Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives is conducting a study on the Tamu Desa (rural market) project as a model for entrepreneurship in the interior, which is expected to serve as a key reference for future empowerment initiatives.
Its Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the study, which runs from June to December, is being conducted by the Co-operative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa) Sabah branch, in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
“IKMa has already begun the study by appointing research officers from both IKMa and UMS to conduct field studies at tamu desa sites, focusing on community participation and the potential of using the cooperative model to manage and develop entrepreneurial activities,” he said in a statement, Wednesday.
According to Ewon, the study is significant as it will provide valuable input to his Ministry in formulating relevant policies and decisions, particularly in areas such as maintenance, marketing and networking among tamu desa premises.
IKMa Sabah senior training officer and research team head Shamsiah Shamsudin said her team will also conduct research at night markets in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak to assess the success of cooperatives in managing these markets.
According to her, the comparative study is important as the concept of night markets closely mirrors that of Tamu Desa. Insights from night markets in Peninsular Malaysia can therefore inform the development of the more traditional Tamu Desa in Sabah.
The study will also explore the potential for cooperatives to introduce an internal micro-financing system as an alternative form of financial support within the community.
“Our goal is to encourage cooperatives to practise self-help within the community, so that the benefits are reinvested back into the community itself - reducing over-reliance on government assistance,” she explained.
The study, which involves 80 respondents, is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of the cooperative model’s potential in driving rural entrepreneurship development.
