Malaysian Cooperatives Can Help Boost ASEAN Healthcare, Education Collaborations
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Collaborations between cooperatives and private companies can be expanded into sectors such as healthcare and education and serve as a model for strengthening cooperation between Malaysian cooperatives and ASEAN countries, said Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Mohamad Alamin.
He said Malaysians could share their expertise with ASEAN countries in various sectors while at the same time contributing to the country’s economy.
“We have the ASEAN frameworks, and this applies particularly to countries that need assistance from Malaysia, especially in terms of how to improve their education and healthcare systems. These are critical sectors in which they need assistance.
“That is why I encourage our agencies, working with Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (ANGKASA), to collaborate with the private sector, such as Optimax, to explore opportunities and new investments and to introduce Malaysian products,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the collaboration agreement signing ceremony between ANGKASA’s wholly owned subsidiary MyANGKASA Holdings Sdn Bhd and Optimax Eye Specialist Centre Sdn Bhd (OESC) here on Wednesday.
The agreement with the Optimax Holdings Bhd’s wholly owned unit is aimed at expanding access to eye care services among eligible cooperative members and their immediate family members across Malaysia.
The companies, in a joint statement, said the agreement will be effective for an initial period of three years and may be renewed for successive one-year periods, subject to mutual written agreement of both parties.
“The collaboration covers a range of eye care services, including eye examinations and surgical procedures recommended by qualified ophthalmologists.
“Both parties will also work together to implement eye health education and awareness programmes to encourage regular eye examinations and raise awareness of the importance of early detection of vision-related conditions,” they said.
ANGKASA president Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah said that some of ANGKASA’s 7.3 million cooperative members are government employees who can access the services through salary deductions.
He said the initiative represents a new business opportunity for cooperatives, which had previously focused more on traditional businesses but are now exploring areas that can create value and make an impact for their members.
-- BERNAMA
