Melaka: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP) is holding engagement sessions with cooperatives in an effort to draft a new replacement for the Cooperatives Act 1993. Its minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, stated that this initiative aims to improve the existing act to align with the current global situation and challenges.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the minister emphasized that the new act is intended to liberalise the cooperatives movement and empower the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia (CCM) as a supervisory body. The current environment necessitates that cooperatives adapt to changes, requiring legal adjustments to enhance the Cooperatives Act accordingly. Datuk Ewon Benedick conveyed these remarks to reporters after the conclusion of the 2025 National Cooperatives Day, which was officiated by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh at the Melaka International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh.

He mentioned that the engagement sessions commenced last year and included visits to several states to gather insights from various stakeholders involved in cooperatives. The minister announced plans to visit Sarawak next week to engage with cooperative industry players and gather their feedback and views. Previous sessions have taken place in regions such as Penang and Sabah, with a possibility of the new act being tabled in Parliament by the end of the year.