ABDUL FATTAH RE-ELECTED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF ICA-AP IN COLOMBO

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- President of the National Cooperative Organisation of Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa), Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah, has been re-elected as Vice President of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP).

In a statement, Angkasa said Abdul Fattah once again received the confidence of member countries during the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yesterday, which brought together cooperative leadership from over 30 countries across the Asia Pacific in conjunction with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

"The re-election reflects recognition of his continuous efforts in strengthening cooperative networks, expanding cooperative-to-cooperative (C-to-C) trade, increasing youth and women participation, and maintaining cooperatives as a fair, inclusive, and resilient economic model.

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"The confidence shown by member countries reflects respect for his vision and track record, which has positioned Malaysia as a key leader in cooperative development at the Asia Pacific level," Angkasa stated in the statement.

Angkasa noted that with this new mandate, Malaysia's role in strengthening the economic integrity of regional cooperatives will continue to be empowered.

Meanwhile, Abdul Fattah, in the same statement, expressed his appreciation to the ICA-AP members for the trust given, describing the election as a great responsibility to uphold the interests of Malaysian cooperatives at the regional level.

"Cooperatives are becoming more relevant in a world facing economic uncertainty and social inequality challenges," he said.

Abdul Fattah also extended his appreciation to the government, especially the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) and its agencies, as well as all parties supporting Angkasa's efforts in driving the growth of the cooperative movement both nationally and internationally.

In addition, Angkasa also announced that Malaysia received two other important international recognitions through the re-election of its leadership members to the management of the ICA-AP Committees.

ANGKASA Deputy President Associate Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak Shaik, who was appointed as Chairman of the ICA-AP Committee on Agriculture & Environment (ICAE) was re-appointed as Vice Chairman of the ICA-AP Committee on Consumer Cooperation.

Angkasa Vice President Datuk Che Mohd Shukree Che Isa was re-appointed as Vice Chairman of the ICA-AP Credit & Banking Committee, a committee that plays a vital role in developing the regional cooperative credit system.

Following these appointments, Malaysia is now in a stronger position to influence cooperative policy direction in the Asia Pacific region, thus opening up more opportunities for strategic cooperation, international trade, and capacity enhancement for local cooperatives.

Angkasa is also confident that this mandate will open up more room for strategic collaboration and cross-border trade opportunities, greatly benefiting the cooperative movement and millions of cooperative members throughout Malaysia.

According to the statement, during the assembly in Colombo, Angkasa also highlighted the success of consumer cooperatives, school cooperatives, mosque parish cooperatives, and local cooperative products, which are now attracting the attention of other member countries.

The conference also included various technical sessions emphasising the importance of expanding sustainable investment, empowering digital innovation, adopting new technologies in the agricultural sector, and developing cross-border payment systems to strengthen international trade among cooperatives.

-- BERNAMA