KOPROJAYA FOCUSING ON STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS TO SUSTAIN ITS FUTURE

By Norsyafawati Ab Wahab

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Koperasi Profesional Putrajaya Bhd (Koprojaya), a cooperative for young civil servants, is focusing on strategic investments to sustain its future, as well as providing investment benefits and attractive business opportunities to its members.

Established in 2013, Koprojaya has seen rapid growth and achieved impressive results in various sectors, such as food and beverages operations, real estate, retail and event management.

Koprojaya chairman Saiful Azhar Shaharun said the cooperative, with almost 3,000 members, also aims to improve the professionalism and take care of the welfare of its members, as well as provide dividends similar to other prestigious cooperatives. 

“Koprojaya has RM30 million invested into various primary sectors, with each sector receiving investments amounting to RM2 million to RM3 million.

“These investments involved cash funds to buy assets and investing in stable shares such as Bank Rakyat and Koperasi Co-opbank Pertama Malaysia Bhd,” he told Bernama.

Saiful Azhar said the source of its investment funds is from operating profit derived since its establishment and capital contributed by the cooperative’s members.

“Over the 11 years of its operations, Koprojaya has never resorted to commercial loans or loans from the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM). 

“Nevertheless, the cooperative benefitted from an easy loan from SKM this year to purchase its building in Precinct 15, Putrajaya,” he said.

Strategic investment returns

Shaiful Azhar said that compared with other cooperatives in Malaysia, which usually focus on providing financing for business capital to their members, Koprojaya actively invests in multiple sectors.

He said Koprojaya never set a fixed rate of returns for its investments. Instead, every investment is evaluated based on the type and business strategy undertaken. 

“The rate of return (for investments) is between 5.0 and 30 per cent, based on potential risks and opportunities. The (investment) decision is made through detailed analysis from a committee comprising investment and business development experts,” he said.

Regarding the cooperative’s achievements, Saiful Azhar said Koprojaya has won accolades such as the Malaysia Top Achievers’ Emerging Achiever 2017 award, Cooperative with Potential award in conjunction with SKM’s Cooperative Day 2018, as well certification as a Syariah-compliant cooperative from the National Cooperative Organisation of Malaysia Bhd’s (Angkasa).

He said Koprojaya’s success should not be measured just from profits but also from the benefits derived from its investments that its members enjoy.

“The satisfaction of members and the benefits they can obtain from investments are important factors when evaluating (investment) effectiveness.

“Koprojaya also takes into serious consideration strategic collaboration with business partners to expand its reach without the need to have a large capacity,” he said.

Strategic collaboration with the Syed Group

Shaiful Azhar said Koprojaya’s latest strategic collaboration as part of efforts to expand its business portfolio is with the food industry player Syed Group, specifically its restaurant chain under the Syed Bistro brand.

He said Koprojaya is Syed Bistro’s first franchisee, and it will open the Syed Bistro Cyberjaya located in Galleria Cyberjaya, which will be fully operational this Thursday, Dec 5.

He added that under the franchise model, Koprojaya will open the restaurant with Syed Group’s full support, giving flexible payment terms for easy expansion.

“This collaboration is just a start, and apart from focusing on the restaurant sector, it also provides opportunities in catering, food preparation and more,” he said.

Saiful Azhar added that Koprojaya will continue to establish more collaborations and strengthen existing ones as part of efforts to join SKM’s 100 Best Cooperative Index by 2030.

-- BERNAMA