Alor gajah: Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa) is seeking RM10 million in additional funds to facilitate wider participation of cooperative members in the Sejahtera Komuniti MADANI (SejaTi MADANI) programme. Angkasa president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah said additional funds would be used to finance 100 new projects under the initiative, which has continued to show positive outcomes since it was launched last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the additional funds are essential due to rising demand from cooperatives nationwide keen to take part in projects under the initiative involving the agriculture, tourism, recycling, and food production sectors. Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah emphasized that, out of more than 16,000 registered Angkasa members, only a small number have benefitted so far, and he believes the initiative needs to be expanded. He shared these insights with reporters after the launch of the Koperasi Usahawan Alor Gajah Melaka Berhad Freshwater Fish Farming Project at Jalan Kampung Rembia Tengah.

The ceremony was officiated by Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, who is also the Alor Gajah Member of Parliament. Abdul Fattah explained that Angkasa had previously been allocated 20 SejaTi MADANI projects worth RM2 million, with four already completed, while the rest had achieved at least 80 percent progress and were expected to be completed by year-end.

For new projects under the additional funding, Angkasa will focus on food production, especially those that yield fast results and have a direct impact on the community. Abdul Fattah highlighted that the issue of supply shortages and rising prices of chicken, fish, and vegetables must be addressed.

Meanwhile, Abdul Fattah stated that a strong governance structure, including an internal monitoring body and support from relevant agencies, has placed Angkasa on the right track to effectively implement the community-scale project. Cooperation and support from cooperative members have been encouraging, and each project will be monitored for at least three years to ensure its sustainability and potential to be extended or recycled for future returns.