Southeast Asian nations implement reforms to strengthen cooperative movements

In Malaysia, 13 new cooperatives in Sabah have officially received registration certificates, marking a step toward organized economic development in the region. Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Mohamad Alamin, emphasized that the cooperative movement is a vital tool for uniting community strength and building self-reliance, particularly in rural areas. To support this, the Ministry is implementing the ‘A.B.C.D. Strategy’—focusing on productivity shifts, simplified bureaucracy, capital access, and market reach. The government has also allocated RM1.015 billion to the Ministry for 2026, a 24.6 percent increase from the previous year.

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Cooperatives is undertaking a major transformation mandate from President Prabowo Subianto to revitalize the sector. Minister Ferry Juliantono outlined three primary strategies: rebranding cooperatives to appeal to Gen Z and millennials, implementing digitalization to ensure cooperatives remain competitive, and improving overall governance. The ministry aims to shift the focus from purely administrative tasks to active business development and production, reintegrating cooperatives into the distribution and industrial sectors.