TUARAN: June 16, 2026 – The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) has received an allocation of RM1.015 billion under Budget 2026, an increase of 24.6 per cent from the previous year, to strengthen the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (PMKS) and the cooperative movement in the country.
Deputy Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the amount was the highest allocation ever received by the ministry and demonstrated the government’s confidence in the role of PMKS and cooperatives as drivers of the people’s economy.
“This is not just the highest figure in the ministry’s history, but a symbol of the government’s confidence in the role of PMKS and cooperatives as the backbone of the people’s economy,” he said.
“The allocation benefits all categories of entrepreneurs, including Bumiputera, women, youth, the B40 group, as well as entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak.”
He was speaking at the launch of the 2026 Sabah Tuaran Zone Cooperative Awareness and Cultivation Empowerment Programme at Dewan Kak June on Tuesday.
Mohamad said KUSKOP is also implementing the ABCD Strategy, which encompasses Productivity Shift, Simplified Bureaucracy, Access to Capital, and Market Access, to empower entrepreneurs and cooperatives, particularly in rural areas.
He said the strategy aims to boost the competitiveness of entrepreneurs and cooperatives while helping to generate more sustainable income.
Meanwhile, he said the cooperative movement continues to be a key driver of the people’s economic development, based on the principles of cooperation, togetherness and shared ownership.
He noted that cooperatives now have more than 7.1 million members nationwide and have proven capable of generating economic opportunities, creating jobs and strengthening the social fabric of communities.
He expressed hope that the programme would act as a catalyst for the establishment of more viable cooperatives and increase community participation in the cooperative movement, particularly in Sabah.
