KUALA LUMPUR, 15 April 2009: Functions and agencies under the abolished Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry (MECD) will be absorbed into eight ministries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
He said the move was to ensure the main roles and functions played by the scrapped ministry were continually given attention by the government, particularly efforts to create a Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community.
Also, to expand and expedite bumiputera involvement in the country’s mainstream economic development, develop new growth areas and strengthen the cooperative movement, he said in a statement.
Under the changes made, Najib said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has been tasked with the responsibility of franchise development and promotion and vendor development programme.
Cooperative development, Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia and Cooperative College of Malaysia have also been placed under the ministry’s jurisdiction, he said.
The prime minister said the task of developing Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community, National Entrepreneurship Institute and SME Bank are now under the International Trade and Industry Ministry.
The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board now comes under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department while the Contractor Service Centre has been shifted to the Works Ministry, he said.
Najib said State Development Corporations, Urban Development Corporation, Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (Pernas) and Bank Rakyat have been transferred to the Finance Ministry.
He said the Rural and Regional Development Ministry is now in charge of MARA while Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Niaga (TEKIN) has been moved to the agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.
Universiti Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia-Japan University are now under the Higher Education Ministry, he added. — Bernama
Railcoop says
Now that the MECD has come to roost under different ministries, attention should be given to the grouses of the members of the cooperative movement with regard to the arbitary amendments to the Cooperative Societies Act 1993 and the Regulations incorporated into the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia Act 2008. It is said that Angkasa which owes a few million ringgit in outstanding collections stretching back to months to cooperatives and non-cooperatives was consulted on both Acts. Angkasa however did not refer the matter to all the cooperatives in Malaysia representing about 6 million citizens.
Agkasa claims to be the national body for cooperatives. The movement DID NOT appoint it. It was appointed as such by the minister. The law however seems not to give him [or her] the powers to make Angkasa the national body for cooperatives. It has thus acted unlawfully all this while.
These and other related matters including cases referred to the courts by the cooperative movement have to be addressed as early as possible by the new ministry which may look at the matter through different coloured glasses.
The national cooperative body and movement must be legalised by due process and there should be an air of reapproachment for the government and cooperatives to work as partners in the noble endeavour to uplift the burden of the masses. This is the right time for the new minister to reach out to the entire cooperative movement instead of dabbling through an organ that does not represent the will of the majority of cooperatives.