SCHOOL cooperatives in Penang are encouraged to venture into more competitive business instead of just mainly operating bookshops.
Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Tuah Ismail said bookshop business is seasonal, encouraging during the registration period early in the year but declining in the second and third quarters of the year.
“The primary role of a school cooperative is to help students develop entrepreneurial skills based on strong principles and values,” Mohd Tuah said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Young Entrepreneur Strive For Success (YESS) Convention at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya on Sept 5.
“School cooperatives should explore venturing into challenging fields and not just concentrate on typical activities, like running the book business.
“In this era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, students should think of coming out with innovative products to further enhance their participation.”
Mohd Tuah complimented the Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission (SMK) for organising the YESS convention with the support of the Penang Education Department.
“It is one platform for the students to generate ideas and think creatively in their pursuit of new products that can hopefully be marketed.
“The YESS objective is to also produce entrepreneurs that are either individually or collectively viable, and resilient with leadership qualities such as good conduct and concern for the community,” he added.
In conjunction with the YESS convention, a competition to promote their products was also held for the school cooperatives.
Also present at the closing ceremony of the convention were SMK Penang director Zakaria Mat Jusoh, Penang Bumiputera Coordination Division (ICU-JPM) director Asuat Ahmad, Penang SME Corp director Noor Azzam Yaazizul Ghafar and Penang Education Department representative Zulkafli Kamaruddin.
Story by Siti Humaira Mohamed Yasin
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis