Negeri Sembilan To Request State Funding For Cooperatives In 2026 Budget - State Exco

MELAKA, July 26 (Bernama) -- A request for funding will be made to the state government for the development of cooperatives in Negeri Sembilan as part of the 2026 Budget, said State Health, Environment, Cooperatives and Consumerism Action Committee chairman, S. Veerapan 

He said to date, no funds have been allocated by the state government for cooperative development in Negeri Sembilan. Instead, the funding received has come from the Federal Government through the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) state branch.

"This is important because, in Melaka, despite being a smaller state with lower revenue than Negeri Sembilan, the state government allocates funding to SKM Melaka. We intend to follow that example," Veerapan told Bernama.

He added that the state government's support is essential to ensure that cooperatives in Negeri Sembilan benefit and strengthen the development of existing cooperatives.

Veerapan said this after attending the Business Exploration and Networking Programme (Ekspansi), organised by the Negeri Sembilan government with cooperatives from the state, Sarawak, and Sabah. The event, held in Melaka for National Cooperative Day 2025, was also attended by SKM Negeri Sembilan director, Radiatul Fitri Dollah.

Veerapan further said that his team would gather more details from SKM Negeri Sembilan regarding the funding needs for cooperative development in the state.

This information will be proposed and discussed during the upcoming 2026 State Budget consultation session, expected to take place in September.

As of Dec 31 last year, Negeri Sembilan had 787 registered cooperatives, with nearly 192,000 members. The cooperatives had accumulated shares totaling RM123 million, assets worth RM404 million, and a total revenue of RM187 million

Earlier at the event, Veerapan witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Koperasi Gabungan Masjid-Masjid Negeri Melaka (Kogmas), represented by its chairman Zaidan Abd Hadi, and Koperasi Kolej Vokasional (KV) Port Dickson represented by its director Mohammad Shafie Hamir.

Under the MoU, Kogmas will supply bottled mineral water to the KV Port Dickson Cooperative.

-- BERNAMA