Kuala lumpur: National Cooperative Movement of Malaysia (ANGKASA) will continue to drive the nation's cooperative movement in strategic and high-impact sectors to position it as one of the people's economic forces. ANGKASA president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah stated that the sectors include food security, digital technology, green energy, logistics, education, healthcare, tourism, and community development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the move aligns with ANGKASA's commitment to strengthen the competitiveness of cooperatives, enabling them to be viewed not merely as complements to the national economy, but as key players shaping the people's economy in Malaysia. This was emphasized in a statement issued in conjunction with ANGKASA's 55th anniversary celebration, held at the ANGKASA Auditorium, Wisma Ungku A. Aziz, Kelana Jaya.
Highlighting the significance of the celebration, Abdul Fattah remarked that it symbolizes ANGKASA's long journey as the apex body of the national cooperative movement since its establishment on May 12, 1971. This establishment followed a resolution at the Second Malaysian Cooperative Congress, which aimed to unite cooperatives across the nation under a parent organization.
Abdul Fattah also recounted the history of Malaysia's cooperative movement, which began in 1922 with the introduction of the first Cooperative Law in Malaya, leading to the establishment of ANGKASA as a coordinating institution. He emphasized that ANGKASA represents the unity of the national cooperative movement, built on principles of togetherness, wellbeing, and sustainable economic development.
The government's official recognition of ANGKASA in 1996, through gazettement as the body representing the Malaysian cooperative movement at national and international levels, further solidified its role in policy development, international networking, and cooperative business development. ANGKASA's global expansion continues through active participation in international cooperative organizations such as the ASEAN Co-operative Organisation (ACO) and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA).
The 55th anniversary celebration was marked by the presence of International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) regional director Balasubramaniam Iyer, highlighting the ongoing cooperation and strong relationship between ANGKASA and the international cooperative movement in the Asia-Pacific region.
In honor of its 55th anniversary, ANGKASA also unveiled the ANGKASA Core Values Book, serving as a guide to work culture and organizational ethics for its personnel. The book underscores the core values of Sadik, Amanah, and Telus as the pillars of ANGKASA's integrity, along with Fatanah, Adab, Integrity, Synergy, Excellence, Sustainability, Harmony, and Innovation as drivers of operational excellence.
The anniversary celebration provided a platform to reflect on ANGKASA's achievements and acted as a catalyst to foster unity, innovation, and sustainability within the national cooperative movement.