KOTA KINABALU: Co-operatives in Sabah are urged to be ready to adapt to any challenges, especially during post-Covid19 pandemic.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said with the standard operating procedure relaxed, Sabah’s economy would come alive again, bringing relief to businesses including co-operatives.

       "This is especially true for co-operatives dealing with tourism activities, which have been affected since more than two years ago due to the pandemic," he said at the state level Co-operative Day celebration here on Sunday (June 5).

       His text of speech was read by Sabah Community Development and People's Well-being Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

       Hajiji said as of Dec 31 last year, Sabah has 1,652 co-operatives with some 339,000 members.

       "This involved a turnover of RM470.8mil, with assets at RM887.1mil, while fees and share ownership amounted to RM218.6mil.

       "I would like to urge co-operatives in Sabah to continue grabbing new business opportunities.

       "Sabah is rich with natural resources and thus they have to be smart in tapping into this," he added.

       Hajiji also said he was made aware of a previous effort by Sabah SKM to have the co-operative portfolio in a ministry under the Sabah government.

       "I will bring this matter to the next state Cabinet meeting for consideration," he added.

       He said that while the co-operatives movement in the country began in Peninsular Malaysia in 1922, marking a century this year, the formation of such entities in Sabah only started in 1959.