Study on Tamu Desa cooperative model to enhance rural entrepreneurship

Borneo Post

10-06-2025

Ewon greeting operators at the Tamu Desa in Melangkap.
KOTA BELUD (June 10): Institut Koperasi Malaysia (IKMa) will be conducting a study on the Tamu Desa project with Universiti Malaysia Sabah from June to December, this year. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said that IKMa, an agency under the Ministry, shall begin a study on the Tamu Desa Project: Cooperative Model as a Means of Empowering Rural Entrepreneurship to serve as a key reference for KUSKOP in strengthening rural entrepreneurship.
'IKMa will begin a study on the Tamu Desa project, a cooperative model as a means of empowering rural entrepreneurship, starting this month,' he said.
'We have appointed the research officers involving researchers from IKMa and UMS who will conduct field studies at the Tamu Desa locations to assess community participation and the potential of the cooperative model in managing and developing entrepreneurial activities at the Tamu Desa,' he said to reporters after launching the Jom Coop Programme organised by IKMa in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival celebration and the opening of the Tamu Desa premises at the Tamu Desa Melangkap near here on Tuesday.
Ewon said the study is important as it will provide meaningful input to KUSKOP in formulating related policies and decisions, particularly involving aspects of maintenance, marketing and networking between Tamu Desa in different locations.
In conjunction with the event, a total of 15 cooperatives from across the Kota Belud district that have received Tamu Desa premises facilities also attended a briefing session, which emphasised the role of cooperatives as management entities for Tamu Desa at the village or sub-district level.
During the event, Ewon presented the letter of appointment to IKMa Sabah senior training officer, Shamsiah Shamsudin, as the head of the research team for the Tamu Desa Project: Cooperative Model as a Means of Empowering Rural Entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, Shamsiah said the research team is also conducting studies at night markets in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak to observe the success of cooperatives in managing night markets.
'This is because the context of the night market is quite similar to the Tamu Desa. In Sabah, the cooperative is just starting its business at the Tamu Desa.
'So, when we go to the Peninsula, we will observe the success factors that enable them to generate millions in income, what additional activities help increase cooperative revenue, and also aspects of management.
'We will bring the context from the Peninsula to Sabah, and we will also visit the Tamu Desa in Tuaran and Kota Belud to gather input from them — what they truly need. This is because the Tamu Desa in Sabah is more of a tradition, a gathering place,' she said.
She added that the study will also examine the potential for cooperatives to introduce an internal micro-financing system as an alternative source of financial aid within the community.
'We want to encourage cooperatives to implement self-help financial assistance within the community so that the benefits return to them directly, without being overly reliant on government aid,' she said.
The study is expected to involve around 80 respondents.
Also present were IKMa Director-General Datuk Mohd Ali Mansor, IKMa Sabah Director Mohd Razalie Raffae, and local leaders.