IPOH - The Perak government is encouraging mosques in the state to establish their own cooperatives to generate income through business activities.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the setting up of cooperatives could benefit congregants, such as through the payment of dividends from profits they have made.
"For example, Masjid Nurussalam Batu 4 in Gerik has opened up a mini market selling daily necessities and made profits which enables them to distribute dividends to cooperative members,” he told reporters after officiating at the Perak Cooperative Movement Appreciation Night 2023 here last night.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives K. Saraswathy and State Women, Family, Social Welfare, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives committee chairman Salbiah Mohamed.
Earlier in his speech, Saarani announced an incentive amounting to RM33,000 to 11 cooperatives listed in the 2022 Profile of Top 100 Malaysian Cooperatives as an appreciation for their contribution to the socio-economic improvement of cooperative members in the state.
Meanwhile, Saarani said cooperatives’ participation in agricultural activities and agro-based industry is highly encouraged to help the state government ensure the country’s food supply remains stable and available in the long run.
He said the listing of food security as the main agenda in the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan is to ensure that the people are supplied with sufficient food sold at a reasonable price.
"That is why I invited cooperatives to take up this challenge. Cooperatives also need to be proactive in helping the government address current issues surrounding the people’s lives, especially cost of living, food supply and price manipulation by a third party or middlemen,” he said. - BERNAMA