KUCHING: Koperasi Belia Rakyat (Kobera) should be led by sincere and good management teams, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said this was paramount to achieve the ultimate goal of helping the hardcore poor, especially those in the rural areas.

He stressed that Kobera must really serve its purpose.

“This is where the elected representatives can provide good leadership to get the co-operative started,” Taib said when launching the state-level Kobera which will eventually see the establishment of the co-operative in every state constituency in Sarawak.

There are 71 state constituencies in Sarawak and the elected representatives have the task to start a co-operative in their respective constituencies with financial assistance provided by Malaysian Co-operative Commission (SKM).

The chief minister stressed that Kobera must be carefully and wisely implemented to help eradicate poverty.

He said the government aimed to bring down the poverty level to 2.8 per cent under the current Malaysia Plan.

“In our efforts to reduce poverty, the setting up of co-operatives is important
as they will help to develop rural areas besides helping the people increase their income and involving them in business,” Taib said.

He said the operation of the existing co-operatives in the state had been good so far, adding the good work should continue.

The chief minister advised co-operatives not to get involved in leadership crisis as such action could cause the downfall of their movement.

“It is important that co-operatives do not try to topple their leaders when their organisations are already successful,” he stressed.

Taib told reporters later that it was up to the opposition elected representatives if they wanted to set up Kobera in their constituencies.

“Up to them (the opposition) … the opposition are different, and that is politics,” Taib said when asked whether Kobera would also be available in constituencies under the opposition.

Assistant Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture (Farmers Organisation and Co-operatives) Datuk Peter Nyarok and SKM deputy executive chairman Md Yusuf Samsudin were among those present.

A total of 21 state assemblymen were present during the launching ceremony.