Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Plumber Association Cooperative, the country’s first of its kind, was launched on Sunday to improve access to major infrastructure contracts and government support.
Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin, who officiated the launch here, described the milestone as a meaningful moment for the State’s skilled workforce.
He said the cooperative is expected to strengthen members’ bargaining power, facilitate participation in larger tenders, and improve long-term industry competitiveness.
Mohamad also highlighted Sabah’s cooperative sector, noting there are over 1,700 cooperatives in the State and that RM93.9 million in financing had been channelled to 34 cooperatives between 2022 and 2026, with further support available under the RM5 billion PowerUp10K initiative.
Organisers and industry leaders said the cooperative would address longstanding challenges through bulk purchasing, training, certification, and joint project bidding, while promoting collaboration to support industry and economic growth.
