses involving military services or facilities that the group has not yet ventured into.
“Retired military personnel possess extensive expertise in the defence sector and have the potential to become suppliers of military assets and services, including the maintenance of military trucks, tanks, and artillery.
“Through these products and services, they can collaborate with the Defence Ministry and the government, which will benefit cooperative members,” he told reporters here today.
He said this after a presentation of essential items via the Projek Barang Asas (BA100) initiative to members of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM) Tangga Batu Branch, held in conjunction with the Coop Care Angkasa Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
Abdul Fattah said that cooperatives provided retired military personnel with a platform to generate income, as not all receive generous pensions to support their livelihood.
“Apart from the military sector, they can also establish cooperatives in areas including retail, modern agriculture, logistics, food production, community development, rural tourism, and social entrepreneurship,” he said.
Abdul Fattah said that, according to the Malaysian Cooperative Statistics Report released last year by the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission, retirees were registered in 173 cooperatives, with a total membership of 19,065.
He said that the cooperatives recorded shares or fees amounting to RM11.2 million, with assets of RM60.84 million and revenue of RM12.99 million.
--BERNAMA
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