Kelantan: Kelantan has become the first state to implement a school cooperative business matching model involving 137 cooperatives with companies and strategic partners to create business opportunities, expand supply chains and enhance income-generating capabilities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (ANGKASA) vice-president Zaharrudin Alias stated that the initiative would enable school cooperatives to secure suppliers in a more structured manner, combine demand to obtain more competitive prices, and explore new business areas. This approach allows school cooperatives to move beyond traditional activities such as selling books, uniforms, and school supplies, and venture into businesses with greater market potential.
Zaharrudin noted that this matching programme is the first of its kind in Malaysia and is seen as a good model that will be expanded nationwide. The announcement was made at the Empowering the Economy Together with Secondary School Cooperatives in Kelantan programme, held in collaboration with Koperasi Orang Kota Bharu Berhad (COOP OKB). About 12 companies, including banking institutions, are involved in the initiative, with more expected to join over time.
The sectors being explored include electrical goods, automotive, electric vehicles, textiles, and batik. COOP OKB acts as a bridge between school cooperatives, suppliers, and companies, assisting in easing the management burden for cooperatives that have limited time and resources to identify new business opportunities. When purchasing volume is large, they have greater bargaining power to obtain lower prices. This model may help ANGKASA achieve its target of developing 50 school cooperatives capable of generating more than RM1 million in income.
Zaharrudin highlighted the potential already demonstrated by school cooperatives in Kelantan through activities such as frozen food production, fried banana sales, and facility rentals, indicating the sector's ability to expand into broader business areas. ANGKASA plans to extend the model nationwide, with Terengganu and Pahang expected to be among the first states to adopt the initiative, followed by other states including Sabah and Sarawak.
The effort aligns with the goal of strengthening the cooperative movement as a mechanism to help reduce the cost of living for students, teachers, and the community, while ensuring school cooperatives remain competitive and capable of generating sustainable income.