HKN 2026 Highlights Co-operatives’ Role In Driving Socio-economic Development
BUTTERWORTH, July 4 (Bernama) – The 2026 National Co-operative Day (HKN) serves as a platform to recognise the contribution of the co-operative movement to the country’s socio-economic development, while strengthening business networks among cooperatives, entrepreneurs, industry players, and government and private agencies.
Malaysia Co-operatives Commission (SKM) chairman Lt Gen (Rtd) Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal said the three-day event, which ends tomorrow, received encouraging response, attracting about 6,000 visitors on the first day, with an overall target of 30,000 to 40,000 visitors.
He said this year’s theme, “Cooperatives Empower Communities, Building a MADANI Nation”, also focuses on strengthening youth and women cooperatives, while supporting government agendas on food security, tourism and digitalisation.
“Our objective is to recognise the role of cooperatives as key contributors to socio-economic development, and to strengthen networks among cooperatives, entrepreneurs, industry players, and government and private agencies,” he said at the opening ceremony officiated by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong at PICCA @ Butterworth Arena, here today.
Ahmad Norihan said the event features 186 exhibitors, including a special tourism cooperative pavilion in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) to support the tourism industry.
He said the three-day programme includes Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam, a fun walk, zumba, traditional sports, lucky draws and a cultural night.
Other activities include the MADANI Co-operative and Entrepreneur Sales (JMKU), Laksa Festival and food truck sales
Penang was chosen as host to bring the celebration to the northern region after last year’s event in Melaka received strong response.
“This is the first time HKN is being held in Penang since SKM was established in 2008,” he said.
He added that the selection of Penang also recognises the establishment of the country’s first co-operative bank, Co-opbank Pertama Malaysia Berhad, founded on June 7, 1950.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Norihan welcomed the government’s plan to draft a new Co-operative Act to replace the Co-operative Societies Act 1993, saying it would strengthen governance and the co-operative sector.
He said the proposal had gone through several consultation and review sessions but still required further legal refinement due to its link with the Malaysian Co-operative Societies Commission Act 2007 (Act 665) and the Co-operative Societies Act 1993 (Act 502).
He said the improvement was important to balance SKM’s role as regulator and enforcer, while maintaining its role as a facilitator of co-operative development.
“We hope this improvement can be implemented soon, possibly next year, once approved by the relevant authorities,” he said.
Earlier, the event also saw the launch of the Top 100 Cooperatives Profile 2026, the Cooperative Awards 2026, as well as the presentation of business development grants and financing under the SKM Revolving Capital Fund (TPMSKM).
-- BERNAMA
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