CO-OPERATIVE members in the retail business should attend Penang’s free short courses on financial management to further improve their business acumen, said Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman.
He said the state government, together with Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa) and the Malaysian Co-operatives Commission (SKM), started a series of courses for co-operative members in Penang.
“We want our co-operative members to have basic knowledge in financial planning and management so that they can go far in their respective businesses.
“These courses can help them to better manage their organisations, finances and time, as well as enhance their customer relations,” he said at Taman Selat Pasar Aneka Co-operative Association Butterworth’s Hari Raya open house in Rope Walk Bagan last Tuesday.
Mansor said the state had so far organised five such courses in Penang this year.
He added that a pool of lecturers from Angkasa and SKM conducted the day-long courses.
He said some co-operative members had the misconception that they need not attend courses as they already had necessary experience in running a business.
He said: “Learning is a lifelong process and they should grab the opportunity to gain more knowledge to enhance their business.”
Mansor said the state would hold a two-day course on financial ma-nagement in Langkawi, Kedah, this month.
He added that Penang-based co-operatives would be given booths to trade at the state-level Farmers, Fishermen and Livestock Breeders Day 2011 celebrations at the Seberang Jaya expo site between Oct 27 and Oct 30.
Earlier, Koperasi Pasar Aneka Taman Selat chairman Nasoruddin Shah Mat requested the state to help repair a segment of the dilapidated zinc roofing and gutters at Rope Walk Bagan, noting that the roofing often leaked during a downpour.
He said: “We also hope the state can help us install some ceiling fans in our trading area, which gets rather humid on a hot day.”
